War is coming … but not until June.
The third season of House of the Dragon will be flying soon to HBO. Just like Season 2, this next chapter will consist of eight jam-packed episodes (Season 1 remains the longest at 10 episodes). The story is based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, and takes place about 200 years before the events of the mega-hit series Game of Thrones. Ryan Condal is back as the sole showrunner, and the episodes were filmed across Europe between March and October of 2025.
Read on for everything to know about House of the Dragon Season 3.
THE PREMIERE DATE
HBO has confirmed that Season 3 will launch on June 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Since House of the Dragon is debuting after the Emmy cutoff date of May 31, the series must wait until the 2027 Emmys to compete for TV’s highest honor.
THE CAST
House of the Dragon boasts one of the largest ensembles on television. Returning for Season 3 are: Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matthew Needham as Larys Strong, Jefferson Hall as twins Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister, Harry Collett as Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon, Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen, Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen, Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen, Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen, Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen, Kurt Egyiawan as Orwyle, Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer, Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull, Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull, Tom Bennett as Ulf White, Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower, and Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers.
Among the new cast members for the third cycle are the following: James Norton as Ormund Hightower, Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin, Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly, Tom Cullen as Luthor Largent, Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton, Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort, and Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood.
THE TRAILER
On Feb. 20, HBO unveiled the first official trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3, and it is chock-full of everybody’s favorite fire-breathing monsters. The first clip features Alicent returning home from her secret meeting with Rhaenyra, and her son, the new King Aemond, demands to know where she went. Elsewhere, Rhaenyra informs her followers that “Alicent came to Dragonstone” and that she will help them take down the king by surrendering. But not everyone is on board with trusting Alicent, including Rhaenyra’s son, Jace. Finally, Daemon tells Rhaenyra at the end of the 90-second video, “This is the moment you become queen.”
On Dec. 12, 2025, HBO Max released a two-minute sneak peek of its 2026 television slate, touting it as the “biggest year ever.” At the 1-minute, 20-second mark, the first footage of House of the Dragon Season 3 was unveiled, with Alicent proclaiming in voice-over, “Rhaenyra will do what she has to do. And what she has to do will be dire.” We also saw quick flashes of Rhaenyra looking worried, Alicent consoling Aemond, Ormund preparing for battle, and a skull burning in a fireplace.
THE CREATIVES
Co-creator and executive producer Ryan Condal returns as showrunner. Additional EPs include George R.R. Martin, Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock, and Philippa Goslett.
KEY QUOTES
Here is what some of the artisans told Gold Derby exclusively about working on Season 3:
Performer Emma D’Arcy: “I have Westerosi jet lag right now! I’m literally just back from set. King’s Landing is in Watford, and that’s the stage that I’ve been longing to get back to, but I didn’t make it during Season 2. My fingers are firmly crossed [that I make it there for Season 3].”
Showrunner Ryan Condal: “As always, there are lots of things burning in the best sense, but it’s been busy days. Season 2 was so much bigger [than Season 1]. I feel like it was 50-60 percent bigger just in terms of the ambition and scope of it. And now, we’re doing Season 3, which is even bigger than that. We have two enormous, enormous sequences that both eclipse Rook’s Rest, that we’re working on this year. We have some real heroic moments for the Sea Snake this year. So, Sea Snake fans should look forward to 2026.”
Director Loni Peristere: “It’s definitely everything that the fans want. Everything they’ve read in the book, everything that they know is coming. This season goes to 11.”
Cinematographer Vanja Černjul: “The thing that I noticed when I came back, and I was very happy to be back, was that all other key collaborators came back as well, which says a lot about how much we enjoyed this opportunity to be part of building this universe. It’s really a family now. But the fact that everybody was happy to come back says a lot about the experience that we have on set.”
AWARDS HISTORY
House of the Dragon is a 15-time Emmy nominee, winning two trophies for Best Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (2025) and Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes (2022). It won Best Drama Series at the 2023 Golden Globes, and has been nominated three times at the Critics Choice Awards. Additionally, it prevailed at the 2023 Costume Designers Guild Awards for Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Television.
This item was originally published Dec. 12, 2025, and updated April 27, 2026, with new information
