HBO Max UK launches in early 2026, and is the new rumoured home for Friends

For years, UK viewers have got most HBO content broadcast in the US via Sky and Now’s Entertainment Membership, with a few exceptions such as comedy hit Hacks. However, there has been speculation over the last few months on the global expansion of the streaming service, HBO Max.  

It was expected that it would eventually arrive in the UK, but it wasn’t clear whether this would be via Sky due to licensing expiring. However, thanks to a major deal, we now know more about what to expect. Here’s when HBO Max arrives in the UK, and how you’ll be able to sign up.  

When will HBO Max launch in the UK?

Warner has confirmed in this press release that HBO Max UK will launch in early 2026. However, we don’t yet know the exact month.

Many people are suspecting that it will be in January 2026, as Friends is leaving Netflix on 30 December 2025, and at the time of writing has no other confirmed streaming home in Great Britain.

Friends would be a huge draw for the platform, as it has consistently been one of the most watched things on Netflix UK since arriving in 2018 – so, Warner may not wish to delay a launch, and instead try to scoop up anyone who cancels their Netflix membership.

Of course, this is just speculation. Once we know more, we’ll update this article.

How will HBO Max launch in the UK?

It’s now been confirmed by Sky that Max’s cheapest ad-supported tier will be available to Sky TV customers at no extra charge – a similar set up to how they can get Paramount+ for free.  

This deal will also extend to anyone who has a Now Entertainment Membership, which costs £9.99 per month (though users can get it for half price at the time of writing if they lock in for a longer contract). Sky TV is now available starting from £15 per month.  

If you’re not a Sky customer, then never fear. Max will also launch as a standalone streaming platform, which will include a Premium ad-free tier. You’ll probably be able to sign up on the HBO Max website, or via the app.

How much will HBO Max cost in the UK?

Warner has not mentioned anything about the UK costs of Max. However, here’s how much it costs in the US: 

• HBO Max Basic with Ads: $10.99 per month/$109.99 per year – 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, two concurrent streams, 5.1 surround sound quality
• HBO Max Standard (Ad-Free) – $18.49 per month/$184.99 per year – 1080p resolution, up to 30 offline downloads, two concurrent streams, 5.1 surround sound quality
• HBO Max Premium (Ad-Free, 4K) – $22.99 per month/$229.99 per year – 4K resolution, up to 100 offline downloads, four concurrent streams, Dolby Atmos sound quality available

Rival streaming services often have slightly lower numbers in the UK due to conversions, so we’d expect these tiers to differ slightly. We also don’t know if HBO Max will offer all three tiers mentioned above, or if it will just stick to one ad-supported and one ad-free option at launch.  

Will Sky and Now customers be able to get HBO Max ad-free?

The tier confirmed to be available free for Sky and Now customers is the ad-supported one, which we assume will the cheapest version of HBO Max available.  

It’s not yet clear if Sky/Now customers will be able to upgrade to a more premium ad-free one, according to Cordbusters. This could be a way to encourage more standalone subscribers for HBO Max, though this is purely speculation. 

Will I still be able to watch HBO shows via Sky?

Yes. This change won’t happen until 2026, so you’ll still be able to stream The White Lotus, House of the Dragon, The Penguin and more without any changes until the end of next year.  

Even after HBO Max launches, the free platform bundle means you’ll still be able to watch content via this platform – you’ll just need to sign up for an account via Sky, which will just require your email address, password and a few details, and then you’ll watch them in the HBO Max app.  

Cordbusters also confirmed that any existing shows (or ones that debut before the end of 2025) will continue to be broadcast on Sky Atlantic and on-demand – that includes Peacemaker. However, anything after that, like the Harry Potter TV series, will almost certainly be exclusive to HBO Max.  

Should I subscribe to Sky, Now or HBO Max?

HBO Max isn’t available until early 2026, so you’ve still got a while for that option to be on the table. However, if you want to watch HBO content now and don’t know if Sky or Now is the best option, you can read our breakdown of the differences in our Sky buying guide.