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HBO has finally announced when fans can tune in to the first episode of It: Welcome to Derry. The horror prequel to Stephen King’s It movies will premiere on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM PT, which is 9:00 PM ET. It will stream on HBO Max at the same time it airs on HBO, so U.S. viewers can watch it live or online right away.
The series takes viewers back to 1962, exploring the origins of Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the dark secrets buried deep in the town of Derry. It also connects the events of the It movies to a bigger story and focuses on Mike Hanlon’s grandfather, showing how Derry’s evil began long before the Losers Club ever faced Pennywise.
For fans outside the U.S., HBO has shared the international release details too. In the UK, the first episode will air on Sky Max and NowTV at 2:00 AM GMT on October 27, with a repeat at 9 PM the same evening. Once released, every episode will be available on-demand, so viewers can catch up anytime.
Season 1 will include eight episodes, each releasing weekly on Sundays at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. Here’s the full schedule:
Episode 1: October 26, 2025
Episode 2: November 2, 2025
Episode 3: November 9, 2025
Episode 4: November 16, 2025
Episode 5: November 23, 2025
Episode 6: November 30, 2025
Episode 7: December 7, 2025
Episode 8 (Finale): December 14, 2025
Viewers in the U.S. can watch the series on HBO and stream it on HBO Max, while UK audiences can find it on Sky Max and NowTV.
The prequel brings back Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, with Andy and Barbara Muschietti — the duo behind the It movies — returning as creative directors. The cast also features Taylour Paige, James Remar, Jovan Adepo, Rudy Mancuso, Chris Chalk, Stephen Rider, and Madeleine Stowe.
In the first trailer, Mike Hanlon’s grandfather investigates a string of missing children in Derry, slowly uncovering the horrifying rise of Pennywise. Stephen King himself has praised the series, saying the creative team has done a great job expanding the story and connecting it to the larger It universe.