Wands at the ready, Hogwarts Express boarders, September 1st is almost here, and with it comes the Wizarding World’s biggest yearly tradition. This year’s Back to Hogwarts season carries extra weight, marking 25 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone first hit cinema screens, and building anticipation for HBO’s upcoming original series ahead of its Christmas premiere.

When and Where to Watch

Date: Monday, September 1st, 2026

Time: 5pm BST

Where to stream: The official Harry Potter YouTube and TikTok channels

As always, the Back to Hogwarts Showcase is the centrepiece of the day’s celebrations: a short broadcast packed with news and surprises from across the wizarding world. No ticket, no streaming subscription, and no travel required: just find a seat and refresh your feed when the countdown starts.

What Else Is Happening on the Day

The Showcase doesn’t stand alone this year. Warner Bros. Discovery has built an entire day of celebrations around it:

• A 25th-anniversary cinema re-release of Philosopher’s Stone, featuring 12 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage never before shown on the big screen. All eight films are also back in theatres worldwide from August 27th through September 3rd.
• HBO Max’s first-ever Back to Hogwarts event in London: a one-day fan experience themed around the upcoming HBO series, with interactive activities and giveaways.
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will host a special 11:00 AM announcement, followed by broadcasts every 30 minutes at its recreated Platform 9¾, alongside animatronic Hagrid demonstrations and themed food and photo opportunities.

Same as last year: organisers have confirmed there will be no official event or announcement at King’s Cross Station, and fans hoping to gather there are being encouraged to celebrate elsewhere instead.

What to Expect From the Showcase

Warner Bros. Discovery has billed this year’s programme as offering “new glimpses” of the HBO series. Given the timing, just months before the show’s December 25th premiere, reasonable expectations include:

• New footage or a fresh trailer for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, following the first teaser released earlier this year
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The Illustrated Edition by Levi Pinfold isn’t landing on the day itself (it publishes globally on October 6th) but expect the Showcase to spotlight it further as the release date closes in, following the cover reveal and preview pages already shared by Bloomsbury
• Possible merchandise, gaming, or retail tie-in announcements, as has been the pattern in past years’ Showcases
• Anniversary-themed retrospectives celebrating 25 years of the film franchise
• A few updates for the mobile games Hogwarts Mystery and Puzzle & Spells
• The Showcase trailer also features the LEGO Harry Potter video game: could a new version be on the way, or perhaps new sets like the recently announced Ministry of Magic set?

Nothing is guaranteed, and Warner Bros. Discovery has kept most specifics under wraps. I’ll be watching alongside you and will update this article with confirmed details as soon as the broadcast wraps.