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House of the Dragon season 3 is coming very soon, which means it's almost time for more fire and blood and we return to the bloody Targaryen civil war raging between Rhaenyra and her brother Aegon.
A brand new trailer for the show sets up what's looking to be the darkest season yet, and HBO has finally confirmed the fantasy show's release date. That means we don't have very long to wait at all.
This year has already seen the release of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, too, so we've been spoiled for choice. But, the next installment in the Dance of the Dragons and the struggle between Team Black and Team Green is going to be far more intense than that show, which was a lighter and more pleasant journey through George R.R. Martin's world.
Plus, this isn't the end of House of the Dragon, as season 4 is already confirmed. Before that, though, we've got everything you need to know about the third season below, from plot speculation based on the source material, who's who in the cast, and much more besides. Fire and blood awaits!
House of the Dragon season 3 release date
House of the Dragon season 3 is confirmed for June 21, 2026. In the UK, things will kick off on June 22. The news was confirmed with the second trailer for season 3. The show will be eight episodes and will wrap up on August 9.
Season 4, meanwhile, is marked for 2028.
Is House of the Dragon season 3 the final season?
No, House of the Dragon season 3 won't be the final season – but season 4 will be. Showrunner Ryan Condal confirmed that things will wrap up after four seasons in a press conference after the season 2 finale and HBO boss Casey Bloys confirmed the news in February 2026.
"The idea has always been to follow the history of the Targaryens. If you know the books, you know how the Targaryens end up. So there is a natural end to this particular history of that House of the Targaryens," he said.
House of the Dragon season 3 cast
There were some big casualties in the second season – including Eve Best's Rhaenys and some of the younger Targaryens (thanks to Blood and Cheese, need we say more?) – which means there will be some changes to the House of the Dragon season 3 cast.
We have some new arrivals in the third outing as well, including James Norton appearing as Ormund Hightower, after he was name-dropped at the end of the season 2.
Check out the full cast list as it stands below.
- Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
- Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen
- Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
- James Norton as Ormund Hightower
- Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
- Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
- Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
- Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
- Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
- Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
- Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
- Jefferson Hall as Jason/Tyland Lannister
- Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
- Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
- Tom Bennett as Ulf White
- Simon Russell Beale as Simon Strong
- Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin
- Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly
House of the Dragon season 3 plot speculation
The season 2 finale of House of the Dragon set up some very key plot points to resolve when it returns – and we now know that season 3 will have eight episodes to do it. The main narrative thread was all leading to the big battle on the way across Westeros. From where we leave things, Rhaenyra has the clear advantage thanks to her dragonseeds. This means that after Daemon bent the knee, she has seven dragons (potentially eight if Rhaena manages to secure Sheepstealer).
Her fighters are preparing to make the approach on King's Landing, where Alicent has told them that they'll be allowed in to take control of the city. However, we're not totally sure that it will all go as smoothly as that... In the final moments, we see Aegon and Larys heading out of the city, Helaena all but agreeing to mount her dragon, and Tyland Lannister's new fleet on their way.
Aemond and Vhagar have their eye on Harrenhal too, and we know better than to bet against Vhagar...
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin (who also penned House of the Dragon's source material, Fire & Blood) seemingly has some issues with what's to come, though. "There are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if House of the Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons 3 and 4…" he wrote in a now-deleted blog post (which contains a possible major spoiler for the new season).
So far, one of the only things we know for sure about House of the Dragon season 3 is that Rhaenyra will have a weapon. At least, that's what actor Emma D'Arcy is pushing for, as they explained in the podcast Happy Sad Confused on December 11.
"The petition I’ve put in is I want a weapon. Like it’s getting ridiculous. I don’t even mind if it’s like a little dagger, a short sword. I don’t really care. All the men in the show don’t have to worry about where they put their hands because they’re constantly holding the pommel of their sword. That obviously sounds like innuendo and you can do with that what you will, but that is true. And all the rest of us are going, 'Where do we put our fucking hands?' Anyway, next year one hand is going to be taken care of. That’s what I want," they said.
The third season is also due to begin with a bang, depicting a major battle in its opening episode. HBO‘s head of drama series and films Francesca Orsi confirmed it will start with The Battle of the Gullet. "I’m really excited. I think you’re going to be in for a great surprise on how we start the [season] with an exciting battle," said Orsi to Deadline.
Alicent actor Olivia Cooke also confirmed that the season will start big. "Well, I think I can say... it starts off with a bang," the actor told Collider. "The first two [episodes] were essentially supposed to be our finale last year. So you can just imagine coming into that sort of energy. It's bigger and more ferocious than ever before."
Showrunner Ryan Condal has also teased a "conceptual" episode in the new season that will see the show go in a slightly different direction. "We got to have a little fun this season, and there’s a conceptual episode that I’m really excited about that [Sara Hess] wrote, and that’s all I’m gonna say about it," he said during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "It isn’t in the traditional vernacular of what we have laid out. It’s very character-driven, I think it’s really great and I’m really excited to see it rendered."
Is there a House of the Dragon season 3 trailer?
The latest trailer for House of the Dragon season 3 appears to be setting up the darkest season yet, with a sombre mood and plenty of foreboding warnings about what's to come. Check it out above.
The first House of the Dragon season 3 trailer dropped in February 2026. The teaser gave us a long-awaited look at the new episodes, including Jaehaerys riding his dragon into the Battle of the Gullet, a glimpse of Aemond on the Iron Throne, and our best look yet at James Norton as Ormund Hightower. Check it out above.
For more on House of the Dragon, check out our House of the Dragon timeline and our breakdown of the Targaryen family tree.
You can watch the show on HBO in the US and on Sky and NOW TV in the UK.
