8 HBO Max originals returning in India in 2026: Matt Smith's House of the Dragon Season 3 to Zendaya's Euphoria Season 3

HBO Max just spilled the beans of their exciting 2026 line-up! They dropped a 2-minute video giving a peak into what's returning and what are the new releases of the new year. Fans are getting some major favourites back like House of the Dragon Season 3, Dune Prophecy Season 2, and more. There's also a new hero DC's Lanterns is coming to flaunt his powers next year! The video zips through quick looks at all these much-awaited releases which Indian viewers can watch on JioHotstar (accessible via OTTplay Premium), just a day later to their premieres on HBO Max in the US.

HBO Max originals returning in 2026:

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

This historical fantasy drama claims to be the prequel to Game of Thrones (2011-2019), and is adapted from George R R Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg. This new series features Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk), the titular hedge knight, and Dexter Sol Ansell as his squire Aegon Targaryen (Egg). A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a HBO Max original new series that's coming on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) on January 19, 2026.

House of the Dragon Season 3

Another prequel of Game of Thrones (GOT) is also coming next year in August. Adapted from George R R Martin's Fire & Blood, the third installment of House of the Dragon brings back Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Olivia Cooke,, Steve Toussaint and Rhys Ifans. Meanwhile, new cast includes James Norton (as Lord Ormund Hightower), Tommy Flanagan (as Lord Roderick Dustin) and Dan Fogler (as Ser Torrhen Manderly). The exact release date is still shrouded.

Euphoria Season 3

Zendaya's this coming-of-age drama is returning with more drama and struggle with drug addictions in the coming April, however, the date is not unvelied yet. Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer and Jacob Elordi are confirmed to return on Euphoria Season 3. Meanwhile, Sharon Stone, Natasha Lyonne and Rosalía are the new joinees in the cast. The story is expected to jump approximately five years into the future, moving the characters beyond their high school years at East Highland.

Dune: Prophecy Season 2

Bollywood actress Tabu's big Hollywood debut with Dune: Prophecy last year ignited huge excitement among Indian viewers. However, her character Sister Francesca died in Season 1 hence Tabu is not expected to return in Season 2 next year. The second part consists of eight episodes and the story will continue to explore the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, set 10,000 years before the events of Timothee Chalamet's Dune movie franchise.

Lanterns

DC Comics character Green Lantern gets a new series version coming next year on HBO Max and JioHotstar. Hal Jordan and John Stewart are set to investigate a murder mystery case as buddy cops. As they investigate the crime, the Green Lanterns uncover a much darker secret or we must say ancient horror that connects to the larger narrative of James Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre will be seen as the Green Lanterns–Hal and John.

The Pitt Season 2

Noah Wyle is back with his thrilling medical drama with more critical cases staring from 4th of July. The Pitt Season 2 is coming on HBO Max on January 8 in the US, hence Indian viewers can watch from January 9, 2026 on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium). Other pivotal characters that are returning are Katherine LaNasa (as Dana Evans), Taylor Dearden (as Dr Melissa 'Mel' King), Patrick Ball (as Dr Frank Langdon), Isa Briones (as Dr Trinity Santos), Fiona Dourif (as Dr Cassie McKay), Gerran Howell (as Dennis Whitaker), Shabana Azeez (as Victoria Javadi), Supriya Ganesh (as Dr Samira Mohan).

Industry Season 4

This financial thriller drama has been renewed for fourth installment by HBO Max, releasing on January 12 on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium), a day after its premiere in the US on January 11, 2026. Industry Season 4 consists of eight episodes and all will be dropped on a weekly basis. Myha'la (as Harper), Marisa Abela (as Yasmin), Kit Harington (as Gus) and Ken Leung (as Eric) are returning to reprise their roles in the much-awaited fourth part.

War

Another new HBO Max original, an intense legal drama is coming next year and will also stream on JioHotstar. The release date is still under wraps. War follows a high-stakes legal battle between two rival London law firms (Cathcarts and Taylor and Byrne) in the divorce case of the century, promising intense drama, betrayals, fractured loyalties, and a fight for reputation, starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller.