House of the Dragon Season 3: Release Date, Cast, Plot and Everything We Know

House of the Dragon Season 3 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated shows of the year, with the Targaryen civil war continuing to unfold with devastating consequences. After the massive setup in the previous installment, fans are certainly expecting more action this time.

Fortunately, we have all the details you need to know about the new season, from release date and returning cast members to expected storylines. As the Dance of the Dragons intensifies, fans can also look forward to bloody battles and even shocking character and dragon deaths, all of which will decide who sits on the Iron Throne.

Series:	House of the Dragon
Showrunner:	Ryan Condal
Based on:	George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood
Release Date:	June 21, 2026
Number of Seasons:	2
Rotten Tomatoes:	87% | 77% (As of April 30, 2026)

House of the Dragon Season 3: Release Date & Streaming Details

House of the Dragon Season 3 will premiere on June 21, 2026 (Sunday) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO. The series will also be available to stream on HBO Max.

Like Season 2, the upcoming installment will consist of eight episodes rolling out weekly and culminating in a finale on August 9. HBO had earlier confirmed a June premiere window, but the exact release date has only recently been confirmed.

House of the Dragon Season 3: Returning & New Cast Members

As the Dance of the Dragons gets more expansive, so does the cast. Most of the original characters will return in Season 3, but this time, their fates hang in the balance. Key figures include:

• Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
• Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
• Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
• Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
• Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
• Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
• Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
• Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon

Other characters who are confirmed to return:

• Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
• Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
• Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
• Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
• Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
• Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
• Jefferson Hall as Jason and Tyland Lannister
• Tom Bennett as Ulf White
• Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
• Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
• Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower
• Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
• Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
• Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers

Season 3 will introduce new faces, and here’s what we know about the new characters set to make a debut in the upcoming installment:

James Norton as Ormund Hightower

Ormund Hightower is the nephew of Otto Hightower, and he will be instrumental in leading the Reach forces for the Greens during the civil war. He is a hard-edged commander who is deeply committed to the Hightower cause and the claim of King Aegon II. We will most likely see him stick around until the First Battle of Tumbleton.

Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly

Torrhen Manderly is a staunch ally of the Blacks. After Jacaerys Velaryon went to White Harbor and Winterfell to gain the support of the north, Lord Desmond Manderly sent his son south to aid Rhaenyra Targaryen.

Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin

Hailing from the north as well, Roderick Dustin is an old but savage warrior who supported the Blacks during the Dance of the Dragons. He led two thousand northern soldiers, known as the Winter Wolves, to support Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to survive the First Battle of Tumbleton, as per the source material.

Barry Sloane as Ser Adrian Redfort

Ser Adrian Redfort is a knight from House Redfort and a member of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard. He is inducted into the position after the Black Queen seizes King’s Landing.

Tom Cullen as Ser Luthor Largent

A fierce and tall lowborn knight, Ser Luthor Largent, will play a crucial role during the Fall of King’s Landing. He and his gold cloaks would betray the Greens as they remain loyal to Prince Daemon, their former commander. In the book, it was Luthor who killed Gwayne Hightower, Alicent’s brother.

Joplin Sibtain as Ser Jon Roxton

Ser Jon fought for King Aegon II during the civil war, wielding the Valyrian steel longsword Orphan-Maker. He played significant roles during the Battle on the Honeywine, the Storming of the Dragonpit, and the Second Battle of Tumbleton, the latter two of which we may see in Season 4.

House of the Dragon Season 3: Story Details & Upcoming Events

Season 3 will most likely pick up immediately after the events in the second season, which saw both the Blacks and the Greens gearing up for the Battle of the Gullet, one of the biggest and bloodiest naval conflicts in Westeros.

Everything that happened in Season 2 was mostly set up for this upcoming clash, but this isn’t the only storyline that fans should look forward to. Showrunner Ryan Condal previously revealed that there will be four major events from the book that they have adapted for the screen.

While he didn’t mention which events from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood they managed to translate on television, he was likely referring to these:

• Battle of the Gullet
• The Fall of King’s Landing
• The First Battle of Tumbleton
• The Fall of Dragonstone

If you are wondering how much input Martin contributed to Season 3, well… that’s a bit complicated. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year, the author revealed his working relationship with Condal was “abysmal”, citing how the showrunner stopped taking notes or feedback from him.

Then we got into Season 2, and he basically stopped listening to me. I would give notes, and nothing would happen.

An insider also revealed to the outlet that Martin and Condal disagreed on the direction of Season 3, so it’s hard to tell how much of the source material was adapted faithfully.

House of the Dragon Season 3: Official Trailer Release

An official teaser trailer has been uploaded on the show’s YouTube channel, and it delivers on all fronts—dragons soaring, warships clashing, and vengeful Targaryens at the center of it all. The rift between the Blacks and the Greens has deepened even more so that there’s no turning back.

Based on the preview, it seems like we’re getting more high-octane action in Season 3, making up for the lack of it in the past installment. Watch the trailer below:

House of the Dragon Season 3: Frequently Asked Questions

The series continues to generate plenty of questions as fans look ahead to the next chapter of the Targaryen civil war. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the upcoming season:

What are your expectations for House of the Dragon Season 3? Let us know in the comments!

House of the Dragon Season 3 will premiere on June 21, 2026, on HBO.