House of the Dragon season 3 is here, and it’s set to give HBO another can’t-miss installment of the Game of Thrones franchise for the next few months. Leading up to the show’s long-awaited return, House of the Dragon season 3’s Rotten Tomatoes score is sitting at a record high, coming in at 97% from critics.
ScreenRant‘s review of House of the Dragon called season 3 a “whole new side of Game of Thrones” after highlighting that the first half of the season “delivered non-stop momentum.” The season, of course, will dive deeper into the Dance of the Dragons, featuring several notable moments during the Targaryen civil war, like the Battle of the Gullet, which kicks off the new season.
For those familiar with George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, there’s plenty to look forward to with the live-action adaptation from here on out. On the other hand, anyone watching that isn’t up to date with House Targaryen’s history should gear up for an action-packed and emotional ride this season.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Premieres Sunday, June 21, On HBO
After nearly two years, House of the Dragon is finally back with a brand-new season set to begin the second half of GRRM’s Fire & Blood adaptation. House of the Dragon season 3 officially debuts Sunday, June 21, taking over the notable 9 p.m. ET timeslot.
Like the case in 2024 with season 2, the Game of Thrones prequel will serve as the prestigious summer release for the network, running through early August. House of the Dragon‘s return also gives HBO two big Game of Thrones releases in 2026, following A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ debut earlier this year.
What Time New Episodes Of House Of The Dragon Release On HBO Max Every Week
In addition to airing on HBO’s flagship network in the acclaimed 9 pm ET timeslot, new episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 will also be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes will begin streaming at the same time they begin airing on HBO, meaning subscribers will be able to get watching at 9 p.m. ET weekly.
As a way to reward new and returning subscribers, HBO Max plans are currently on sale for those in the US. The deal comes at the perfect time for House of the Dragon‘s return, but it’s important to note that the discounted rates are only available until July 15th, the midway point of season 3.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Full Episode Schedule & Runtimes Explained
Whereas House of the Dragon season 1 consisted of ten total episodes, season 2 only had eight. The same will be the case with season 3, debuting on June 21 with the finale planned for August 9, 2026. Here’s a look at the full House of the Dragon season 3 episode schedule:
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House of the Dragon Season 3 Schedule |
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|---|---|
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Episode # |
Release Date (at 9 p.m. on HBO & HBO Max) |
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1 |
June 21, 2026 |
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2 |
June 28, 2026 |
|
3 |
July 5, 2026 |
|
4 |
July 12, 2026 |
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5 |
July 19, 2026 |
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6 |
July 26, 2026 |
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7 |
August 2, 2026 |
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8 |
August 9, 2026 |
Ahead of House of the Dragon’s return, HBO’s official website confirmed that the season 3 premiere will be 72 minutes long. Though House of the Dragon season 3’s premiere runtime isn’t the longest in the show’s history, as that belongs to the season 2 finale (84 minutes), it is the longest season premiere for the show thus far.
HBO’s programming schedule also lists season 3’s second episode at 68 minutes, teasing another massive episode. Beyond that, the exact runtimes for House of the Dragon season 3 have not been confirmed. What has been confirmed is House of the Dragon season 4, which will mark the show’s final season.
