The legacy of the Targaryens is set to continue, as a release window for House of the Dragon Season 3 has been set. Speaking to Deadline, HBO Max head honcho Casey Bloys confirmed that the series will air “just outside the 2026 Emmy eligibility window”, which closes on 31 May 2026.
While no specific date was given, this likely puts its premiere in June 2026, or July at the latest. It’s hardly a far stretch — the second season kicked off on 16 June last year, so it’d make sense for the forthcoming season to arrive around the same period. The show comes after the release of Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, in January 2026, marking the first time two projects in the franchise are premiering in the same year.
Production on Season 3 started earlier in April, with the whole series set to conclude with a fourth season. Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, will reprise their role alongside Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) as Alicent Hightower, and Steve Toussaint (The Knock) as Lord Corlys Velaryon. New cast additions include Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy) as Ser Roderick Dustin, Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts films) as Ser Torrhen Manderly, James Norton (Happy Valley) as Ormund Hightower, and more.
House of the Dragon Season 3 features multiple directors, such as returning names Clare Kilner, Andrij Parekh, and Loni Peristere, as well as newcomer Nina Lopez-Corrado, whose previous credits include Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Supernatural. Story details remain under wraps, but the series — based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood — is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tells the story of House Targaryen.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
