New Harry Potter Books Are Coming in 2026: Release Dates and Everything We Know

Harry Potter fans are getting several new books to add to their shelves in 2026, and the next releases are almost here.

Two new entries in the Pocket Potters collection, focusing on Rubeus Hagrid and Dobby, will arrive in August 2026. The releases will expand the growing collection of illustrated Harry Potter character guides and give fans another reason to return to the Wizarding World.

And that isn’t the only major Harry Potter book release coming this year.

Later in 2026, fans will finally get the long-awaited illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, continuing a publishing project that has become one of the most collectible versions of J.K. Rowling’s original novels.

With the Harry Potter franchise also preparing for HBO’s television adaptation and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first Harry Potter movie, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years for the Wizarding World in quite some time.

Here is everything we know about the new Harry Potter books, their release dates and what readers can expect.

Are There New Harry Potter Books Coming Out in 2026?

Yes.

The next Harry Potter books scheduled for release are Pocket Potters: Hagrid and Pocket Potters: Dobby.

Bloomsbury has announced that the two books will be published in the United Kingdom and other territories on August 13, 2026. U.S. readers will be able to get the books through Scholastic beginning August 18, 2026.

That makes them two of the newest official Harry Potter books to arrive this year.

However, there is an important distinction for fans who see headlines about a “new Harry Potter book.”

These are not new Harry Potter novels or sequels to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Instead, the Pocket Potters series consists of short, illustrated guides celebrating individual characters from the original Harry Potter stories.

Still, for collectors and younger readers in particular, they offer a new way to experience characters who have remained fan favorites for decades.

The New Hagrid Harry Potter Book

Few Harry Potter characters are as instantly recognizable as Rubeus Hagrid.

From the moment he tells Harry that he is a wizard in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Hagrid becomes one of Harry’s most loyal friends and a major presence throughout the series.

Now, he is getting his own Pocket Potters book.

The Hagrid edition is illustrated by Olia Muza, who also illustrated the Ron Weasley entry in the collection.

According to the official Harry Potter announcement, the book explores everything from the contents of Hagrid’s pockets to his enormous dog Fang, while revisiting memorable moments and details from his appearances throughout the series.

That makes Hagrid an obvious choice for the expanding collection.

He isn’t merely a supporting character. Hagrid is deeply connected to some of the biggest moments in Harry’s life, from introducing him to the magical world to helping protect Hogwarts during its darkest days.

For longtime fans, the new book offers nostalgia.

For children discovering Harry Potter for the first time, it offers a quick introduction to one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.

Dobby Is Getting His Own Harry Potter Book Too

The second new Pocket Potter arriving in August focuses on another unforgettable Harry Potter character: Dobby.

Dobby’s first appearance in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets immediately made him memorable. The house-elf initially spends much of the story attempting to prevent Harry from returning to Hogwarts, often with disastrous results.

But Dobby eventually becomes one of Harry’s most devoted allies.

The new Dobby book is illustrated by Helen Brady and features visual references to some of the character’s most famous moments, including socks, his collection of hats and the pudding involved in his chaotic first meeting with Harry.

Fans already familiar with Dobby’s story know just how important he becomes.

That emotional connection should make his Pocket Potters entry especially appealing to readers who grew up with the books.

What Are the Pocket Potters Books?

Pocket Potters are compact illustrated character guides built around the people who inhabit the Harry Potter universe.

Rather than retelling an entire Harry Potter novel, each book focuses on one character and collects memorable moments, facts, quotes and details associated with them.

The series already includes books centered on:

• Harry Potter
• Ron Weasley
• Hermione Granger
• Professor Dumbledore
• Luna Lovegood

Hagrid and Dobby will join the collection in August.

The official Harry Potter site has also confirmed that additional Pocket Potters books are planned for 2027, meaning the collection is far from finished.

That could make the series particularly interesting to collectors.

Much like the numerous special editions, house editions and illustrated Harry Potter books released over the years, Pocket Potters appear designed to give readers a different way to build a Wizarding World collection.

Is There a New Harry Potter Novel Coming Out?

This is probably the biggest question surrounding any announcement about a “new Harry Potter book.”

As of August 2026, there has been no official announcement of an eighth Harry Potter novel continuing Harry’s story after the original seven-book series.

There have been many other Wizarding World publications since then, including companion books, scripts, illustrated editions and reference books.

But fans searching for news about “Harry Potter Book 8” should know that the newly announced books are not sequels to Deathly Hallows.

That doesn’t mean Harry Potter publishing has slowed down.

In fact, another particularly exciting release is coming only a few months after Hagrid and Dobby arrive.

A New Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Edition Is Coming in October

One of the biggest Harry Potter publishing events of 2026 will happen on October 6.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Illustrated Edition will finally be released globally on October 6, 2026, with Bloomsbury and Scholastic publishing the book simultaneously in their respective markets.

The book will be illustrated by award-winning artist Levi Pinfold.

Pinfold is taking over the illustrated Harry Potter series after Jim Kay, who illustrated the earlier installments.

Fans of Harry Potter books may already recognize Pinfold’s work. He previously contributed artwork to projects including the Hogwarts House Editions and The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac.

