History of Harry Potter in Timeline
The Harry Potter series, penned by J.K. Rowling, follows the life of young wizard Harry Potter and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The central narrative revolves around Harry's struggle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard seeking immortality, control of the wizarding world by overthrowing the Ministry of Magic, and the domination of wizards and Muggles alike. The seven-book series explores themes of good versus evil, friendship, love, and prejudice within a magical world.
1986: Rowling Graduates from University of Exeter
In 1986, J. K. Rowling graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in French literature.
1990: Idea for Harry Potter Conceived
In 1990, J.K. Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter while on a train from Manchester to London.
1990: Completion of the Epilogue
Rowling stated that the last chapter of the final book (in fact, the epilogue) was completed in something like 1990.
1995: Harry Potter Manuscript Completed
In 1995, J. K. Rowling completed the manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
June 1997: Publication by Bloomsbury
On June 26, 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom.
June 1997: Release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
On June 26, 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released and found immense popularity and commercial success worldwide.
1997: Harry Potter Wins Children's Awards
From 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone won almost all the United Kingdom awards judged by children.
1997: Harry Potter Wins Nestlé Smarties Book Prize
In 1997, the Harry Potter series won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.
July 1998: Publication of Chamber of Secrets in the UK
On July 2, 1998, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was originally published in the UK.
September 1998: US Release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
In September 1998, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was released in the United States by Scholastic.
1998: Harry Potter Wins Children's Awards
From 1998, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone won almost all the United Kingdom awards judged by children.
1998: Harry Potter Shortlisted for Guardian Children's Award
In 1998, the Harry Potter series was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Award.
June 1999: Publication of Chamber of Secrets in the US
On June 2, 1999, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released in the US.
July 1999: Publication of Prisoner of Azkaban in the UK
On July 8, 1999, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in the UK.
September 1999: Publication of Prisoner of Azkaban in the US
On September 8, 1999, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in the US.
1999: Rowling Sells Film Rights to Warner Bros.
In 1999, J.K. Rowling sold the film rights for Harry Potter to Warner Bros. for a reported £1 million (US$2,000,000).
1999: Whitbread Book Award Controversy
In 1999, the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was entered on the shortlist for the main award and one judge threatened to resign.
1999: Harry Potter Wins Multiple Awards
In 1999, the Harry Potter series won a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, a Scottish Arts Council Book Award, and the Whitbread children's book of the year award.
June 2000: NY Times Creates Children's Best-Seller List
In June 2000, The New York Times created a separate best-seller list for children's literature due to the great demand for Harry Potter novels.
July 2000: Publication of Goblet of Fire
On July 8, 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published at the same time by Bloomsbury and Scholastic.
2000: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Nominated for Hugo Award
In 2000, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Novel.
2000: Midnight Release Events Begin
In 2000, bookstores began holding midnight release events for Harry Potter books, starting with the publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
2000: Harry Potter Books Top Best-Seller List
In 2000, the first three Harry Potter books topped The New York Times fiction best-seller list, leading to the creation of a new children's section in the newspaper.
November 2001: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Released
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was released on 14 November 2001.
2001: Banned Book List
In 2001, Harry Potter landed the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List.
2001: Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages Released
In 2001, J.K. Rowling released "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "Quidditch Through the Ages" for charity.
2001: Harry Potter Receives Awards
In 2001, the Harry Potter series received a platinum award from the Whitaker Gold and Platinum Book Awards and a Scottish Arts Council Book Award.
November 2002: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Released
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released on 15 November 2002.
November 2002: Chris Suellentrop Compares Harry Potter
In a November 2002, Chris Suellentrop likened Potter to a "trust-fund kid whose success at school is largely attributable to the gifts his friends and relatives lavish upon him" in Slate article.
2002: Banned Book List
In 2002, Harry Potter landed the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List.
2002: Harry Potter Named British Pop Culture Icon
In 2002, sociologist Andrew Blake named Harry Potter a British pop culture icon.
June 2003: Publication of Order of the Phoenix
On June 21, 2003, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published worldwide in English.
2003: Banned Book List
In 2003, Harry Potter landed the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List.
2003: Platform 9 3/4 Sign Installed at King's Cross
In 2003, a sign marking Platform 9 3/4 was put up at the London King's Cross railway station for Harry Potter fans.
2003: Harry Potter Books Ranked in BBC's The Big Read
In 2003, four of the Harry Potter books were named in the top 24 of the BBC's The Big Read survey of the best-loved novels in the UK.
