2026 is a unique year for Game of Thrones fans - Here's how

Game of Thrones fans are set to have an absolute blast in 2026. That's because, in a move that is the franchise's first, HBO will release not one but two projects set in the same universe. Firstly, there is the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms project, which is releasing in early 2026. Then, there is also the third and the penultimate season of House of the Dragon.

This stunning move would be the franchise's history, as fans were expected to wait for two to three years patiently when the original HBO series was on air. Thus, the move from one project in a year to two feels like a big move for the Game of Thrones franchise.

The Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is expected to be released in early 2026:

Many believe that the first 2026 Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will be lighter in tone in comparison to the original HBO series and House of the Dragon. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adapts The Hedge Knight, which was published in 1998.

Like the Martin novella, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms follows Dexter Sol Ansell's Egg and Peter Claffey's Ser "Dunk" Duncan the Tall. Chronologically, the series is set right in the middle, as it takes place nearly a century before Game of Thrones, but 100 years after House of the Dragon. Dunk and Egg participate in a competition, in which they come across numerous figures in the Targaryen dynasty. The official logline reads:

“A century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”

Meanwhile, House of the Dragon star promises a ferocious Season 3:

Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon, sat down for an interview with the Collider Senior Editor Therese Lacson to promote the former's new psychological thriller series The Girlfriend. In that interview, the conversation shifted towards what we can expect from the third season of House of the Dragon, which revolves around a Targaryen civil war. Hyping up the third season, Cooke said:

“Well, I think I can say for the show that it is, you know, it starts off with a bang. The first two eps were essentially supposed to be our finale last year. So you can just imagine coming into that sort of energy. It’s bigger and more ferocious than ever before, I think is what I can say.”

This comment had fans hopeful, as the most divisive aspect of House of the Dragon Season 2 was the lack of action. There is no release window or date for the third season for now. However, many believe that House of the Dragon Season 3 will begin airing in the second half of 2026, i.e., June or August, like seasons 1 and 2.

Why are there two Game of Thrones spin-off shows in 2026?

Initially, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was supposed to be released in the second half of 2025, and the show wrapped up production in September 2024 in accordance to keep up with the old schedule. However, during the Upfront presentation in May 2025, CEO and HBO content chairman Casey Bloys revealed the show's early 2026 release window.

Conversely, the House of the Dragon's production team boasts of a grand scale and state-of-the-art visuals. Therefore, making these shows takes considerable time. Thus, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' early completion for a 2025 release date, but eventual delay, makes 2026 a special year for the fans of the HBO epic fantasy series.

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As we wait for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon Season 3, all eight seasons of Game of Thrones and its 2022 prequel spin-off are streaming on HBO Max.

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