House of the Dragon season 4 may be a couple of years away, but we're already counting down the days to the Dance of the Dragons' final act. We've known for a while now that House of the Dragon season 4 will be the show's last and, unlike its once-celebrated sister show, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has the benefit of a complete George R.R. Martin story to draw from. So hopefully, this one will stick the (king's) landing.
House of the Dragon is coming to an end, but the World of Westeros is going nowhere. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is already in the can and expected to release early 2027, while there are a number of upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows in the works. Of particular note for House of the Dragon fans: an Aegon's Conquest movie, which will tell the story of Rhaenyra's infamous ancestor.
For the time being, you'll find everything you need to know about House of the Dragon season 4 below, from what's known about the plot, who's in the cast, speculation on when it might release, and more. While we wait for new episodes, be sure to check out our House of the Dragon season 3 finale review and our House of the Dragon season 3 ending explained.
House of the Dragon season 4 release date speculation
All we know for now is that House of the Dragon season 4 will release in 2028. A more precise date is pure speculation for now. However, we can make an educated guess.
Since the first season dropped in 2022, House of the Dragon has released like clockwork every two years, with season 2 hitting screens on June 16, 2024, and season 3 releasing on June 21, 2026. And that's despite the 2023 Writers' Guild of America strike heavily impacting production on season 3. So, it's a relatively safe bet that House of the Dragon season 4 will hit screens around June 2028 at the latest.
Writing is at least well underway on season 4. "We're actually starting to show HBO [the scripts]," Ryan Condal said at a season 3 press conference attended by GamesRadar+. "This is our early iteration. I don't put the script down and take it away from me in production, and we have many months ahead of that. But we're as far ahead at this point in crafting a new season while we're still posting the old one."
Is House of the Dragon season 4 the final season?
Yes, House of the Dragon season 4 is the show's final season, which Condal confirmed back in 2024 just after season 2 aired. This was later reiterated by HBO CEO Casey Bloys in February 2026.
"We know when and where we're going to end. We've been able to plan and write to that for a long time now," Condal told us exclusively ahead of House of the Dragon season 3, earlier this year. "The biggest gift that [Fire and Blood] has given to us as writers of the show, and also to the fanbase that so fervently follows it, is it is a complete tale."
House of the Dragon season 4 cast
There were some major casualties in season 3, including Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), who perished in the Battle of the Gullet; Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), who died unsung in a field; and Ormund Hightower (James Norton), who took a knife up the, well, you know where, and was incinerated by Ulf, just what he deserved. So don't expect any of those to return.
At the moment, no new cast members have been confirmed for season 4. But based on who survives season 3, the House of the Dragon season 4 cast is shaping up like this:
- 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
- Matthew Needham as Lord Larys Strong
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- 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
- Tom Bennett as Ulf the White
- Jefferson Hall as Tyland Lannister
- Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
- Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Daeron Targaryen
- Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly
House of the Dragon season 4 plot speculation
Note: the following speculation does not contain book spoilers.
The House of the Dragon season 3 finale ended in, well, fire and blood as Ulf rained dragonfire indiscriminately down on both sides during the Battle of Tumbleton. With the battle brought to an abrupt end, Daemon on Caraxes and Hugh Hammer on Vermithor pursued Ulf on Silverwing; expect this chase to be quickly resolved in season 4.
Of the major dangling threads, Aegon's newfound alliance with his kinslayer brother Aemond will undoubtedly have huge ramifications in season 4. As will Helaena's decision to take her own life (and that of Aegon's unborn son), rather than live under duress in Rhaenyra's Red Keep. Given Rhaenyra's already shaky grasp on power, the return of Aegon and the slaughter of the High Septon is unlikely to endear the smallfolk to Rhaenyra's righteous cause.
Daeron's fate, and that of his dragon Tessarion, are also left ambiguous at the end of season 3, as a barely alive Gwayne is left searching for his nephew among the ashes of Tumbleton. Given that the Hightower forces have been burnt to a crisp, however, it's not like the young prince has much power behind him. Even his brother, Aegon, seems unhappy that Daeron tried to claim the throne.
At a season 3 finale press conference attended by GamesRadar+, Condal teased a "very worthy" final season. "We have an incredible season coming," Condal said. "As crazy and big as season 3 was, I think Season 4 is going to be even bigger. We have new characters, and new dragons and new locations all to come."
At the same press conference, Condal also addressed how Aegon and Rhaenyra have practically swapped places in their quests for the Iron Throne, heading into season 4. "I mean, the irony of the season is that Aegon, now not in the proximity of the throne, goes on this incredible character evolution where he becomes a much more dimensionalized man, who is more sympathetic and possibly more suited to rule, and then Rhaenyra in the proximity of the throne is turned and altered and somewhat corrupted by being in its orbit."
Is there a House of the Dragon season 4 trailer?
House of the Dragon season 4 is yet to go in front of cameras, so there's no season 4 trailer just yet, and likely won't be for quite some time.
The first trailer for House of the Dragon season 3 was released in April 2026, around three months before the season 3 premiere. So expect a full season 4 trailer around spring 2028, and perhaps a brief glimpse in HBO's 2028 preview trailer, which we'd expect to drop mid-December 2027.
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 Max in the US and on HBO Max and NOW in the UK.
