In a couple of weeks, every young witch and wizard in the Wizarding World will have their trunks packed and their robes ready as they board the train to Hogwarts for the start of the school year. Here’s everything that you can do to celebrate Back to Hogwarts across the world.
First up, there are a couple of ways of getting involved digitally. Snapchat will introduce four new 3D Harry Potter Bitmoji Lenses with Friends, as well as a collection of Harry Potter clothing, from mid-August. The lenses are all based on iconic scenes from the film, so you and your friends can get your Bitmojis involved in the chaos of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the excitement of Putting Names into the Goblet of Fire, the havoc of Hogwarts Letters at the Dursleys’, and the competitiveness of Wizard’s Chess.
There will also be a Back to Hogwarts showcase streamed on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram from 10:40BST (05:40EST) on official Wizarding World channels. Here, you’ll be able to watch as plans for the next year of magical events are announced and updates on current projects are shared.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery will also celebrate. In-game campaigns starting this month will continue until the end of September, featuring a special adventure entitled The Alchemist, where players will meet Nicolas Flamel for the first time, and a new mystery in the Hogwarts Diary, in which assignment failures are haunting the start of the year, and you have to search for the reason why. The game will also introduce Japan as a playable location for the first time, continuing the storyline in Beyond Hogwarts: Volume 2, as a Ministry job takes you around the world.
Source: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Another global celebration will occur in cinemas. Fans will be able to watch special screenings of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire to celebrate both Back to Hogwarts and the 20th anniversary of the film’s original release. In the United States, tickets for these screenings can be found on the official partner website for Back to Hogwarts, Fandango. In Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, check local listings for screening times.
The film will also be shown in a special event at the iconic Cineworld in London’s Leicester Square on August 31. Tickets for the event are required but free, with details on the release available nearer the time. As well as the actual film screening, fans will be able to watch a Q&A with our favorite twins, James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), and radio presenter Yinka Bokinni. Attendees will also receive a Wizarding World, Micro Magical Moments Year 4 Collectible Figure Set from Spinmaster and the chance to win prizes from LEGO and the Noble Collection for the best outfits.
Source: Warner Bros.
For UK fans, celebratory events will also be held at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter, House of MinaLima, the London Platform 9 3/4 Shop, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on the West End. Anyone with a ticket to see Cursed Child between September 3 and 7 will be given a special pin badge with their ticket. The London Platform 9 3/4 Shop will stock exclusive Back to Hogwarts merchandise from July 28 and will become home to a special photo opportunity frame. At the House of MinaLima, meanwhile, fans will be able to attend a special meet and greet on August 31, where they also have a chance to win a limited edition button badge in giveaways.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter will host a magical event for 125 lucky winners. Anyone who entered the competition over on the tour’s website before it closed on August 11 had the chance to win two tickets to an exclusive event on Platform 9 3/4 at 11:00 BST. Winners will be invited to complete the tour and meet on the platform for a countdown to the moment the train departs. There will also be Hogwarts house-themed mocktails to enjoy while waiting for the train, and photo opportunities with digital downloads, souvenir tickets, and a Butterbeer tankard for guests to take home.
There will be no events, announcements, or celebrations held at King’s Cross Station. Fans are strongly advised not to travel there on September 1 to avoid disappointment.
In the US and Canada, events will be held across all existing Harry Potter experiences. Fans visiting the Harry Potter Store in both New York and Chicago can expect exclusive merch designs from July 28. Elsewhere in Chicago, fans can sign up for the Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience early waitlist confirmation, ready for when the experience travels to the city later this year. Fans planning to attend Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Salt Lake City, Utah, will be able to take advantage of a special ticket offer on September 1, and anyone wishing to visit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway can celebrate by purchasing a $19 ticket for performances in autumn on September 1.
Several events will be held across Europe. German fans can enjoy photo opportunities, prize draws, magical displays, and themed activities in Thalia stores nationwide. The stores will also stock special merchandise and back-to-school offers. For lucky fans, there is the chance to attend a sleepover in a Thalia store in Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, or Hannover. You can find out more information about these events and stay up to date on new locations or celebrations by visiting the Thalia website.
If Thalia isn’t your thing, you can also check out a three-day event in Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier. The shopping center will play host to interactive activities and spellbinding giveaways from partners such as Haribo, the LEGO Group, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The event will be open to fans of all ages on August 29, August 30, and September 1. On August 31, there will be a special performance of Cursed Child at the Mehr! Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg, featuring a costume competition, discounted meals, and a drink and program booklet upon arrival.
Elsewhere in Europe, Italian fans will get to experience magic with a countdown at the Teatro Nazionale in Milan. The event will see the theater transformed into a perfect place to celebrate the start of the year. There will be interactive games and quizzes, as well as special shows and some surprise guest appearances throughout the day.
