Lanterns Season 1 on HBO Max: Full Release Schedule

Lanterns releases one new episode a week on HBO Max, every Sunday at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. The eight-episode first season premiered on August 16, 2026 and runs through its finale on October 4, 2026, which means five of the eight chapters are still to come as of this weekend.

HBO Max did not drop the full season at once. Instead, the DC Studios series follows the same weekly cadence HBO uses for its flagship dramas: each installment lands on the streaming service at the same moment it airs on the linear HBO channel. Below is the complete week-by-week schedule, the exact release time in both time zones, and everything you need to know about where to watch and what the show costs.

Lanterns Release Schedule: Every Episode Date and Time

All eight episodes arrive on Sundays. New episodes go live at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT. The season is exactly eight episodes long, with no mid-season break announced.

The first three episodes are already available to stream in full. The next one, Episode 4, arrives Sunday, September 6th, with the remaining chapters rolling out weekly until the finale lands on October 4th.

Where to Watch Lanterns and What It Costs

Lanterns streams exclusively on HBO Max in the United States, and it also airs on the linear HBO channel for anyone who still watches through a cable or satellite package. If you stream, the episode appears on HBO Max the instant it premieres on HBO — there is no delay between the two.

HBO Max sells three tiers. The Basic With Ads plan is $10.99 a month and carries the same catalog as the pricier options. The ad-free Standard plan is $18.49 a month and adds offline downloads. The Premium plan, at $22.99 a month, unlocks 4K where available and up to four simultaneous streams. Any of the three lets you watch Lanterns; the only differences are ads, resolution, and how many screens you can run at once. Annual plans lower the effective monthly cost if you plan to stay through the full run.

What Lanterns Is About

Lanterns is a DC Studios series and one of the cornerstones of the new DC Universe’s “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters” slate. It pairs Kyle Chandler as veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan with Aaron Pierre as rookie John Stewart, two members of an intergalactic police force who are pulled into a very earthbound murder investigation in the American heartland. The pitch — deliberately — is less cosmic spectacle than grounded crime thriller, closer to a Southern-gothic detective story than a superhero team-up.

That tone comes straight from the creative team. Chris Mundy, the showrunner behind Ozark, runs the writers’ room; he created the series with Damon Lindelof, of Watchmen and Lost, and comics writer Tom King, whose Green Lantern work is a clear touchstone. The result is a show that uses its two leads’ partnership — one weary and cynical, one idealistic and new to the ring — as the spine of a slow-burn mystery rather than a weekly villain-of-the-week structure.

If you are catching up, the good news is that only three episodes stand between you and the current release. That is a manageable binge before Episode 4 arrives, and it puts you in step with the weekly conversation as the season builds toward its October finale.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes are in Lanterns Season 1?
Eight. The season began on August 16, 2026 and ends with the finale on October 4, 2026.

What time do new Lanterns episodes come out?
New episodes drop on HBO Max every Sunday at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT, at the same time they air on the HBO channel.

Is the whole season on HBO Max already?
No. HBO Max is releasing Lanterns weekly, one episode at a time. Three episodes are streaming now; the rest arrive on the schedule above.

When is the Lanterns Season 1 finale?
Episode 8, the finale, streams on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Do I need cable to watch Lanterns?
No. An HBO Max subscription is enough. The show streams there in full, with plans starting at $10.99 a month.