The new original comedy series Youth, created by and starring Sharon Horgan, will premiere on HBO Max on September 21, 2026.
The streaming service, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, confirmed the launch schedule in a press release sent to media outlets, announcing that two episodes will be available on opening day.
Following the double-episode debut, the remaining six episodes of the eight-part comedy will release weekly on Mondays, culminating on November 2, 2026.
Storyline and character background
Youth tells the story of Alex, a 50-year-old divorced woman embarking on a search for sex and love while managing complex family responsibilities.
Alongside her romantic pursuits, Alex cares for her sick parents while attempting to raise her son, who should already be an adult.
Horgan stars as protagonist Alex while also serving as creator, lead writer, and executive producer of the series. The Irish actress and writer is widely known for co-creating and starring in television comedies such as Pulling and Catastrophe, as well as the dark comedy series Bad Sisters.
Cast and creative team
The recurring cast of Youth features British actor Rupert Friend in the role of Patrick, opposite Sharlene Whyte as Sam.
Aran Murphy plays Ruari, while Robbie Gee completes the main recurring ensemble as Frank.
Friend is known for his screen roles in the political thriller series Homeland and Anatomy of a Scandal. Whyte has appeared in British television productions such as Small Axe, while Gee has featured in films including Snatch and the comedy series Desmond's.
Production and executive producers
Dawn Shadforth directs the series and serves as an executive producer alongside Horgan, Faye Dorn, and Jim Kleverweis.
Dorn represents the production company Merman, which has previously produced television series including Amandaland, Bad Sisters, and Vladimir.
Merman is an independent production company co-founded by Horgan and producer Clelia Mountford to develop comedy and drama projects across international markets. Platform provider HBO Max operates under parent company Warner Bros. Discovery as a global streaming service for television series and films.
Streaming launch schedule
Viewers can stream the first two episodes of Youth starting September 21, 2026, on HBO Max.
The remaining six episodes will stream once per week every Monday until the season finale on November 2, 2026.