Fans in Madrid, Spain, can also experience some magic for Back to Hogwarts this year. The city’s Museo del Ferrocarril will open its doors to fans for free on August 31 and September 1. The museum is normally dedicated to railways, so it will be redecorated to host its celebration on Platform 3/4. The platform will be full of magical activities and games, as well as a special countdown to 11 am.
Across the globe in Asia, Japanese fans will be able to take advantage of a collaboration between Harry Potter and the Saitama Seibu Lions. Unique merchandise will be available at the Lions stadium from August 29 to 31, with a Harry Potter star set to take to the pitch at the game on August 29 for the ceremonial first pitch.
In China, fans have the chance for a sneak peek at some upcoming merch. At an event held between August 30 and September 1 at Hangzhou’s West Lake District, visitors will be able to check out photo opportunities and other magical activities alongside some new products.
Smaller events are being held in Singapore and Australia. For anyone planning to visit the Harry Potter: Visions of Magic exhibition in Singapore, dressing up in your best Hogwarts attire could win you complimentary gifts and other surprises on site. Meanwhile, Australian fans hoping to see a performance of Cursed Child soon can take advantage of an exclusive ticket deal on September 1.
That’s every way you have to celebrate Back to Hogwarts in 2025! What are you planning to take part in?
Press Release
Harry Potter ‘Back to Hogwarts’ 2025 Celebrations Revealed
Global events, 20th anniversary screenings, and digital surprises await…
Wizards, witches and Muggles - wands at the ready! The countdown to Back to Hogwarts has begun, and this year’s festivities are set to be more magical than ever!
Every 1st September, Harry Potter fans mark the iconic return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, nearly almost a quarter of a century since the first film enchanted audiences, this beloved tradition has grown into an annual global celebration of all things Harry Potter.
20 Years of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Celebrate two decades of Triwizard Tournament thrills with special Back to Hogwarts screenings of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in cinemas worldwide. In the United States, fans can relive the epic adventure on the big screen for a limited time through the Back to Hogwarts official ticketing partner – Fandango.com – and have a chance to get their hands on magical Harry Potter giveaways as part of the celebrations. Theatres in Canada, EMEA and International Territories will all be joining in the fun – check local listings and https://www.harrypotter.com/news/how-were-celebrating-back-to-hogwarts-2025 for details.
Magic Meets Snapchat
Introducing four brand new 3D Harry Potter Bitmoji Lenses with Friends! From mid-Aug in honour of Back to Hogwarts, Snap users globally will be able to see their Snapchat Bitmoji (decked out in the latest Back to Hogwarts themed fashion drop, naturally) take a trip into the wizarding world!
Watch as your Bitmoji interacts with your friends’ Bitmojis in four different iconic Harry Potter scenes – Hogwarts Letters at the Dursleys’, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Putting names into the Goblet of Fire, and the Wizard Chess scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Global Fan Festivities
Back to Hogwarts celebrations are happening everywhere and this year’s revelries are sure to make memories worthy of Dumbledore’s Pensieve! Look out for celebratory Back to Hogwarts themed moments at Harry Potter destinations around the world – including park lands at Universal Destinations & Experiences, Warner Bros.
Studio Tours, and various Harry Potter travelling experience locations globally.
So, whether you're in London, Paris, Tokyo or joining in online, there’s something spellbinding for everyone...
United Kingdom
- Fans can attend a free screening of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at London’s iconic Cineworld Leicester Square on 31st Aug.
- Before the film, ticket holders will enjoy a live Q&A with James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley), hosted by TV and radio presenter, Yinka Bokinni, plus enjoy fun in the foyer with photo ops – including The Great Hall from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter.
- Fans are encouraged to attend in their finest wizarding attire for the chance to win prizes from The LEGO Group and The Noble Collection.
- All attendees will also receive a Wizarding World, Micro Magical Moments Year 4 Collectible Figure Set from Spinmaster.
- Tickets are free, strictly limited and essential for entry, keep an eye on www.harrypotter.com for news on when these will be released.
- Wizarding Wednesdays returns between 13th Aug and 23rd Sept with prizes galore, keep an eye out on the Harry Potter social channels to find out more info.
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter will host 300 lucky guests at a celebratory 11am countdown moment at the Studio Tour, held on the platform next to the iconic Hogwarts Express live on 1st Sept. Tickets are exclusively available by entering a competition to win, visit @wbtourlondon for
more details on how to enter before the competition closes on 11th Aug.
- Visitors to the London Platform 9 ¾ shop can pose with a special photo opportunity frame and pick up exclusive Back to Hogwarts merchandise instore, available from 28th July.
- House of MinaLima also invites fans to join a special meet and greet event on the 31st of Aug where they can get their hands on a limited-edition giveaway Back to Hogwarts 2025 button badge (while supplies last). Visit minalima.com/whats-on for more info.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London will be giving out special badges to all audience members at performances between 3rd and 7th Sept.
