This year’s Back to Hogwarts celebration will be bigger than ever, bringing new ways for readers and listeners around the world to rediscover Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling as anticipation builds for the forthcoming HBO Original series, debuting Christmas 2026 on HBO Max.
From 1 September, more than 200,000 print books and full-cast audiobooks of the first Harry Potter story will be donated to schools, libraries and hospitals across the UK, U.S. and other territories. The initiative is supported by English language Harry Potter publishers Scholastic, Bloomsbury and Pottermore, alongside Audible and international publishing partners.
Readers will also find it easier to borrow the story from their local library, with digital waitlists lifted throughout September for the eBook and digital audiobook editions.
From 1 September through Halloween, fans will be able to enjoy the original audiobook editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone narrated by Stephen Fry and Jim Dale on the official Harry Potter YouTube channel, Audible, Amazon Music and Spotify with no paid subscription required. The YouTube release will mark the first time listeners outside North America can access the Jim Dale edition.
For more information, visit HarryPotter.com.