Bloomsbury unveils Harry Potter 25th anniversary plans

Bloomsbury has announced plans for a year-long campaign celebrating the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J K Rowling in 2022.

In January, the paperback edition of the book, illustrated by Jonny Duddle, will be updated with silver foil for the silver anniversary year. As part of the campaign, Harry Potter Book Night celebrations in February will have "Magical Journeys" as its theme, and a raft of promotions, partnerships and digital advertising will be deployed around World Book Day.

February 2022 will also see the launch of the Hogwarts House Editions Box Sets - four house-themed packages featuring the entire Harry Potter series in paperback, with covers and illustrations from Kate Greenaway Medal winner Levi Pinfold. In March, Bloomsbury will publish a paperback edition of Chris Riddell’s illustrated The Tales of Beedle the Bard, featuring a new cover and an exclusive art print of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

In June 2022, a commemorative hardback edition of the novel featuring the original cover design from 1997 and artwork by Thomas Taylor will be published, featuring new bonus material.

Bloomsbury is also planning a large outdoor installation, and will be working with fans to generate content for a video and social media campaign. The celebrations will continue to Harry Potter's birthday on 31st July and extend to Back to Hogwarts celebrations in September.

First published in 1997, the book had an initial hardback print run of just 500 copies. The series has gone on to sell more than 500 million books worldwide in over 80 languages, according to the publisher, and has inspired a major movie franchise and a West End theatre production.

Rebecca McNally, publishing director and international editor, said: “From Privet Drive to Bedford Square, Bloomsbury are thrilled to be continuing the magical journey of Harry Potter by sharing the series with readers new and old for 25 years. The re-release of the original 1997 cover illustration by Thomas Taylor is sure to excite fans whose original copies may have been snaffled by Nifflers or siblings, and there’s plenty more to come in the second half of 2022, just keep an eye on the tea leaves."