- Fans are reminded that there will be no event, countdown or train announcement at King’s Cross Station on 1st Sept. – and are strongly advised not to travel in order to avoid disappointment.
North America & Canada
- Visitors heading to Harry Potter Store New York and Harry Potter Store Chicago can pick up exclusive, time-limited Back to Hogwarts merch in store from 28th
July.
- Starting today, fans eager to attend the popular Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience will be able to sign up for early waitlist confirmation as the experience is confirmed to take place in Chicago later this year – check out www.hpforbiddenforestexperience.com for more info.
- Fans in Salt Lake City, Utah can take advantage of a special ticket offer available on 1st Sept at Harry Potter: The Exhibition.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway will be celebrating '19 Years Later' with $19 tickets for select performances this autumn. This special priced ticket will be available for one day only on 1st Sept, online at harrypotterbroadway.com or at the Lyric Theatre Box Office.
France
- Paris, 30th August: The stunning Sante-Geneviève Library will transform into a magical ‘school exam’ inspired free ticketed event with interactive quizzes, a special Harry Potter themed dictation session read by Solange Boulanger (the French language actor who dubbed Dolores Umbridge in the film
series). LEGO and Haribo displays, and more surprises will be announced during the summer. For fans unable to make it on the day, the fun will be hosted online from 30th Aug until 7th Sept. Details are soon to be released on how fans can join online, via the French HP and Warner FR social channels.
Germany
- Hamburg, 29 Aug, 30th Aug & 1 Sept: Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier will play host to a spectacular three-day Back to Hogwarts event, offering fans of all ages specially themed interactive activities and magical give-aways from partners including Thalia, The LEGO Group, Haribo and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
- Nationwide, mid Aug until mid Sept: Stop by Thalia this summer, where 10 stores across Germany will be celebrating Back to Hogwarts. Visitors can enjoy fun photo opportunities, themed activities, prize-draws and special Harry Potter displays before shopping an exclusive themed range and discovering magical ‘back to school’ promotions. More details here https://thalia.de/themenwelten/harry-potter/back-tohogwarts/tour
- 29th Aug & 5th Sept: Wizards and witches also have the opportunity to attend one of four special Back to Hogwarts themed sleepover events held at Thalia stores in Dusseldorf, Hannover, Leipzig and Hamburg. Lucky attendees can look forward to magical activities and take home an exclusive goody bag. Check out
https://thalia.de/themenwelten/harry-potter/back-to-hogwarts for details on how to apply for free tickets.
- Hamburg, 31st Aug: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will host a special Back to Hogwarts Show to celebrate the start of a new school year. Full details here: https://www.atgtickets.de/musicals-shows/harrypotter-und-das-verwunschene-kind/back-to-hogwarts/
Italy
- Milan, 1st Sept: Fans can register to join a spectacular free Back to Hogwarts event, held at Teatro Nazionale. The beautiful space will be entirely themed and transformed into a magical venue for the celebrations. Look forward to an 11’o’clock countdown, interactive games, quizzes, special performances, plus surprise guests! To learn more and register, visit www.backtohogwartsmilano.it
Spain
- Madrid, 31st Aug & 1st Sept: Fans are invited to a special two-day event at a stunning yet-to-be-revealed location. Get ready for plenty of magical fun, including Back to Hogwarts and Harry Potter themed photo opportunities, an interactive 11 o’clock countdown, and much more. Further details will be announced soon.
Japan
- Tokyo, 29th Aug – 31st Aug: Baseball fans attending Saitama Seibu Lions games can look forward to a special Back to Hogwarts collaboration with Harry Potter x Lions. Fans can get their hands on bespoke products and visitors on the 29th will also be able to watch as a cast member from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child makes the ceremonial pitch!
China
- Shanghai: 7th Aug – 10th Aug: In honour of Back to Hogwarts season, fans will be able to enjoyboth Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert.
- Hangzhou: 30th Aug – 1st Sept: Look forward to a special Back to Hogwarts celebration in Hangzhou’s West Lake District. Expect celebratory photo opportunities, a first glimpse at brand new products and a host of magical fun. Find out more by visiting the official Harry Potter Chinese social channel.
Singapore
- Visitors to Harry Potter: Visions of Magic with a valid ticket, arriving dressed in their favourite house attire have the chance to win complimentary gifts with other surprises on site.
Australia
Online
- Don’t miss the Back to Hogwarts Showcase at 10:40 BST / 05:40 ET, which will be available on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Expect news, updates and announcements for the year ahead.
There are more Back to Hogwarts activities and events yet to be announced, visit www.harrypotter.com to stay up to date, get Sorted into your Hogwarts house, and join the Harry Potter Fan Club.
