HBO Max is coming to the UK this March – and here’s what it costs

For years, UK viewers have received most HBO content broadcast in the US via Sky or a Now Entertainment Membership, with a few exceptions such as comedy hit Hacks. However, it’s now certain that HBO Max will finally launch in the United Kingdom.

Its arrival has long been anticipated, but the details weren’t clear. However, thanks to a major deal, we now have a batter idea of what to expect. Here’s when HBO Max will arrive in the UK, and how you’ll be able to sign up.  

When will HBO Max launch in the UK? 

Warner has confirmed that HBO Max UK will launch on Thursday, 26 March 2026.

That’s later than some expected, as Friends left Netflix on 30 December 2025. The sitcom will be a huge draw for the platform, as it’s consistently been one of the most-watched shows on Netflix UK since arriving in 2018.

How much will HBO Max cost in the UK? 

Here are the packages HBO Max will offer its UK subscribers:

• Basic with ads – for £4.99 per month, you’ll get two concurrent streams, Full HD, no offline downloads
• Standard with ads – for £5.99 per month, you’ll get two concurrent streams, Full HD, up to 30 offline downloads
• Standard – for £9.99 per month, you’ll get two concurrent streams, Full HD, up to 30 offline downloads
• Premium – for £14.99 per month, you’ll get four concurrent streams, 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos (where available) and up to 100 offline downloads

TNT Sports will be available for £30.99 per month – as a standalone plan or as an add-on to any HBO Max tier.

How will HBO Max launch in the UK? 

As well as the standalone streaming platform, it’s now been confirmed by Sky that Max’s cheapest ad-supported tier will be available to Sky TV customers at no extra charge – a similar set-up to the way they get Paramount+ for free.  

This deal will also extend to anyone who has a Now Entertainment Membership, which costs £9.99 per month (though users can get it for half price at the time of writing if they lock in for a longer contract). Sky TV is now available starting from £15 per month.  

Will Sky and Now customers be able to get HBO Max ad-free? 

The tier that will be available free for Sky and Now customers is the ad-supported one, which will be the cheapest version of HBO Max available.  

It’s not yet clear if Sky/Now customers will be able to upgrade to a premium ad-free one, according to Cordbusters. This could be a way to encourage more standalone subscribers for HBO Max, though this is purely speculation. 

Will I still be able to watch HBO shows via Sky? 

Yes. This change won’t happen until 26 March 2026, so you’ll still be able to stream The White Lotus, House of the Dragon, The Penguin and more without any changes until then.  

Even after HBO Max launches, the free platform bundle means you’ll still be able to watch content via this platform – you’ll just need to sign up for an account via Sky, which will just require your email address, password and a few details, and then you’ll watch in the HBO Max app.  

Cordbusters also confirmed that any existing shows will continue to be broadcast on Sky Atlantic and on-demand – that includes Peacemaker. However, anything that premieres later, such as the Harry Potter TV series, will almost certainly be exclusive to HBO Max.  

What will be available to watch on HBO Max UK?

Warner Bros. announced that British subscribers will have access to a wide range of content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios, and Max Originals.

It means that HBO Max will feature popular series such as The Sopranos, Friends, The Wire, Succession and Game of Thrones, as well as recent hits such as House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdom, The Pitt, and Euphoria.

The service will also premiere the Harry Potter series and DC’s Green Lantern show Lanterns.

When it comes to movie premieres, HBO Max UK basic packages won’t include Warner Bros.’ latest blockbusters, such as Sinners or One Battle After Another. However, there’s hope that upcoming Warner films, such as Wuthering Heights, will debut on the service.

Will Netflix’s deal with Warner Bros. impact the HBO Max UK launch?

On 5 December 2025, Deadline confirmed that Netflix had successfully bought Warner Bros for $82.7B. This means that “Netflix would acquire the Warner Bros. Studios and HBO Max streaming assets”, although “regulatory conditions” will apply.

The deal won’t come into force until Q3 2026. After this time, there’s a possibility that HBO Max shows may be moved completely over to Netflix – with the brand sitting on the platform like a ‘label’ – similar ESPN+ on Disney+. Presumably, this would impact not just the UK, but all other countries in which HBO Max operates.

It’s hard to predict the exact nuances of the deal, as they will likely be hashed out over the coming months.

Should I subscribe to Sky, Now or HBO Max? 

HBO Max isn’t available until the end of March 2026, so you’ve still got a while for that option to be on the table. However, if you want to watch HBO content now and don’t know if Sky or Now is the best option, you can read our breakdown of the differences in our Sky buying guide.