Industry

Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service HBO Max will launch in Italy on January 13, 2026. For the first time, Italian audiences will be able to access content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Universe, Max Originals, Eurosport, and more—all on a single platform through the HBO Max app.

The Italian launch of HBO Max will include a rich lineup of HBO Original Italian productions, starting with "Portobello", Marco Bellocchio’s new series starring Fabrizio Gifuni, presented out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, debuting February 20. The series tells the true story of Enzo Tortora, the famous TV host unjustly accused of mafia connections in the 1980s, highlighting media chaos, the derailment of justice, and his battle to reclaim dignity.

Also in production is the series on the Melania Rea case, starring Maria Esposito, recounting the shocking femicide of 2011, highlighting the fractures within a family, a community, and the Italian judicial system under relentless media pressure.

Exciting docuseries are also on the horizon, including "Gina Lollobrigida: Diva Contesa", exploring the battle over the inheritance of a cinema icon, and "Saman", the harrowing story of a young Pakistani woman murdered by her own family for rejecting an arranged marriage.

At launch, HBO Max Italy will feature exclusively "Nonostante", the new film directed by and starring Valerio Mastandrea, chosen to open the Horizons section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival, and from February, "Squali", Daniele Barbiero’s powerful cinematic debut starring Lorenzo Zurzolo and James Franco, presented at the 20th Rome Film Festival.

Sports Coverage

Sports fans will be able to follow all competitions of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics live (February 6–22, 2026), fully available for all subscribers regardless of plan. Coverage includes local programming, interviews, live connections from Casa Italia in Milan and Cortina, and all major venues.

JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “We are excited to bring HBO Max and its unforgettable stories to new European countries starting in January. With one of the strongest lineups ever featuring American and local HBO series, major domestic and international film hits, and the Winter Olympics, this is the perfect time to make HBO Max available to all viewers. It has never been easier to access trending series, hit movies, must-see live sports, and extraordinary real-life stories.”