- HOTD Season 3 will raise the stakes by bringing some of the most brutal clashes in the saga to life.
- Most of the cast will be back for season 3, except for those who bid goodbye to us in season two, like Rhaenys and Jaehaerys Targaryen.
- House of the Dragon Season 3 is most likely to be released in June 2026; no concrete release window/date has been announced yet.
With 2025 behind us, it’s time for us to await two of the anticipated entries that will expand the universe created by George R.R. Martin further. The first one is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set to be released on January 18, 2026, which will give us a look at the past of Westeros on a small scale. The other is House of the Dragon Season 3, which fans have been awaiting since the Season 2 finale. Now that the anticipation is growing stronger than ever, here we break down everything that we know about HOTD Season 3 so far.
When Will House of the Dragon Season 3 Come Out?
House of the Dragon Season 3 does not yet have a confirmed release date. However, based on the release pattern of the early seasons, we can expect House of the Dragon Season 3 to premiere in mid-2026, likely in June. The production of the ambitious season concluded in October 2025, and CGI-heavy series like this one take time to sort everything, so it makes sense that the creators haven’t yet announced an official date.
Before the premiere of House of the Dragon season 2 in June 2024, the show had already been renewed for season 3, as confirmed in the press release. Francesca Orsi, the Executive Vice President of HBO and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, shared a word about HOTD season 3 back then:
George, Ryan, and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast, and crew have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season of House of the Dragon. We are in awe of the dragon-sized effort the entire team has put into the creation of a spectacular season two, with a scope and scale that is only rivaled by its heart. We could not be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and watch this team burn bright again for season three.
What Will Be the Cast of House of the Dragon Season 3?
The majority of the cast will return (and the dragons, of course!) except the ones who bid goodbye to us in season 2, such as Rhaenys Targaryen and Jaehaerys Targaryen. Below, we have listed the characters you may expect to see on your screens in HOTD Season 3.
- Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
- Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
- Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
- Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen
- Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
- Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
- Bethany Antonia as Lady Baela Targaryen
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Sonoya Mizuno as Lady Mysaria
- Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
- Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
- Tom Bennett as Ulf
- Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
- Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
- Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
- Oscar Eskinazi as Joffrey Velaryon
- James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower
- Tommy Flanagan as Lord Roderick Dustin
- Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly
- Tom Cullen as Ser Luthor Largent
- Joplin Sibtain as Ser Jon Roxton
- Barry Sloane as Ser Adrian Redfort
- Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood
Besides the recurring ones returning to the battlefield, HOTD Season 3 have added some of the anticipated characters to the live-action line-up, who the fandom has been dying to see in action on their screens. Their arrival will certainly take the bars even higher and expand the world even further.
Do We Have a House of the Dragon Season 3 Trailer?
While there’s no full official trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3 yet, HBO has given us a glimpse of what’s to come in a promotional video titled, ‘Coming in 2026.’ The footage clearly hints at the more intense and darker events that fans will get in the new season. The battles will become even more bloody, with several major deaths that will play a crucial role in shaping the series’ fate.
The footage provided a brief glimpse of HOTD Season 3, but it clearly signaled a tonal shift toward something more brutal and unforgiving. No one can be trusted anymore because everyone has their own motivations, and no character in the third season is truly safe, as Dance of the Dragons is about to enter its most devastating phases yet.
What Could be the Plot of House of the Dragon Season 3?
As you are already aware, the civil war between the Targaryens hasn’t reached a conclusion till now. So, we can expect to see the war getting brutal in HOTD Season 3. Reportedly, the events that will take center stage this season are the Battle of the Gullet, the fall of King’s Landing, the First Battle of Tumbleton, and the Butcher’s Ball. Rhaenyra will be seen in full action as her forces march towards King’s Landing. There will be more dragon clashes, and we can also expect some original scenes that will expand the narrative a bit.
