House of the Dragon Season 3: Release Date, Cast and Plot
House of the Dragon Season 3: The Targaryen Civil War Intensifies
Following the dramatic events of Season 2, the highly anticipated third season of House of the Dragon is set to premiere on HBO Max in June 2026, with eight episodes that will continue the tale of the Targaryen civil war. The Dance of the Dragons, as it is known, will see the conflict between the Greens and the Blacks escalate, with both sides preparing for battle.
The second season saw several major characters meet their demise, and the war is only just beginning. Daemon’s vision in Harrenhal revealed that more bloody battles await, and fans of the original Fire and Blood book will know that the worst is yet to come. The question on everyone’s mind is: when will we get to return to Westeros and the Targaryen civil war?
For those who need a reminder of the key players in the series, our guide to the most important characters in House of the Dragon is a must-read. Meanwhile, fans of the fantasy genre may also be interested in our roundup of The Witcher on Netflix, or our guide on how to re-watch Game of Thrones in its entirety.
Spoilers for Season 2 of House of the Dragon below. The third season will consist of eight episodes and will likely kick off as the Targaryen civil war begins to escalate. Westeros is split by the two claims to the throne, with King Aegon II Targaryen on one side and Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen on the other.
The final episode of Season 2 showed both sides gearing up for battle, with Daemon readying his army and allies at Harrenhal, and Rhaenyra gaining three new dragon riders in Addam, Hugh, and Ulf. The Greens, on the other hand, appeared to be in a much weaker state, with Aemond burning the town of Sharp Point down in a rage, causing starvation among the people and leading to unrest in King’s Landing.
The King, Aegon, fled King’s Landing with Larys Strong towards Essos, mainly due to Aemond burning him earlier in the season, leaving him crippled and disfigured, unable to properly perform his duties as a leader. Meanwhile, Alicent tried to agree on a peaceful resolution with Rhaenyra, offering to open the gates of the Red Keep to her while Aemond was distracted in battle.
Going into the second stage of the war, the Blacks certainly appear to be the stronger side, but this is the Game of Thrones universe, after all, and anything can happen. The only source of strength for the Greens came from Tyland Lannister and Sharako Lohar, who appeared to have a fierce army at sea.
The third season will see the return of several key characters, including Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen. New additions to the cast include Dan Fogler as Ser Torrhen Manderly, Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin, and James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower.
As for the plot of House of the Dragon Season 3, it is likely to be just as intense and action-packed as the previous seasons. The Targaryen civil war will continue to escalate, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The question on everyone’s mind is: who will ultimately emerge victorious?
The show’s creator, Ryan Condal, has confirmed that he will return for Season 3, and George R.R. Martin has revealed that the story of the Targaryen-Hightower war should consist of four seasons. With the show set to end with Season 4, fans can expect an epic conclusion to the series.
In the US, you can watch House of the Dragon on HBO if it’s included in your cable package, or stream it on Max for $10.99 per month. In the UK, the show will be available on HBO Max, as well as on Sky and NOW, with subscriptions starting from £4.99 per month for the ad-supported version.
