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Warner Bros. Discovery has finally set a date for the U.K. and Ireland launch of HBO Max, giving users in the region access to one of the best streaming services in the business for the first time ever — and we don't have long to wait. WBD announced in a press release that the long-awaited U.K. launch will take place on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
Would-be subscribers will be able to tune into "The Pitt" (which hasn't yet aired in the region) and will be able to choose from four monthly entertainment plans, purchasable either directly from the HBO Max website or via launch partners including Sky TV and Prime Video.
Pricing is pretty comparable to other services in the region, and ranges from the platform's Basic, ad-supported plan (£4.99/month) through to the Premium, 4K offering (£14.99/month). You can find more details for each of the plans below:
Subscription Plan | Price per month | Features | What can you watch with this plan? |
|---|---|---|---|
Basic with ads | £4.99 | Stream on 2 devices, in Full HD | "All the best HBO Max shows and movies, excluding movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release." |
Standard with ads | £5.99 | Stream on 2 devices, in Full HD, with 30 offline downloads | "All the best HBO Max shows and movies, including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window." |
Standard | £9.99 | Stream on 2 devices, in Full HD, with 30 offline downloads | "All the best HBO Max shows and movies on an ad free basis,4 including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window." |
Premium | £14.99 | Stream on 4 devices in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos (where available) and 100 offline downloads | "The ultimate HBO Max experience with all the best HBO Max shows and movies on an ad free basis,4 including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window." |
Sports fans should also note that they will access their TNT Sports streaming subscription via HBO Max in the U.K. starting on Thursday, March 26. The service will be available at an unchanged price of £30.99 per month, and can be purchased as a standalone plan or alongside select HBO Max plans, too.
Discovery+ will continue to be the service's streaming home until March 26; from that point, fans who subscribe to TNT Sports via partners will be able to access the service on HBO Max.
What can you watch with HBO Max?
At launch, the streamer will offer viewers in the U.K. and Ireland the ability to stream content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC Studios and Max Originals all in the same place. But what does that mean?
Well, the most notable release in the mix is the U.K./Irish premiere of the award-winning medical drama, "The Pitt." The first season will be available to binge-watch in full at launch, and new episodes of "The Pitt" season 2 will drop weekly as they premiere (from launch).
Within the first few months that the service is live, subscribers can also look forward to streaming "DTF St. Louise," "Rooster," and "The Comeback" season 3. Later down the line, subscribers can also look forward to "Lanterns" and the "Harry Potter" TV series.
WBD also notes shows like "Succession," "Friends," "The Sopranos," "Game of Thrones" and an "extensive range of the HBO and Warner Bros. Television libraries" will be available, in full, exclusively on HBO Max. If you're halfway through a rewatch somewhere else, I'd get binge-watching, pronto.
On the movie front, you can look forward to watching the likes of "One Battle After Another," "Superman" and "Sinners," plus Warner Bros. favorites like the "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" sagas.
For more info about the launch of HBO Max in the U.K. and Ireland, check out this HBO press release. And if you're looking for recommendations to plan your viewing in time for the launch, take a look at our round-up of the best HBO Max shows for tons of top streaming suggestions.
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