House of the Dragon
Season 3
Promotional poster
Showrunner Ryan Condal
Starring
  • Matt Smith
  • Emma D'Arcy
  • Olivia Cooke
  • James Norton
  • Steve Toussaint
  • Fabien Frankel
  • Matthew Needham
  • Sonoya Mizuno
  • Tom Glynn-Carney
  • Ewan Mitchell
  • Harry Collett
  • Phia Saban
  • Bethany Antonia
  • Jefferson Hall
  • Abubakar Salim
  • Clinton Liberty
  • Phoebe Campbell
  • Kurt Egyiawan
  • Freddie Fox
  • Gayle Rankin
  • Kieran Bew
  • Tom Bennett
  • Joplin Sibtain
  • Rhys Ifans
  • Ellora Torchia
  • Simon Russell Beale
No. of episodes 1
Release
Original network HBO
Original release June 21, 2026 (2026-06-21) –
present
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 2
List of episodes

The third season of the American fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon premiered on HBO on June 21, 2026, in the United States, and will consist of eight episodes. The season covers the events of the book Fire & Blood, a prequel novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. The season was ordered on June 13, 2024, three days before the premiere of the second season. Ryan Condal serves as the sole showrunner for the season. The third season was filmed from March to October 2025. A fourth season was ordered in November 2025.[1]

Episodes

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by [2] Written by [3] Original release date [4] U.S. viewers
(millions)
19 1 "Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood" Loni Peristere Ryan Condal June 21, 2026 (2026-06-21) TBD
Rhaena mounts the dragon Sheepstealer, eventually bonding with him. Aegon and Larys are captured by guards loyal to Rhaenyra. Larys reveals their identities, believing they will make valuable hostages. Alicent finds Aemond on the Iron Throne, who claims Aegon has abdicated. She urges him to seize Harrenhal. Alicent forges a letter from Aemond, sending it to Ormund Hightower to delay the Hightower army. Daemon defeats Jason Lannister's forces and gains new allies, the Winter Wolves led by Roderick Dustin, who delivers Jason's severed head. Addam, Hugh, and Ulf wait to ambush Aemond at Harrenhal, but Alys urges them to leave. The Triarchy engages the Velaryon fleet at the Gullet and sacks High Tide. Lohar breaks from the battle to pursue Corlys. Jace has Rhaenyra confined to prevent her from joining the battle. He and Baela fly their dragons Vermax and Moondancer to stop the Triarchy. Vermax becomes ensnared but is freed by Moondancer. Corlys navigates a rocky pass with Lohar in pursuit. Lohar throws Tyland overboard and rams Corlys's ship, which breaks apart. Corlys falls overboard and Alyn kills Lohar. Rhaena arrives on Sheepstealer, who attacks ships indiscriminately. Vermax is shot by a scorpion bolt and drowns. Jace is killed by Triarchy bowmen.
20 2 TBA Clare Kilner Sara Hess June 28, 2026 (2026-06-28) TBD
21 3 TBA Clare Kilner Sara Hess July 5, 2026 (2026-07-05) TBD
22 4 TBA Clare Kilner David Hancock July 12, 2026 (2026-07-12) TBD
23 5 TBA Nina Lopez-Corrado Philippa Goslett July 19, 2026 (2026-07-19) TBD
24 6 TBA Loni Peristere David Hancock & Shyam Popat July 26, 2026 (2026-07-26) TBD
25 7 TBA Nina Lopez-Corrado Philippa Goslett & Zenzele Price August 2, 2026 (2026-08-02) TBD
26 8 TBA Andrij Parekh Ryan Condal & Ti Mikkel August 9, 2026 (2026-08-09) TBD

Cast and characters

See also: List of House of the Dragon characters

Main

  • Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen[5]
  • Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen[5]
  • Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower[5]
  • James Norton as Ormund Hightower[6]
  • Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon[5]
  • Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole[5]
  • Matthew Needham as Larys Strong[5]
  • Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria[5]
  • Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen[5]
  • Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen[5]
  • Harry Collett as Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon[5]
  • Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen[5]
  • Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen[5]
  • Jefferson Hall as identical twins: Jason Lannister and Tyland Lannister[5]
  • Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull[5]
  • Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull[5]
  • Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen[5]
  • Kurt Egyiawan as Orwyle[5]
  • Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower[5]
  • Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers[5]
  • Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer[5]
  • Tom Bennett as Ulf White[5]
  • Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton[7]
  • Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower[5]
  • Ellora Torchia as Kat[8]
  • Simon Russell Beale as Simon Strong

Guest

  • Paul Kennedy as Jasper Wylde
  • Max Wrottesley as Lorent Marbrand[9]
  • Phil Daniels as Gerardys[9]
  • Nicholas Jones as Bartimos Celtigar[9]
  • Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin[10]
  • Abigail Thorn as Sharako Lohar[11]
  • Archie Barnes as Oscar Tully[12]
  • Ben Dilloway as Soren
  • Vincent Regan as Rickard Thorne[9]
  • Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood[13]

New cast

  • Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly[10]
  • Tom Cullen as Luthor Largent[7]
  • Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort[7]

