Viking Announces Partnership with Focus Features’ Upcoming Film “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 4, 2025--

Viking® ( www.viking.com ) (NYSE: VIK) today announced it has partnered with Focus Features, Universal Pictures and Carnival Films to celebrate the highly-anticipated return of the global phenomenon, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, to be released in the U.S. and U.K. on September 12. Viking’s corporate sponsorship of the celebrated series MASTERPIECE, which began in 2011, when Downton Abbey aired on PBS and helped establish Viking as a household name, continues today as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to enriching cultural programming.

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Viking today announced it has partnered with Focus Features, Universal Pictures and Carnival Films to celebrate the highly-anticipated return of the global phenomenon, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, to be released in the US and UK on September 12. Pictured here, Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Product at Viking, was joined at the film’s London premiere with members of the extended Viking family—including the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon with the real-life staff of Highclere Castle, the filming location of Downton Abbey. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

“ Downton Abbey has long held a special place in the hearts of our guests, many of whom were introduced to Viking and Highclere Castle through the series,” said Karine Hagen, Viking’s Executive Vice President of Product. “A key aspect of the Viking way of travel is offering our guests Privileged Access to cultural treasures around the world—and our exclusive experiences at Highclere Castle, which are co-created with the Carnarvon family, have become favorites among our guests.”

Viking & Highclere Castle

Viking is also celebrating its longstanding relationship with Highclere Castle, the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the iconic filming location of Downton Abbey, with the launch of a dedicated webpage, www.viking.com/highclere.

Since 2014, Viking has offered guests a variety of ways to experience life at Highclere Castle, with pre and post land extensions that include the highly-rated Oxford & Highclere Castle and Great Homes, Gardens & Gin extensions, both of which are available for guests on select river and ocean voyages. Additionally, for guests on the popular Nile River itinerary, Pharaohs & Pyramids, Viking offers the British Collections of Ancient Egypt land extension. The five-day extension provides guests with an introduction to Egyptian antiquities in preparation for their Nile River experience and includes retracing the steps of the world's most famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, and his benefactor, the 5 th Earl of Carnarvon. Guests experience Privileged Access to archives and museum exhibits not normally accessible to the public, and at Highclere Castle, guests have the opportunity to view the Earl's magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts.

“For over a decade, it has been a pleasure to open our doors to Viking guests and truly provide Privileged Access, sharing with them the stories, traditions and treasures that have made this estate special for more than 300 years,” said Lady Carnarvon. “The personal and professional ties between Viking and Highclere run deep—our longstanding relationship is rooted in a shared devotion to heritage, culture and the enrichment that comes from genuine exploration.”

Lady Carnarvon has also welcomed viewers to Highclere Castle on Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, Viking.TV. In her series, At Home at Highclere, Lady Carnarvon offers virtual Privileged Access to the historic home and its grounds. Viking’s close friendship with the Carnarvon family has also extended to its fleet—Lady Carnarvon is the ceremonial godmother of a Viking Longship, the Viking Skadi and an ocean ship, the Viking Mars. In 2022, Lord Carnarvon became Viking’s first godfather, fulfilling the role for the Viking Osiris; in 2024, their son, the Hon. Edward Herbert, became godfather of the Viking Hathor.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Sweepstakes

Through September 30, 2025, Viking is offering a sweepstakes for U.S. and Canada residents, for a chance to win a grand prize trip for two on Viking’s eight-day river voyage, Paris & the Heart of Normandy, with three-night Privileged Access extension, Oxford & Highclere Castle. The winner will also receive roundtrip international Business Class air for two. To enter, visit www.viking.com/downton.

About Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale will be released in U.S. & U.K. cinemas on September 12. Fans can also join the cast of Downton Abbey in a toast to the global phenomenon’s final chapter with an all-new primetime special, Downton Abbey Celebrates The Grand Finale, airing Wednesday, September 10 on NBC at 9 p.m. ET/PT and streaming the next day on Peacock.

Media Assets

For more information about Viking, or for images and b-roll, please contact vikingpr@edelman.com.

About Viking

Viking (NYSE: VIK) was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences For The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 and 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure. No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.

Viking today celebrated its longstanding relationship with Highclere Castle, the iconic filming location of Downton Abbey. Pictured here, Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Product at Viking, with Lady Carnarvon on the estate grounds. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

To celebrate the premiere of Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Viking announced its partnership with Focus Features, Universal Pictures and Carnival Films. The film will be released in the US and UK on September 12. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.

Jalen Suggs had 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins scored 18 points apiece for Detroit. Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green added 17 each for the Pistons, who had 21 turnovers.

KNICKS 108, HAWKS 105

ATLANTA (AP) — CJ McCollum’s half-court shot at the buzzer was ruled no good after a review and New York held off Atlanta.

Jalen Brunson made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left to give New York a three-point lead. McCollum took an inbounds pass near the free-throw line and took two dribbles before launching a shot that banked in. But replays showed the ball was still in his hands as time expired.

It was the Hawks’ first home loss since early February and put an end to Atlanta’s 13-game home win streak.

Brunson led New York with 30 points and 13 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. MVP chants erupted in State Farm Arena as a 17-point fourth quarter from Brunson carried New York to its 51st win of the season.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 36 points, 20 coming in the first half to help Atlanta to a 57-53 lead at halftime.

CAVALIERS 142, GRIZZLIES 126

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Evan Mobley scored 24 points, Dennis Schroder had 22 points and 11 assists, and Cleveland beat Memphis despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA single-game record with 29 3-pointers.

Cleveland (50-29) reached 50 wins for the second straight season and 14th overall.

Memphis (25-54) shot 29 for 59 (49%) from behind the arc with all nine Grizzlies making a 3-pointer. Memphis’s franchise record for 3-point shooting matched the NBA mark of 29 shared by the Milwaukee Bucks (versus Miami on Dec. 29, 2020) and the Boston Celtics (versus the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, 2024). Adama Bal broke Memphis’ franchise record on the 28th make with 3:25 left and he added another at 1:41.

SPURS 115, 76ERS 102

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephon Castle had 17 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds and San Antonio held on to beat Philadelphia after Victor Wembanyama left in the first half due to a left rib contusion.

Wembanyama’s status for the final week of the regular season is unknown.

San Antonio (60-19) is is 2 1/2 games behind Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City (62-16) and assured of finishing no worse than second in the conference.

Philadelphia lost its second straight as it battles to stay out of the play-in tournament. The 76ers (43-36) are a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George added 16 points.

NUGGETS 137, TRAIL BLAZERS 132, OT

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 35 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, and Denver rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Portland in overtime.

Denver (51-28) moved into third place in the Western Conference with its season-high ninth straight win. Jokic recorded his 33rd triple-double and Jamal Murray scored seven of his 20 points in overtime to move the Nuggets a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28).

Portland (40-39) had its three-game winning streak snapped and dropped into ninth in the West, a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers.

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, makes a move to get around Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)