2026 Release Date & Record-Breaking GOT Year

HBO’s House of the Dragon finally has a confirmed release window, setting the stage for an impressive Game of Thrones franchise record. With multiple spinoffs ongoing and in the works, HBO’s fantasy franchise has yet to achieve the level of popularity it had before Game of Thrones’ ending in 2019. 2026 looks like it could be the year.

This is the era of the franchise, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe showing the potential of long-term, multimedia storytelling. After the insane, unprecedented phenomenon that was Game of Thrones, it’s no wonder HBO wanted to capitalize on the title by developing more shows based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire book universe.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Will Be Released In 2026

House of the Dragon season 3 is well underway, with production looking to wrap up in October 2025. Everything we’ve heard about the new season points to this being one of the most immense, epic seasons of television that’s ever been made, fully embracing the stakes of the Dance of the Dragons.

It’s recently been confirmed that House of the Dragon season 3 is slated for a June 2026 release, and while this is subject to change or delays, it’s more than likely that it will be out sometime that year. This is the second Game of Thrones franchise show being released in 2026, with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in January.

2026 Will Set The Record For Most GOT Franchise Episodes In A Single Year

Rhaenyra wearing a crown and looking sad in House of the Dragon

House of the Dragon’s long delays and shortened episode counts have been a consistent source of criticism from fans, many of whom reminisce about the days of Game of Thrones’ annual ten-episode schedule. 2026 will be a wonderful treat for those fans.

With House of the Dragon season 3 and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms both coming out in the same year, there will be fourteen total episodes from the franchise. HOTD will continue to have eight episodes, with AKOTSK’s more contained story only having a six-episode season, which should be more than enough time to adapt the novella.

It’s been a while since we heard much about any of the other Game of Thrones spinoffs in the works, but the franchise could continue to expand in upcoming years if these titles find audiences. This is an exciting year, possibly the most exciting since Game of Thrones’ final season.

House of the Dragon season 2 was divisive, but if season 3 and the new spinoff series can deliver high-caliber television, audiences will be treated with the volume and quality they’ve been hoping for.