Harry Potter attractions updates revealed worldwide for ‘Back to Hogwarts’
Universal and Warner Bros. revealed announcements spanning the entire Harry Potter franchise during “Back to Hogwarts” on Sept. 1, 2024.
Updated Sept.. 1, 2024; originally published July 24, 2024.
“Back to Hogwarts” is an annual celebration of the “Harry Potter” brand on Sept. 1, commemorating the day the Hogwarts Express transports students back to school each year in the stories.
New Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando
As previously revealed, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will will open in 2025 as part of the new Universal Epic Universe theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.
The area — Orlando’s third Wizarding World, joining the existing Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley — will span multiple points in the “Potter” timeline. Its exteriors resemble 1920s-era Place Cachée in France, as seen in 2018’s “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” while a high-tech ride will take place in 1990s London, the decade in which the main “Harry Potter” stories take place.
Universal Orlando revealed the attractions and details for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic on July 31, 2024, complete with a ride starring Delores Umbridge and an indoor stage show featuring magical creatures.
On Sept. 1, 2024 during a “Back to Hogwarts” showcase on YouTube, Universal revealed even more information and concept art about the Ministry of Magic’s signature attraction, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry — and confirmed that Imelda Staunton reprised her role as Umbridge for the ride.
So far, we’ve gotten a peek into this new Wizarding World realm from the scale model of Epic Universe (see video below) on display at Universal CityWalk, as well as aerial pictures from photographer bioreconstruct.
The other worlds of Epic Universe are: Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Super Nintendo World, and Dark Universe.
Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure
Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure will open in 2025 from Warner Bros. Discovery and Rail Events Incorporated. Very little information has been revealed about this experience, including where it will take place.
(This is a completely separate entity than the Hogwarts Express theme park attraction, which runs continuously every day between Universal Orlando’s two existing “Harry Potter” areas.)
Rail Events currently operates annual seasonal events aboard full-scale trains themed “The Polar Express” (at 43 railway locations nationwide) and Charlie Brown (in Durango, Col. and Bryson City, N.C.)
‘Goblet of Fire’ at Warner Bros. tour in London
In summer 2025, an experience focused on “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” will open as part of The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
The tour will showcase the “Goblet of Fire” experience from May 7 – Sept. 8, 2025.
Other (previously announced) future exhibitions will highlight Dark Arts this fall and “Hogwarts in the Snow” this winter.
Yule Ball in Mexico
Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration will bring Hogwarts’ school dance (from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) to Monterrey, Mexico on Oct. 31, 2024.
The event is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Discovery and Fever. It previously hosted parties in Mexico City, Mexico; Santiago de Chile, Chile; Sydney, Australia; Houston, Texas; Milan, Italy; and Montreal, Canada.
Harry Potter: Visions of Magic in Singapore
The walk-through Harry Potter: Visions of Magic touring exhibition, described as a “magical, interactive art experience,” will open in Singapore later in 2024. Visions of Magic’s Singapore residency will debut two new environments: the trap door from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and the Chamber of Secrets.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
Other locales from previous iterations of the exhibition will also return:
- Grimmauld Place
- Hall of Prophecy
- The Knight Bus
- Knockturn Alley
- Ministries of Magic
- Newt’s Menagerie
- The Pensieve
- Room of Requirement
Even more attractions ahead
That’s just the tip of the iceberg; more “Harry Potter” attractions coming soon worldwide include:
- Harry Potter: Magic at Play in Mexico City, Mexico
- Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; and Montabaun, France
- Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Boston, Mass. and Madrid, Spain
‘Harry Potter’ movies back in theaters
As part of “Back to Hogwarts,” all eight “Harry Potter” films have returned to theaters.
Photo by Blake Taylor
Recent ‘Harry Potter’ magic in Universal parks
To celebrate “Back to Hogwarts,” guests can purchase an Iced Biscuit (aka frosted cookie) for a limited time at Honeydukes inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at both Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as at Sugarplum’s Sweet Shop inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida.
This summer has been busy for the “Harry Potter” franchise at Universal Orlando. Women debuted in the character roles of the Hogwarts Express conductor (at Islands of Adventure) and the Knight Bus conductor (at Universal Studios Florida). Both characters have been portrayed exclusively by men for over a decade.
Additionally, Islands of Adventure debuted the limited-time “Hogwarts Always,” a nighttime projection show guiding the audience along for a year’s worth of studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The show has four possible endings, one for each Hogwarts house. If you missed the show’s limited-time summer engagement, enjoy our video of the full show:
Watch the full “Back to Hogwarts” showcase on the Harry Potter YouTube channel for even more reveals beyond the attractions industry.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Ready for adventure? Our trusted partner Universal Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the fun. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating epic vacations. Visit Universal Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
