Hundreds of Harry Potter fans gathered in London on Tuesday to mark the September 1 start of the Hogwarts school term and preview an upcoming television series.
The annual gathering celebrates a key milestone in the fantasy book series written by J.K. Rowling. In the story, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry begins its academic year at precisely 11 a.m. on September 1, when young witches and wizards board the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 and 3/4 at London's King's Cross station.
To reduce crowding at King's Cross station this year, streaming platform HBO Max moved the primary fan event to Old Billingsgate, a historic venue on the banks of the River Thames. The relocated experience celebrated more than 25 years of the franchise while promoting a new era for the series, which features a completely new cast and is scheduled to premiere on Christmas Day.
Journalists and dozens of specialized Harry Potter content creators from across Europe and Latin America were the first guests admitted to the interactive venue. Attendees arrived equipped with mobile phones, cameras, tripods and microphones to broadcast live updates to thousands of followers online.
Interactive Hogwarts Experience
The venue offered fans the opportunity to step into the world of their favorite characters. Visitors were able to board a replica of the Hogwarts Express, send letters through a magical owl post service, put on house uniforms, and join in the traditional countdown to the train's departure time.
Spanish content creator Jenn Royal told the EFE news agency that attending the event in London on September 1 was a dream come true. She said she could hardly believe she was living such an important moment, reflecting on how as an 11-year-old she never expected to experience the return to Hogwarts in person.
Sergio Casas, a Madrid content creator known on social media as El Traslador, said his life changed after watching the first Harry Potter film. He told reporters that watching the movie started a journey that has remained with him through childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
Casas described the new television adaptation as a gift for long-time followers of the franchise. He expressed hope that the expanded format will allow the show to depict scenes and characters from the original novels that were excluded from the films, offering fresh storylines and deeper character development.
Generational Magic and New Adaptation
Family members also shared their connection to the franchise at the venue. Mother and daughter Rishla and Josephine told EFE that the stories had become a shared tradition across generations. Rishla explained that she read the novels while at university and later read them aloud to her children after becoming a mother, before watching the film adaptations together.
The transition of the franchise to television brings a fresh cast of actors to the lead roles. Filming for the project has already begun with a new lead actor portraying the titular wizard.
The event took place amid ongoing public discussion surrounding author J.K. Rowling. Her public statements regarding women and gender identity have drawn widespread criticism, making her name largely unspoken during the sponsored commercial event in London.
The new television series remains scheduled for release on Christmas Day 2026, marking the next chapter in the decades-long media franchise.
