HBO Max dropped the Harry Potter TV show trailer ahead of its UK launch — and the show's magical release date will delight Potterheads

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It's going to be a magical Christmas for Potter fans

Ron, Harry and Hermoine in Hogwarts robes in a promotional image for HBO's Harry Potter series.
(Image credit: HBO Max)
  • HBO's Harry Potter series has a confirmed release date for December 25, 2026
  • This is earlier than planned as it was originally due in 2027
  • A trailer has given us a first proper look at the new series

HBO Max's Harry Potter TV show just got its first trailer, with one of the best streaming services finally giving fans a glimpse at what's to come.

Alongside the trailer, we also have a confirmed release date of December 25, 2026, meaning those who watch the Harry Potter movies as part of a holiday tradition are in for a treat.

Development on the series began in January 2021, so fans have been waiting a little while for a proper first look at what's to come. We also know that season 1 will share the same name as the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

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Take a look at HBO's first Harry Potter trailer below.

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What do we know about the Harry Potter series?

Professor Flitwick holds a speaker up to his mouth

Warwick Davis reprises his role as Flitwick for the series. (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Season 1 of Harry Potter will premiere on Christmas Day, but it's not yet known if all episodes will drop in one go or if we'll see a weekly release. We're expecting to see updates coming through soon, though.

We do know that there are eight episodes in the first season, so there's plenty of room for expansion on the Philosopher's Stone story. There's a cast of well-known names as well as newcomers, too, with the three child stars confirmed in 2025.

Arabella Stanton is Hermione, Alastair Stout is Ron, and Dominic McLaughlin will play the titular role of Harry. They're joined by an all-star supporting cast including John Lithgow as Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, and Paapa Essiedu as Snape. Warwick Davis reprises his role as Flitwick, too.

Harry Potter is arriving on HBO Max sooner than expected, as it was originally set to launch in 2027, making it a nice Christmas gift for fans who have been eagerly anticipating its arrival.

In November 2025, HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed to Deadline that writing had commenced on the second season, so we'll definitely be seeing more in the future.

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Lucy Buglass
Lucy Buglass
Senior Entertainment Writer

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd. 

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