History of Harry Potter in Timeline
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels by J.K. Rowling, following the life of Harry Potter, a young wizard, and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The series focuses on Harry's battle against Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard seeking immortality and the subjugation of wizards and non-magical people (Muggles). The novels explore themes of good versus evil, friendship, love, and prejudice within a magical world.
1964: Billboard compared to Beatles success
In 1964, Time suggested that Billboard should have created a separate "mop-tops" list when The Beatles held the top five places in its list.
1986: Rowling Graduates from University of Exeter
In 1986, J.K. Rowling graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in French literature, after which she spent a year living in France, influencing her later works.
1990: Rowling completes the last chapter of Harry Potter
Around 1990, Rowling stated that she completed the last chapter of the final book, the epilogue.
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.
1995: Completion of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
In 1995, J.K. Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and sent the manuscript to prospective agents.
June 1997: Publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the UK
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, the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was released, gaining immense popularity and commercial success.
1997: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone wins awards
In 1997, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" won almost all of the United Kingdom awards judged by children, but none of the children's book awards judged by adults.
1997: Harry Potter Awards in 1997
In 1997, The Harry Potter series was Commended for the Carnegie Medal, and won a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.
July 1998: Publication of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the UK
In July 1998, specifically on July 2nd, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was originally published in the UK.
September 1998: Publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US
In September 1998, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published in the United States by Scholastic as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
1998: Awards continue for Philosopher's Stone
In 1998, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" continued to win almost all of the United Kingdom awards judged by children, but again, none of the children's book awards judged by adults.
1998: Short listing for the Guardian Children's Award
In 1998, the Harry Potter series was short listed for the Guardian Children's Award.
June 1999: Publication of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in the US
In June 1999, specifically on June 2nd, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was published in the US.
July 1999: Publication of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in the UK
In July 1999, specifically on July 8th, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in the UK.
September 1999: Publication of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in the US
In September 1999, specifically on September 8th, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in the US.
1999: Whitbread Book of the Year controversy
In 1999, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year award, leading to controversy and finishing second to Seamus Heaney's "Beowulf".
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) with creative control over the film series.
1999: Anthony Holden judges Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for the Whitbread Awards
In 1999, critic Anthony Holden reviewed Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for the Whitbread Awards, resulting in a negative overall view of the series, citing it as patronising and unoriginal.
1999: Harry Potter Awards in 1999
In 1999, the Harry Potter series won a Nestlé Smarties Book Prize, a Scottish Arts Council Book Award, and the inaugural Whitbread children's book of the year award.
June 2000: New York Times Creates Separate Best-Seller List
In June 2000, The New York Times created a separate best-seller list for children's literature due to the popularity of the Harry Potter novels.
July 2000: Publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
On July 8, 2000, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published simultaneously by Bloomsbury and Scholastic.
2000: Midnight Release Events Begin
Beginning in 2000 with the publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, bookstores started holding midnight release events for the books, attracting fans with various activities.
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: New York Times creates children's best-seller list
In 2000, the New York Times created a new children's section covering children's books including fiction and non-fiction, and initially counting only hardback sales. This was shortly before the publication of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".
November 2001: Release of Philosopher's Stone video game
In November 2001, the video game version of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was released by Electronic Arts (EA), becoming one of the best-selling PlayStation games ever.
2001: Release of Fantastic Beasts and Quidditch Through the Ages
In 2001, J.K. Rowling released "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" and "Quidditch Through the Ages," books that were purportedly Hogwarts textbooks and benefited Comic Relief.
![Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay [Paperback] Rowling, J.K.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rwCT7RwML._SL500_.jpg "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay [Paperback] Rowling, J.K.")
2001: Harry Potter Lands on Banned Book List
In 2001, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List due to claims it was anti-family and discussed magic and witchcraft.
November 2002: Slate Article Compares Harry Potter to a Trust Fund Kid
In November 2002, Chris Suellentrop likened Harry Potter to a "trust-fund kid" in a Slate article, criticizing his success.
November 2002: Release of Chamber of Secrets film
The film "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets", directed by Chris Columbus, was released on November 15, 2002. Production began just three days after the release of the first film.
2002: Harry Potter named British pop culture icon
In 2002, sociologist Andrew Blake named Harry Potter a British pop culture icon, along with James Bond and Sherlock Holmes.
2002: Harry Potter Lands on Banned Book List
In 2002, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List due to claims it was anti-family and discussed magic and witchcraft.
June 2003: Publication of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
On June 21, 2003, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was published worldwide in English.
2003: Platform 9 3/4 sign at King's Cross
In 2003, a sign marking Platform 9 3/4 was put up at the London King's Cross railway station, commemorating the iconic location from the Harry Potter books.
2003: Harry Potter books in BBC's The Big Read survey
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: BBC's Big Read survey
In 2003, the BBC's "Big Read" survey ranked Philip Pullman and J.K. Rowling at numbers 3 and 5 respectively, reflecting a shift in reading tastes towards plot and adventure.
2003: Harry Potter Lands on Banned Book List
In 2003, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List due to claims it was anti-family and discussed magic and witchcraft.
