HBO Max reached more than 140 million subscribers during the first quarter of 2026 [1].
The growth signals a recovery for the streaming service, which struggled with a delayed launch in 2020. This surge allows Warner Bros. Discovery to adjust its global strategy and increase its expectations for the remainder of the year.
According to earnings reports published this week, the subscriber count for the first quarter of 2026 topped 140 million [1, 2]. This figure exceeded the company's internal forecasts, which had projected a total below that threshold [1].
Because of this performance, Warner Bros. Discovery executives have raised their targets for the service. The company now projects that HBO Max will reach 150 million subscribers by the end of 2026 [1, 2].
The expansion follows a period of volatility for the platform. After the initial delays in 2020, the service has regained traction across its global markets, a trend that contributed to the recent beat of internal expectations [1, 2].
Executives did not disclose the exact number of the original Q1 forecast, but they said the 140 million mark was a significant milestone [1]. The company continues to track its subscriber base worldwide as it pushes toward the new 150 million goal [1, 2].
“HBO Max reached more than 140 million subscribers during the first quarter of 2026”
The upward revision of subscriber targets suggests that Warner Bros. Discovery is seeing a stronger-than-expected return on its content investments. By exceeding internal forecasts, the company is better positioned to compete in the saturated global streaming market and may use this momentum to justify further spending on high-budget original programming.