2003: Shooting for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In 2003, shooting began for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
2003: Harry Potter Ranks Highly in BBC's "Big Read" Survey
In 2003, the BBC's "Big Read" survey of the UK's favorite books ranked Harry Potter at number 5, reflecting a shift in reading tastes towards plot and adventure.
2003: "Muggle" Enters Oxford English Dictionary
In 2003, the word "Muggle" from the Harry Potter series was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, highlighting the series' cultural impact.
June 2004: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Released
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released on 4 June 2004, directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
2004: The New York Times Splits Children's List
In 2004, The New York Times further split the children's list into sections for series and individual books because Harry Potter books dominated the list.
2004: Harry Potter Books Read Aloud in Elementary Schools
In 2004, a study found that books in the Harry Potter series were commonly read aloud in elementary schools in San Diego County, California.
July 2005: Publication of Half-Blood Prince
On July 16, 2005, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published.
November 2005: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Released
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released on 18 November 2005, directed by Mike Newell.
2005: Real-Life Quidditch is Created
In 2005, a real-life version of the sport Quidditch was created, inspired by the Harry Potter series.
2005: Trolley Fixed to Wall at Platform 9 3/4
In 2005, a trolley was fixed to the wall at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross station, enhancing the Harry Potter experience for fans.
January 2006: Production Begins for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In January 2006, production began for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, directed by David Yates.
2006: Harry Potter Wins WHSmith Book of the Year
In 2006, the Harry Potter series won the WHSmith book of the year award.
March 2007: "Harry Potter" Most Searched Fan Fiction Subject
In March 2007, "Harry Potter" was the most commonly searched fan fiction subject on the internet, demonstrating the series' popularity.
April 2007: Barnes & Noble Sets Pre-Order Record
On April 12, 2007, Barnes & Noble declared that Deathly Hallows had broken its pre-order record, with more than 500,000 copies pre-ordered through its site.
July 2007: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Released
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released in July 2007, directed by David Yates.
July 2007: Ron Charles' Criticism in The Washington Post
In July 2007, Ron Charles, a book critic for The Washington Post, shared his opinion on the "hysteria" surrounding the publication of the later books.
July 2007: Publication of Deathly Hallows
On July 21, 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published.
August 2007: Hitchens Praises Rowling
In August 2007, Christopher Hitchens praised Rowling for "unmooring" her "English school story" from literary precedents in The New York Times review of Deathly Hallows.
2007: Harry Potter Series Listed in Teachers' Top 100 Books
Based on a 2007 online poll, the US National Education Association listed the Harry Potter series in its "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children".
2007: Rowling composes The Tales of Beedle the Bard
In 2007, Rowling composed seven handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, one of which was auctioned to raise money for the Children's High Level Group.
2007: Harry Potter Covers on UK Postage Stamps
In 2007, the seven Harry Potter book covers were depicted on a series of UK postage stamps issued by Royal Mail.
December 2008: The Tales of Beedle the Bard Published Internationally
In December 2008, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" was published internationally.
July 2009: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Released
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released on 15 July 2009, directed by David Yates.
2009: Traveling Exhibition Premieres
In 2009, a Harry Potter travelling exhibition premiered in Chicago.
June 2010: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens
On 18 June 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a Harry Potter-themed expansion at Universal Orlando Resort, opened to the public.
November 2010: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 Released
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 was released on 19 November 2010.
July 2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Released
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was released on 15 July 2011.
July 2011: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Video Game Debuts
In July 2011, the video game version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, debuted on consoles.
March 2012: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Opens
In March 2012, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter opened to the public, featuring authentic sets, costumes and props from the film series.
2012: Pottermore Launched
In 2012, J.K. Rowling's website Pottermore was launched, allowing users to explore additional content and play minigames.
2012: Digital Editions Released on Pottermore
In 2012, Rowling released digital editions of the Harry Potter books on the Pottermore website.
2012: Studio Tour Opens in London
In 2012, a Harry Potter studio tour opened in London.
2012: Harry Potter-Themed Shop Opens at King's Cross
In 2012, a Harry Potter-themed shop opened near Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station.
2012: Quidditch Featured in London Olympics
In 2012, a real-life version of Quidditch featured as an exhibition tournament in the London Olympics, inspired by the Harry Potter series.
2012: Lord Voldemort Featured in London Olympics Opening Ceremony
In 2012, the opening ceremony of the London Summer Olympics featured a 100-foot tall rendition of Lord Voldemort.