2003: "Muggle" enters Oxford English Dictionary
In 2003, the word "Muggle" from the Harry Potter series entered the Oxford English Dictionary, showing the series' cultural impact.
2003: Shooting of Prisoner of Azkaban film
Shooting took place in 2003 for "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
June 2004: Release of Prisoner of Azkaban film
The film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban", directed by Alfonso Cuarón after shooting in 2003, was released on June 4, 2004.
2004: Harry Potter read aloud in elementary schools
A 2004 study found that the Harry Potter books in the series were commonly read aloud in elementary schools in San Diego County, California.
2004: 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 and removed the Harry Potter books from the section for individual books.
July 2005: Publication of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
On July 16, 2005, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published.
November 2005: Release of Goblet of Fire film
The film "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", directed by Mike Newell, was released on November 18, 2005. Newell became the first British director of the series.
2005: Trolley added to Platform 9 3/4
By the year 2005, a trolley was fixed to the wall at Platform 9 3/4 in London King's Cross railway station, enhancing the Harry Potter experience for fans.
2005: Real-life Quidditch created
In 2005, a real-life version of the sport Quidditch was created, demonstrating the cultural impact of the series.
January 2006: Production begins on Order of the Phoenix film
In January 2006, production began on "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", directed by David Yates. It was released in July 2007.
2006: WHSmith book of the year award
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, showing the series' popularity and cultural impact.
April 2007: Deathly Hallows Breaks Pre-Order Record at Barnes & Noble
On April 12, 2007, Barnes & Noble declared that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows had broken its pre-order record, with more than 500,000 copies pre-ordered through its site.
July 2007: Release of Order of the Phoenix film
In July 2007, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" was released. It was directed by David Yates.
July 2007: Ron Charles Reviews Harry Potter
In July 2007, Ron Charles of The Washington Post reviewed the Harry Potter series and its cultural impact, pointing to the "hysteria" around its release.
July 2007: Publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
On July 21, 2007, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final novel, was published.
August 2007: Review of Deathly Hallows
In August 2007, Christopher Hitchens praised Rowling for "unmooring" her "English school story" from literary precedents in a review of Deathly Hallows in The New York Times.
2007: Harry Potter series in "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children"
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: Harry Potter book 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: International Publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard
On 4 December 2008, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard", a collection of fairy tales featured in the final Harry Potter novel, was published internationally.
July 2009: Release of Half-Blood Prince film
In July 2009, the film "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince", directed by David Yates, was released.
2009: Harry Potter Travelling Exhibition Premieres
In 2009, a Harry Potter travelling exhibition premiered in Chicago, expanding the franchise beyond books and films.
June 2010: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens
On June 18, 2010, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a Harry Potter-themed expansion to the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, opened to the public. It includes a recreation of Hogsmeade and several rides, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
November 2010: Release of Deathly Hallows Part 1 video game
In November 2010, "Deathly Hallows Part 1", the video game, was released.
July 2011: Release of Deathly Hallows Part 2 video game
In July 2011, "Deathly Hallows Part 2" debuted on consoles as the last game in the series.
March 2012: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Opens
In March 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter opened to the public, featuring authentic sets, costumes, and props from the Harry Potter film series. The attraction is located at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden, where all eight films were made.
2012: Digital Editions Released on Pottermore
In 2012, J.K. Rowling released digital editions of the Harry Potter books on the Pottermore website, retaining rights to the digital versions.
2012: Launch of Pottermore Website
In 2012, J.K. Rowling's website, Pottermore, was launched, allowing users to be sorted, chosen by their wand, and play minigames, with access to previously unrevealed content, comprising over 18,000 words.
2012: Studio Tour in London Opens
In 2012, a Harry Potter studio tour opened in London, providing fans with an immersive experience.
2012: Harry Potter-themed shop opens at King's Cross
In 2012, a Harry Potter-themed shop opened near Platform 9 3/4 at the London King's Cross railway station, offering merchandise and souvenirs to fans.
2012: Harry Potter books among "Top 100 Chapter Books"
In 2012, a survey published by School Library Journal placed three of the Harry Potter books among the "Top 100 Chapter Books" of all time.
2012: Lord Voldemort at London Olympics opening ceremony
In 2012, the opening ceremony of the London Summer Olympics featured a 100-foot tall rendition of Lord Voldemort.
2012: Quidditch at London Olympics
In 2012, the real-life sport Quidditch was featured as an exhibition tournament in the London Olympics.
2013: Prince Charles visits Platform 9 3/4
In 2013, Prince Charles visited the location of Platform 9 3/4 at London King's Cross railway station, highlighting the cultural significance of the Harry Potter series.
2014: Launch of "Harry Potter Book Night" announced
In 2014, British book publisher Bloomsbury announced the launch of "Harry Potter Book Night" and associated promotional events.
2014: New Harry Potter-Themed Area Opens at Universal Studios Florida
In 2014, Universal opened a Harry Potter-themed area at the Universal Studios Florida theme park. It includes a recreation of Diagon Alley, with the flagship attraction being the Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts roller coaster ride.
