Quick Summary
- IT: Welcome to Derry premieres on October 26, 2025, on HBO and HBO Max at 9:00 PM ET.
- The series has eight weekly episodes, running through December 14, 2025, with a worldwide rollout within 24 hours.
- Season 1 explores the 1962 Black Spot Cycle, setting the stage for a planned multi-season expansion of Stephen King’s horror universe.
What Is IT: Welcome to Derry About?
Set decades before the events of IT (2017), HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry serves as a chilling prequel that dives deep into the origins of Pennywise and the cursed town of Derry, Maine.
The story unfolds during the 1962 “Black Spot Cycle,” referencing a racially motivated nightclub fire that first appeared in Stephen King’s novel. This tragedy becomes the backdrop for the series’ first season, showing how Derry’s evil took root long before the Losers’ Club ever faced the clown.
The series is developed by Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the creative duo behind the IT films, alongside Jason Fuchs. Together, they aim to expand King’s mythology into a long-form narrative that connects the human horror of small-town prejudice with the cosmic terror of Pennywise.
When and Where Can You Watch IT: Welcome to Derry?
IT: Welcome to Derry premieres on Sunday, October 26, 2025, exclusively on HBO and HBO Max in the United States at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT. New episodes will air weekly every Sunday until the finale on December 14, 2025.
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Pilot | October 26, 2025 | 54 minutes |
| 2 | The Thing in the Dark | November 2, 2025 | 66 minutes |
| 3 | Now You See It | November 9, 2025 | 58 minutes |
| 4 | TBA | November 16, 2025 | TBA |
| 5 | TBA | November 23, 2025 | TBA |
| 6 | TBA | November 30, 2025 | TBA |
| 7 | TBA | December 7, 2025 | TBA |
| 8 | Season Finale | December 14, 2025 | TBA |
Episodes range between 45 to 66 minutes, suggesting that the story prioritizes pacing and tension over fixed runtime formats.
The October premiere positions the show perfectly for the Halloween season, letting HBO dominate the horror conversation through mid-December, while avoiding major holiday competition.
What Time Does IT: Welcome to Derry Release Worldwide?
HBO has aligned Welcome to Derry with a coordinated global rollout, ensuring that most international audiences can stream the show within 24 hours of the U.S. broadcast.
United States
- Where to watch: HBO and HBO Max
- Sundays, 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
United Kingdom and Ireland
- Where to watch: Sky and NOW
- Simulcast: Monday, October 27 at 2:00 AM GMT
- Prime-time repeat: Monday, 9:00 PM GMT
- Weekly episodes every Monday through December 15, 2025
Canada
- Where to watch: Crave
- Sundays, 9:00 PM ET (same as U.S. schedule)
India
- Where to watch: JioHotstar
- Premieres Monday, October 27, 2025, one day after the U.S. launch
- Episodes release weekly thereafter
Australia
- Where to watch: HBO Max
- Starting October 26, 2025
- Weekly releases following the global schedule
Latin America
- Argentina: October 26, 2025 (same as U.S.) on HBO Max
- Brazil: October 27, 2025 on HBO Max
- Regional Titles: It: Bienvenidos a Derry (Spanish) and It: Bem-Vindos a Derry (Portuguese)
Europe and Asia Pacific
- Available in most HBO Max territories from October 27, 2025
- Includes Germany, France, and 14 new Asia Pacific markets such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia following the platform’s regional launch earlier that month
How Can You Watch IT: Welcome to Derry?
Access depends on your location and streaming platform:
United States: HBO or HBO Max subscription
- $9.99/month (with ads)
- $16.99/month (ad-free)
- $20.99/month (Ultimate ad-free)
- Bundle option with Hulu + Disney+ + Max at $16.99/month (ads) or $29.99/month (ad-free)
United Kingdom: Sky subscription or NOW streaming pass. Sky users receive automatic access via the Max app at no extra cost.
Canada: Crave subscription required.
India: JioHotstar subscription.
Other Regions: HBO Max subscription where available.
This release marks one of Warner Bros. Discovery’s largest synchronized global premieres to date, aligning the show’s rollout with Max’s expansion into new Asia Pacific territories.
Is IT: Welcome to Derry Planned as a Multi-Season Story?
While HBO has yet to confirm additional seasons, Andy and Barbara Muschietti have expressed their intent to tell the story across three interconnected seasons.
As Per Deadline, The creators describe the show’s structure as an “iceberg under the water,” where each season uncovers deeper layers of the mythology. The second season is planned to move backward in time to 1935, exploring how Derry’s evil took form generations earlier, while a third season could connect directly to the events of IT (2017).
Nothing beyond Season 1 is officially ordered yet, but the creative team’s long-term vision suggests that Welcome to Derry could eventually serve as the backbone of a connected Stephen King television universe.
Why Is IT: Welcome to Derry Important for HBO and Stephen King Fans?
For HBO, this series represents both a creative and strategic move. It continues the network’s tradition of prestige horror storytelling and expands its library of recognizable franchises alongside The Last of Us and House of the Dragon.
For fans, Welcome to Derry bridges King’s literary world with modern serialized television. It combines the human side of fear with the supernatural scale of King’s multiverse, laying groundwork for potential crossovers with The Dark Tower, The Shining, or even Castle Rock.
The project also showcases how long-form horror can thrive under HBO’s weekly release model, sustaining conversation and community engagement for months rather than dropping all episodes at once.
When Does IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 End?
The eight-episode season concludes on Sunday, December 14, 2025, wrapping up its fall run just before the holidays. By extending through Halloween and into December, the show maintains audience attention across two major viewing cycles.
The finale’s timing also positions the series for awards consideration and gives HBO a clear programming lead into its winter slate.
READ MORE: Is HBO Building a Stephen King Universe with It: Welcome to Derry?
IT: Welcome to Derry is one of HBO’s most ambitious genre projects to date. It expands Stephen King’s mythology through a cinematic lens, builds long-form horror storytelling for modern audiences, and sets the stage for a potential multi-season exploration of Derry’s haunted history.
For now, all eyes are on October 26, 2025, when the Black Spot burns again and the town of Derry welcomes the world into its darkness.
Stay updated with the Latest News and Stories, follow us on our social media platforms.
You can follow us on:
Stay Connected!! Join our Whatsapp Channel