2012: Harry Potter Books Among Top 100 Chapter Books
In 2012, three of the Harry Potter books placed among the "Top 100 Chapter Books" of all time in a survey published by School Library Journal.
2013: Prince Charles Visits Platform 9 3/4
In 2013, Prince Charles visited Platform 9 3/4 at London King's Cross railway station.
2015: "Back to Hogwarts Day" Gains Prominence
In 2015, September 1st, the day Harry Potter generally started school at Hogwarts, became known as "Back to Hogwarts Day," promoted by J.K. Rowling.
2015: Pottermore Redesigned as WizardingWorld
In 2015, the Pottermore website was redesigned as WizardingWorld, focusing on existing information rather than exploration.
June 2016: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Premieres
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I and II had its official premiere on 30 June 2016, following previews beginning on 7 June 2016.
November 2016: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Released
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released in November 2016, marking J.K. Rowling's foray into screenwriting.
November 2016: Fantastic Beasts Film Premieres
In November 2016, the first film in the Fantastic Beasts spin-off trilogy, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, premiered.
2016: Politics of Harry Potter Compared to 2016 Election
In 2016, Diana C. Mutz compared the politics of Harry Potter to the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign.
2016: J.K. Rowling Acknowledges Timeline Error
In 2016, J.K. Rowling acknowledged she was wrong by a year regarding the King's Cross events in the epilogue of the Harry Potter series.
2016: Release of Three New E-books
In 2016, J.K. Rowling released three new e-books: "Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide", "Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists" and "Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies".
2016: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens in Hollywood
In 2016, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park near Los Angeles, California.
2016: Franchise Valued at $25 Billion
In 2016, the total value of the Harry Potter franchise was estimated at $25 billion, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
2017: Warner Bros. Opens Portkey Games
In 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment opened its own Harry Potter-themed game design studio, called Portkey Games.
November 2018: Book Sales Revenue Estimated at $7.7 Billion
As of November 2018, the total revenue from Harry Potter book sales is estimated to be around $7.7 billion.
November 2018: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Released
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was released in November 2018.
2018: Hogwarts Mystery Released
In 2018, Hogwarts Mystery, developed by Jam City, was released.
November 2019: Harry Potter Series on BBC's List of Most Influential Novels
In November 2019, the BBC listed the Harry Potter series on its list of the 100 most influential novels.
2019: Banned Book List
In 2019, Harry Potter landed the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List.
January 2021: Live-Action Harry Potter TV Series in Early Development
In January 2021, it was reported that a live-action Harry Potter television series was in early development at HBO Max.
April 2022: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Released
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was released in April 2022.
November 2022: Audiobook Listened to Over a Billion Hours
As of November 2022, the Harry Potter audiobook series on Audible has been listened to for over a billion hours.
February 2023: Book Sales Reach 600 Million
As of February 2023, the Harry Potter book series has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling book series in history.
April 2023: Harry Potter TV Series Confirmed
On 12 April 2023, the Harry Potter TV series was confirmed to be in development and will be streamed on Max.
2023: Hogwarts Legacy Released
In 2023, Hogwarts Legacy, developed by Avalanche Software, was released.
February 2024: Harry Potter TV Series to Debut in 2026
On 23 February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that the Harry Potter TV series would debut on Max in 2026.
June 2024: Harry Potter TV Series Moved to HBO
On 25 June 2024, it was announced the Harry Potter TV series was moved from Max to HBO.
November 2024: Mark Rylance Front Runner for Dumbledore Role
In November 2024, it was reported that Mark Rylance was the front runner to play Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter television series.
2024: Fans Boo Absence of Hogwarts Express Announcement at King's Cross
In 2024, on "Back to Hogwarts Day", fans booed at King's Cross Station due to the absence of the usual Hogwarts Express announcement, highlighting crowding issues from previous years.
February 2025: John Lithgow Confirmed as Dumbledore
On 25 February 2025, American actor John Lithgow confirmed reports that he had been cast as Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter television series.
March 2025: Essiedu and McTeer in Negotiations for Snape and McGonagall
On 7 March 2025, it was reported that English actor Paapa Essiedu and English actress Janet McTeer were in negotiations to portray Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall respectively in the upcoming Harry Potter series.
April 2025: Rights Deal with Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution Ends
The seven-year rights deal with Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution that included US broadcast, cable and streaming rights to the Harry Potter franchise ends in April 2025.
2026: Harry Potter TV Series to Debut on HBO
In 2026, the live-action television series based on the Harry Potter books is expected to debut on HBO.