February 2015: First "Harry Potter Book Night" held
The first "Harry Potter Book Night" was held in February 2015, following the announcement by Bloomsbury in 2014.
2015: "Back to Hogwarts Day" gains prominence
In 2015, 1 September, the day Harry Potter generally started school at Hogwarts, became known to fans as "Back to Hogwarts Day", gaining more prominence after J.K. Rowling suggested it was the year Harry would be sending his own children to Hogwarts.
June 2016: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child previews and premiere
In June 2016, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts I and II" began previews on June 7th and officially premiered on June 30th at the Palace Theatre in London's West End. Tickets for the first four months sold out rapidly.
November 2016: Release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
In November 2016, the film "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" was released, marking the beginning of the prequel series.
2016: Politics of Harry Potter Compared to Trump Campaign
In 2016, Diana C. Mutz wrote an article comparing the politics of Harry Potter to the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign, exploring potential influences on American responses.
2016: Rowling acknowledges incorrect Hogwarts epilogue date
In 2016, J.K. Rowling acknowledged that she was wrong by a year regarding the King's Cross events in the epilogue, related to "Back to Hogwarts Day".
2016: Release of New Harry Potter 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: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens at Universal Studios Hollywood
In 2016, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park near Los Angeles, California.
2016: Harry Potter Franchise Estimated Value
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. Interactive Entertainment opens Portkey Games
In 2017, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment opened its own Harry Potter-themed game design studio, named 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: Release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
In November 2018, the film "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" was released as the second film in the prequel series.
2018: Release of Hogwarts Mystery
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: Harry Potter Lands on Banned Book List
In 2019, the Harry Potter series landed on the American Library Associations' Top 10 Banned Book List due to claims it was anti-family and discussed magic and witchcraft.
January 2021: Live-Action TV Series in Early Development at HBO Max
In January 2021, reports surfaced that a live-action Harry Potter television series was in early development at HBO Max.
April 2022: Release of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
In April 2022, the film "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" was released, the third in the prequel series.
November 2022: Audible Listens Exceed a Billion Hours
As of November 2022, the Harry Potter audiobook series has been listened to for over a billion hours on Audible.
February 2023: Harry Potter Book Sales Reach 600 Million
As of February 2023, the Harry Potter book series has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling book series in history.
April 2023: Series Confirmed to be in Development for Max
In April 2023, confirmation arrived that the live-action Harry Potter series was officially in development and would be streamed on the new streaming service Max, which was formerly known as HBO Max.
June 2023: Japan Based Studio Tour Opens
On 16 June 2023, A Japan based version of the studio tour opened.
2023: "Harry Potter Book Night" rebranded to "Harry Potter Book Day"
In 2023, "Harry Potter Book Night" was rebranded to "Harry Potter Book Day" and moved to October.
2023: Release of Hogwarts Legacy
In 2023, Hogwarts Legacy, developed by Avalanche Software, was released.
February 2024: Series Debut Announced for 2026 on Max
In February 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that the upcoming Harry Potter television series is slated to premiere on the Max streaming service in 2026.
June 2024: Series Moved from Max to HBO
In June 2024, it was announced the series was moved from Max to HBO.
September 2024: Open Casting Call Announced
In September 2024, an open casting call for the three leading young actors in the UK and Ireland was announced, with Variety reporting that 32,000 children auditioned for the roles, with filming to start in summer 2025.
November 2024: Mark Rylance Front Runner for Dumbledore
In November 2024, it was reported that Mark Rylance was the front runner to play Dumbledore in the Harry Potter TV series.
2024: Fans boo at King's Cross on "Back to Hogwarts Day"
On September 1, 2024, fans gathered at King's Cross Station for "Back to Hogwarts Day," but booed when no Hogwarts Express announcement was made, due to previous crowding issues.
February 2025: John Lithgow Cast as Dumbledore
On 25 February 2025, American actor John Lithgow confirmed reports that he had been cast as Dumbledore in the Harry Potter TV series, stirring potential controversy due to the preference for British or Irish actors in the film series.
May 2025: Casting Announcement: Harry, Ron, and Hermione
On 27 May 2025, Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton were cast as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger respectively in the Harry Potter TV series.
June 2025: Further Casting Announcements
In June 2025, more of the cast for the Harry Potter TV series was revealed. Bel Powley would play Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby would play Vernon Dursley, Lox Pratt would play Draco Malfoy, Johnny Flynn would play Lucius Malfoy, Katherine Parkinson would play Molly Weasley, Leo Earley would play Seamus Finnigan, Alessia Leoni would play Parvati Patil, Sienna Moosah would play Lavender Brown, and Bertie Carvel would play Cornelius Fudge.
August 2025: Audio Dramas Release Schedule Announced
In August 2025, the release schedule for the full-cast Harry Potter audio dramas was announced, with monthly releases starting on 4 November 2025.
November 2025: Audio Dramas Release
In November 2025, the Harry Potter audio dramas will be released monthly.
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