It has been 25 years since Harry Potter first cast its spell on audiences worldwide.
Now, this August, Warner Bros. is returning the legendary franchise to the big screen with new footage and some magical surprises.
Film News Blitz writer Jesse-Ann Baron is taking you back to Hogwarts. Here’s everything you need to know about the most nostalgic cinema event of 2026.
So, what’s actually happening?
It has been a quarter of a century since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone brought magic to life.
The first Harry Potter film premiered on 16 November 2001 and broke box office records, grossing almost a billion dollars worldwide.
Warner Bros. is returning the classic film to the silver screen from 27 August to 3 September this year.
However, it is not just a theatrical re-release.
There is a special treat for fans with 10 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage never before seen in theatres.
The film will be shown in cinemas across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East-check local listings for details.
What else is going on?
True wizards and witches will be excited to hear that Warner Bros. is collaborating with big brands like Crocs, LEGO and Timex to bring new merchandise and experiences to their fans.
The LEGO Group has built new Harry Potter sets inspired by iconic film moments to commemorate the 25th anniversary.
Every wizard, witch or muggle can get limited edition items online or at select shops in London, America and Tokyo.
The items in the range are a celebration bear, a Philosopher’s Stone keychain and a collectable pin set.
More spellbinding moments are coming up with studio tours in London and Tokyo, where they will be taking fans back to the mystifying start.
In London’s tour, you can expect wizarding artefacts, the elusive and iconic Golden Snitch, as well as the secrets behind the creation of the magical film.
If you ever wanted to climb into the wizarding world literally, the immersive entertainment company Cosm will be transporting fans with their pioneering technology.
The company utilises 26-meter 12K LED domes combined with spatial audio to create the full transporting experience.
The Cosm venues are currently open in Los Angeles, Dallas and later in Atlanta and Detroit.
Tickets for a shared reality experience at Cosm have been on sale since March fourth.
Do not miss this season of Back to Hogwarts and put on your house’s robes and fly into the magic of this momentous season.
What comes next for the franchise?
The film franchise ended in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two, but it was not the end of this world.
Before this, the novel series was the most successful in history, with over 600 million copies sold worldwide in 85 different languages.
HBO, with massive financial backing, is creating an original Harry Potter series closely based on the classic fantasy novels.
The series will premiere globally on 25 December 2026, on HBO Max.
Similar to the films, the series will adapt all seven books, and it will be produced over a duration of 10 years with a young, fresh cast.
Throughout the next decade, seven seasons of Harry Potter will be released, and a whole new generation will grow alongside a different Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
This series is expected to be more in-depth and accurate according to the novels than the films ever were.
In the form of a series, characters can be more developed, and the full plot of each novel can be more religiously followed.
After 25 years of magic, the stakes could not be higher – here’s hoping the HBO series rises to meet them.
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