Production

Development

On his personal blog in December 2023, George R. R. Martin stated that the third and fourth seasons are being written.[14] In June 2024, ahead of the second-season premiere, the series was renewed for a third season.[15] Like the second season, the third will consist of eight episodes.[5]

Casting

In January 2025, James Norton was announced to have joined the cast for the third season as Lord Ormund Hightower.[6] In March 2025, Tommy Flanagan and Dan Fogler were announced to have joined the cast as Lord Roderick Dustin and Ser Torrhen Manderly respectively.[10] In April 2025, Tom Cullen, Joplin Sibtain, and Barry Sloane were announced to have joined the cast as Ser Luthor Largent, Ser Jon Roxton, and Ser Adrian Redfort respectively.[7] In July 2025, Annie Shapero was announced to have joined the cast as Alysanne Blackwood.[13]

Filming

Filming for the third season began on March 21, 2025, at Leavesden Studios, Watford,[16] and concluded by that October.[17]

Release

Broadcast

The third season premiered on June 21, 2026.[18]

International broadcast

See also: List of HBO international channels

In New Zealand, the series is distributed by Sky's SoHo TV channel and Neon streaming service.[19] In the Philippines, SKY broadcasts the show via its main cable television services and other digital streaming platforms.[20] In India, JioHotstar distributes the show.[21] In the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the series airs on Sky Atlantic and its accompanying streaming service Now.[22] In Canada, House of the Dragon is available on Bell Media's Crave streaming service and its HBO linear channel.[23] In Australia, the series is available for streaming on Binge and Foxtel.[24]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds an approval rating of 91% based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 7.65/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The fate of Westeros comes to a head in a reinvigorated and riveting third season of House of the Dragon, complete with wicked new characters and more thrilling battles, crafting a punchy prequel that matches the expectations of its predecessor."[25] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the third season received a score of 76 out of 100 based on 26 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[26]

References

  1. ^ Petski, Denise (November 20, 2025). "House Of The Dragon Renewed For Season 4 At HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "Olivia Cooke's Signed Clapperboard from House of the Dragon". Cagliari Calcio. Retrieved May 6, 2026.[better source needed]
  3. ^ "House of the Dragon". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  4. ^ "Shows A-Z - House of the Dragon on HBO". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "HBO Original Drama Series HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Begins Production On Season Three" (Press release). Warner Bros. Discovery. March 31, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Otterson, Joe (January 31, 2025). "House of the Dragon Season 3 Casts James Norton as Ormund Hightower (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Rice, Lynette (April 23, 2025). "House of the Dragon Casts Tom Cullen, Joplin Sibtain & Barry Sloane For Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  8. ^ HBO Max (May 29, 2026). House of the Dragon Season 3 | Official Final Trailer | HBO Max. Retrieved May 29, 2026 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b c d HBO Max (February 19, 2026). House of the Dragon Season 3 | Official Teaser | HBO Max. Retrieved February 27, 2026 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ a b c Romano, Nick (March 31, 2025). "House of the Dragon season 3 casts 2 northmen, including fan-favorite 'Roddy the Ruin'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ^ Romano, Nick (May 26, 2026). "Burn, baby, burn: House of the Dragon embraces 'all-out war' in season 3 (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  12. ^ Flook, Ray (December 12, 2025). "House of the Dragon: HBO Previews Season 3 Return with New Images". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved May 29, 2026.
  13. ^ a b Goldbart, Max; Whitlock, Jesse (July 30, 2025). "House Of The Dragon: Annie Shapero Cast As Fierce Fighter Alysanne Blackwood In Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  14. ^ Peters, Jay (December 6, 2023). "George R.R. Martin is talking about third and fourth seasons of House of the Dragon". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (June 13, 2024). "House Of The Dragon Renewed For Season 3 By HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Melendez, Marcos (March 21, 2025). "House of the Dragon Season 3 Gets Long-Awaited Update That Will Please Game of Thrones Fans". MovieWeb. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  17. ^ Sudario, Erielle (October 14, 2025). "House of the Dragon Season 3 Finally Moves Forward With a Westeros-Sized Update". Collider. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  18. ^ Goldbart, Max (April 27, 2026). "HBO Unveils Trailer & Premiere Date For House Of The Dragon Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  19. ^ "Games of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon drops first trailer". The New Zealand Herald. October 6, 2021. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  20. ^ "SKY brings House of the Dragon to PH viewers on HBO GO this August" (Press release). ABS-CBN Corporate. July 23, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "House of the Dragon trailer: The power of dragons is unleashed as 'a woman cannot inherit the Iron Throne'". Hindustan Times. July 21, 2022. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  22. ^ "Watch the official trailer for House of The Dragon, exclusively on Sky and NOW on Monday 22 August". Newsroom Sky Group. July 20, 2022. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  23. ^ Jaffer, Murtz (August 15, 2022). "She-Hulk, a documentary about cats and the Game of Thrones prequel: Here's what to stream on Netflix, Crave and more this week". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  24. ^ Cartwright, Lexie (August 22, 2022). "How to watch House of the Dragon in Australia". News.com.au. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  25. ^ "House of the Dragon: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  26. ^ "House of the Dragon: Season 3". Metacritic. Retrieved June 23, 2026.