On 26 June 2017, it will have been 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was first published. Yes, it really has been that long.

To celebrate Philosopher’s Stone’s big birthday, Bloomsbury, the book’s UK publisher, will be hosting a number of special events and competitions throughout 2017 in honour of J.K. Rowling’s debut novel.

Firstly, on the birthday itself, the publishing house will be releasing four new Hogwarts house-themed editions of Philosopher’s Stone, each featuring the crest and colours of either Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Bloomsbury will be collaborating with the British Library in London for a huge Harry Potter event.

Opening on 20 October 2017, the British Library will be hosting an exciting exhibition, celebrating the magic of Harry Potter. It will be the first of its kind celebrating a single series of books by a living author.

The exhibition will draw on the British Library’s own collections to showcase all sorts of thrilling treasures, exploring the history of magic all over the world and displays of wizarding books. It will also feature previously unseen material from Bloomsbury’s and J.K. Rowling’s archives, as well as a number of other sources.

Rebecca McNally, publishing director and editor-in-chief of Bloomsbury Children’s Books, spoke of her excitement for this huge new event.

‘The British Library is a magical place for book lovers,’ Rebecca said. ‘They are the perfect partners for a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition exploring a once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon, a thrilling celebration of magic and imagination with Harry Potter at its heart.’

Suffice to say we’re excited already to see the British Library transform into a true Harry Potter haven, and simply can’t wait to see what other 20th anniversary celebrations Bloomsbury has in store…