We may be only days away from the season finale of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but HBO is finally getting its marketing machine rolling for its other Game of Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon. Today, the show's official social media accounts dropped a big announcement we've been waiting for: the show's release month!
Yes, we finally know when we'll get to start watching House of the Dragon season 3, and director Loni Peristere was right to hint that it'll be sooner rather than later. House of the Dragon premieres its third season in June, 2026. Here's the shiny first poster for the upcoming season to accompany the announcement:
House of the Dragon season 3 premieres in June
When I say shiny, I mean it in the metaphorical sense; this poster exudes nothing but dark times ahead for Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy), with tagline "From Fire Comes Darkness." We see her sitting at last on the Iron Throne she has so coveted, but as readers of George R.R. Martin's book Fire & Blood know, that doesn't mean Rhaenyra will have any easy time of ruling the Seven Kingdoms — especially with her rivals in the Green faction still fighting tooth and nail to keep the power they've usurped from her.
HBO has also confirmed that we'll get the first teaser trailer for the season tomorrow — that's Thursday, February 19. We know this not only because the X post with the poster says as much, but also because the official House of the Dragon Instagram rolled out a video showing the Green banner in tatters over the Brooklyn Bridge, similar to their marketing campaign for season 2:
"First, the banners fall. HOTD Season 3 TEASER TOMORROW," reads the caption. Oh, the Dance of the Dragons civil war is on this season. I can hardly believe that by this time tomorrow, we'll probably get our first look at major events like the Battle of the Gullet, the war in the Riverlands, and more.
What will happen in House of the Dragon season 3?
After some minor clashes and one spectacular dragon battle in season 2, House of the Dragon season 3 is poised to launch the civil war for the Iron Throne into its deadliest stage. There will be major battles, there will be shifting tides of power, and there will be numerous major deaths. Prepare for some gut punches.
The big thing being foreshadowed by both the banner video and the poster is that control of the Iron Throne is going to shift this season. A key event which is just around the corner in the book is that Rhaenyra will take control of King's Landing and finally sit the Iron Throne — though whether she can keep it is a much more difficult question. We see her finally sitting in that coveted seat in the poster, while the caption and imagery of the Green banner clearly hints at this heraldry coming down, which would of course be one of the very first things Rhaenyra would do whenever she seizes control over the capital of the realm.
It feels like huge spoilers to even be talking about Rhaenyra capturing King's Landing, but trust me when I say it's not. That was poised to be near the end of season 2; now it's almost certainly going to be one of the ways season 3 kicks off instead. That's the beginning of the story for this season, and it will be a twisty road filled with betrayal and bloodshed, indeed.
When does House of the Dragon return?
The big question is whether HBO will confirm the full release date for House of the Dragon season 3 during the teaser tomorrow. Personally, I doubt it. The new poster has the release month of June, which is by far the most concrete bit of information we've gotten so far for the season's premiere. If the teaser was then going to roll along and drop a date the very next day, it most likely would have been included in that previous bit of marketing, rather than making posters that remain current for only 24 hours until the actual date dropped.
At least that's my opinion! But for now, we have a release month, and the knowledge that our first in-depth look at the season is almost upon us. That's plenty exciting enough!
We'll be diving deep on the new teaser, so be sure to check back as we start building up our hype for House of the Dragon. Between that and the end of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1, it's shaping up to be a very exciting week in Westeros.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs its season 1 finale on Sunday, February 22 a 10:00 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. House of the Dragon season 3 premeries in June, 2026.