His version of Half-Blood Prince will contain 432 pages and feature full-color artwork throughout the book.

The change in illustrator could also give the sixth book a noticeably different visual identity.

That may be especially appropriate for Half-Blood Prince, which is one of the darkest installments in the Harry Potter series.

Voldemort’s return is no longer a secret. Hogwarts feels increasingly vulnerable, Draco Malfoy is hiding something and Harry begins learning more about Voldemort’s past through Dumbledore’s memories.

It is a book filled with darkness, mystery and some of the series’ most memorable scenes.

Pinfold’s artwork gives readers an entirely new way to experience them.

The Half-Blood Prince Illustrated Edition Has a Stunning New Cover

Bloomsbury has already revealed the cover and several pieces of artwork from the upcoming book.

The cover depicts Harry and Dumbledore surrounded by flames, referencing one of the most dramatic sequences near the end of Half-Blood Prince.

It is a fitting choice.

The cave sequence is one of the novel’s defining moments, as Harry and Dumbledore attempt to retrieve what they believe is one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

The artwork signals that Pinfold isn’t simply recreating familiar images from previous editions. He appears to be bringing his own visual interpretation to the Wizarding World.

J.K. Rowling praised Pinfold’s work when the cover was revealed, describing his illustrations as “spellbinding.”

For fans collecting every illustrated Harry Potter book, October 6 will likely be one of the most important release dates of the year.

A Deluxe Half-Blood Prince Edition Is Also Coming

Collectors will have another option shortly afterward.

A Deluxe Illustrated Slipcase Edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Bloomsbury says the deluxe version will include features such as gilt-edged pages, cloth binding and an exclusive art print.

That means Harry Potter readers effectively have several notable book releases arriving during the final months of 2026.

First come Hagrid and Dobby in August.

Then the standard illustrated edition of Half-Blood Prince arrives in October.

The premium deluxe edition follows in November.

For a franchise whose first novel was published nearly three decades ago, that is a remarkable publishing schedule.

Why 2026 Is Such a Big Year for Harry Potter

The timing of these books is particularly interesting because Harry Potter is entering another major era.

The Wizarding World is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film in 2026, while HBO is also preparing its new television adaptation of the novels.

The official Harry Potter site has been promoting a large Back to Hogwarts celebration for 2026 featuring fan events, movie screenings and new announcements connected to the franchise.

That means readers should expect Harry Potter to remain highly visible throughout the rest of the year.

Books such as Hagrid and Dobby may appear relatively small compared with a major television series, but they are part of a much larger attempt to introduce Harry Potter to another generation.

Some readers discovering the characters through the upcoming television adaptation may eventually turn to the original novels.

Existing fans, meanwhile, have increasingly elaborate editions of the books to collect.

Harry Potter has effectively become a multigenerational franchise.

The children who waited at midnight release parties for the original novels are now old enough to introduce Harry Potter to their own children.

Books such as Pocket Potters appear perfectly positioned for that audience.

Could More New Harry Potter Books Be Announced?

Almost certainly.

The Pocket Potters announcement specifically says that more character guides are coming in 2027.

There is also another major illustrated edition still to come.

Levi Pinfold was announced as the illustrator for the final two installments of the Harry Potter Illustrated Editions, beginning with Half-Blood Prince. That means Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is expected to eventually receive the same treatment.

A publication date for that illustrated edition has not yet been announced.

Fans should therefore be cautious whenever rumored Harry Potter release dates appear online. Until Bloomsbury, Scholastic or the official Harry Potter channels announce a date, it should not be treated as confirmed.

When Do the New Harry Potter Books Come Out?

Here are the major confirmed Harry Potter book release dates currently on the calendar:

August 13, 2026: Pocket Potters: Hagrid and Pocket Potters: Dobby release through Bloomsbury in the UK and other territories.

August 18, 2026: Hagrid and Dobby arrive in the United States through Scholastic.

October 6, 2026: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Illustrated Edition is published globally.

November 3, 2026: The Deluxe Illustrated Slipcase Edition of Half-Blood Prince is released.

Harry Potter Fans Have Plenty to Look Forward to

Anyone hoping for a completely new Harry Potter adventure will have to keep waiting.

There is currently no confirmed eighth Harry Potter novel.

But that doesn’t mean 2026 is a quiet year for Harry Potter readers.

Hagrid and Dobby are receiving their own beautifully illustrated Pocket Potters books in August, while one of the most anticipated Harry Potter collector’s editions in years arrives this fall.

The October release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Illustrated Edition is especially significant.

Fans have been collecting the illustrated editions for years, and Levi Pinfold’s arrival gives the final stretch of the project a fresh visual style.

With Deathly Hallows still waiting for its own illustrated release and additional Pocket Potters already confirmed for 2027, there are clearly more Harry Potter books on the horizon.

For now, the next date fans should circle is August 13 in the UK and August 18 in the United States, when Hagrid and Dobby officially join the Pocket Potters collection.

And just a few weeks later, Harry Potter fans may want to keep an eye on September’s Back to Hogwarts celebrations.

In the Wizarding World, another announcement never seems to be too far away.

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