HBO Max Reveals Launch Date for Germany, Italy & More in 2026.

HBO Max is set to officially launch in Germany and Italy on January 13, 2026. On the same day, the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service will also debut in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein, marking a major expansion in Europe. Details for a UK release have not yet been announced.

The platform is already available in over 100 regions, offering content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, the DC Universe, and Max Originals. Germany and Italy are considered key markets, and the rollout will include several new original productions.

New Originals for Germany and Italy

In Germany, HBO Max will present 4 Blocks Zero, a prequel to the gangster drama 4 Blocks, and Banksters, a heist series inspired by a true story. A Beetz Brothers documentary will also premiere, chronicling the theft of Berlins Big Maple Leaf gold coin. Additionally, Jantje Friese and Baran Bo Odar, known for Dark, will produce a thriller series bringing the dark tales of Struwwelpeter to life.

Italian programming includes a dramatization of the 2011 murder of Melania Rea starring Maria Esposito. Marco Bellocchios Portobello, exploring the story of TV host Enzo Tortoras fight against false mafia accusations in the 1980s, will launch on February 20. Other Italian documentaries include Gina Lollobrigida: Diva Contesa, covering disputes over the actresss legacy, and Saman, following a young Pakistani woman resisting an arranged marriage.

Movies and Local Content

German subscribers will have access to both local and international films through agreements with Leonine Studios and Constantin Film, along with German Warner Bros. productions like Wunderschner. Italian viewers will be able to stream Nonostante, directed by and starring Valerio Mastandrea, which opened the Orizzonti section at the 81st Venice Film Festival, and Daniele Barbieros debut Squali featuring Lorenzo Zurzolo and James Franco.

Popular Series and Films

At launch, HBO Max will feature hits like The Pitt, IT: Welcome to Derry, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Euphoria, Industry, and the new French original The Seduction. A Game of Thrones prequel, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will join on January 19. The service will also stream blockbuster films including Superman, The Batman, Dune, Harry Potter, and upcoming releases Weapons and The Conjuring: Last Rites. Classic series such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Rick and Morty are also included.

Sports Coverage

HBO Max will broadcast the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina from February 6-22 across all subscription plans. Tennis fans can access the Australian Open and Roland-Garros as add-ons, along with the Tour de France. German and French subscribers will have access to World Championships and World Cup winter sports, while Italian subscribers will receive coverage of the English FA Cup and UFC events.

JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said, We are excited to bring HBO Max and its compelling content to new European audiences this January. With a strong mix of U.S. and local series, major films, and live sports, its the ideal moment for subscribers to experience everything HBO Max offers.

HBO Max originally launched in the U.S. in 2020 and has since expanded across Latin America, Europe, Central Asia, and Asia Pacific. The European rollout is expected to conclude with the UK and Ireland in early 2026, with the platform currently serving 128 million streaming subscribers.

Author: Lucas Grant