Surprise, Potterheads! HBO has released the first full scene from its upcoming Harry Potter television series, giving fans an extended look inside Hogwarts just weeks before the show’s Christmas Day premiere. The unexpected clip, shared on Saturday 14 November, takes us straight into the Great Hall for the start-of-term banquet, featuring Harry, Ron, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.

The new footage, lasting around 90 seconds, begins with Hogwarts students chanting Dumbledore’s name as the headmaster, played by John Lithgow, prepares to welcome everyone to the feast. Dominic McLaughlin’s Harry turns to Ron Weasley (Alastair Stout) and asks whether Dumbledore is “a bit mad”, to which Ron replies: “Yep, totally off his rocker.”

Dumbledore then snaps his fingers, and the tables magically fill with food as the students tuck into their first Hogwarts feast. The scene offers another look at the new Great Hall, with the banquet appearing closer to how it is described in the original book.

The clip also includes a new conversation between Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, played by Janet McTeer, following Harry’s Sorting into Gryffindor. Dumbledore jokes about McGonagall being pleased to have Harry in her house, while she comments on how much the young wizard resembles his father, James Potter. “Looks can be deceiving, Minerva. His nature is entirely his own,” Dumbledore responds.

The conversation is one of two notable additions to the original story, alongside the students chanting Dumbledore’s name. Neither moment appears in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, with the new series giving viewers a chance to see moments that weren’t included in the book.

The upcoming eight-part adaptation stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Joining Lithgow and McTeer are Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid and Warwick Davis, who returns to the role of Professor Flitwick.

Written by showrunner Francesca Gardiner, with Mark Mylod directing multiple episodes, the first season will follow Harry’s introduction to the wizarding world and his first year at Hogwarts. The series premieres on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, on HBO Max in the UK.

Watch the new Harry Potter Hogwarts banquet scene below!

For CultureCues, we weren’t expecting to wake up to a whole new Harry Potter scene, so all we have to say is Merlin’s beard! As huge fans of the books and films, we’ve been counting down to the new series, and seeing the Great Hall filled with students again has us so excited to return to Hogwarts. We loved getting a longer look at the new cast, especially Harry and Ron, and seeing Dumbledore and McGonagall having a little chat about Harry. There’s just something about Hogwarts at Christmas, and we really can’t wait to spend Christmas Day watching the first episode. Now, where did we put our Hogwarts robes?

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone premieres on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, exclusively on HBO Max in the UK.