‘Harry Potter’ is giving away 200,000 books in a huge Back to Hogwarts surprise

Publishers will send books and audiobooks to schools, libraries and hospitals across several countries

The magic of Hogwarts is heading beyond screens and shelves this year as the annual Back to Hogwarts celebration prepares to support a major reading initiative. Publishers connected to the Harry Potter franchise are set to donate over 200,000 books and audiobooks to schools, libraries, hospitals and underserved communities around the world.

The initiative was reported by Variety on August 27, with Scholastic, Bloomsbury and Pottermore Publishing among the publishing partners involved. International publishing partners in France, Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Bulgaria, Finland, China and Japan are also participating. The donations are planned across the U.S., U.K. and other international markets.

Scholastic is taking a particularly significant role in the U.S. by donating 100,000 copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to underserved communities. The publisher is also working with Audible and Pottermore to provide 100,000 teachers involved with book clubs with access to the audiobook.

In the U.K., Bloomsbury will distribute copies through charities and literacy organisations including the National Literacy Trust, Give a Book and Read for Good. Pottermore and Audible will support the effort with audiobook donations, extending the campaign beyond traditional printed books.

The programme arrives ahead of Back to Hogwarts Day on September 1, an annual celebration tied to the fictional return of Hogwarts students for a new school year. The official Harry Potter site has confirmed that the 2026 celebrations will also mark the 25th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film, with cinema screenings, fan events and other activities taking place internationally.

Readers will also receive additional digital access during September. Pottermore Publishing is lifting waitlists for digital editions of the Harry Potter books and audiobooks for library card holders, allowing fans to access the series without the usual queues.

The original audiobook recordings of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, narrated by Stephen Fry and Jim Dale, are also being made available through several platforms. The Jim Dale recording will receive its first availability to listeners outside North America through the official Harry Potter YouTube channel, while the audiobooks will also be available through Audible, Amazon Music and Spotify.

The reading campaign forms part of a much wider year of Harry Potter activity. The franchise is celebrating 25 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone reached cinemas, with the film returning to theatres internationally during the Back to Hogwarts period. Official plans include screenings across North America, EMEA, LATAM and APAC, with previously unseen behind the scenes material accompanying the film in cinemas.

The franchise is also preparing for the new HBO Original Harry Potter series, which is currently in production and is scheduled to premiere in 2027 according to the official Harry Potter site.

For the 2026 Back to Hogwarts celebration, an in person fan experience is also planned in London, featuring activities, giveaways, photo opportunities and interactive elements connected to the wizarding world. The official Harry Potter website has also announced celebrations and events in countries including France, Italy, Spain, Germany, China, Australia and Japan.

The book donations give the anniversary celebrations a strong literary focus, returning attention to the novels that established the franchise long before the films, theme parks and other experiences became part of its global identity. With publishers, audiobook platforms and literacy organisations involved, the campaign is designed to place the books directly in the hands of readers who may have limited access to them.