HBO's top executive finally confirms the release window for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

HBO has officially announced the release timeline for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a much-awaited Game of Thrones prequel. Casey Bloys, HBO and HBO Max Content Chairman and CEO, revealed at a post-Emmy party at San Vicente Bungalows that the series will now debut in January 2026.

Previously anticipated in late 2025, this formal release date pits the show against the third season of House of the Dragon, with fans getting two significant fantasy shows from the same universe within the same year.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms retells George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas, which take place around 100 years before Game of Thrones. The series tracks Ser Duncan the Tall, also referred to as Dunk, and his squire Egg, who is destined to become Aegon V Targaryen.

The first season is set as a six-episode retelling of the novella The Hedge Knight. As Variety and GamesRadar report, the show promises a closer-to-home narrative than prior Game of Thrones spin-offs while building on the lore of Westeros.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Release date and timeline

The release of the series has officially been moved to January 2026, confirming the delay from the initially planned late 2025 release. Casey Bloys referred to the release month as being in HBO's "winter" schedule, Deadline reported. The confirmation came after Warner Bros. Discovery's 2025 upfronts, where promotional material listed 2026 as the release year.

This particular schedule places A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms as a big HBO fantasy show to start the year. It also creates an official timeline for new viewers of the Game of Thrones series, providing a guided introduction to Westeros' history before House of the Dragon Season 3 in the latter part of 2026, according to GamesRadar and Variety.

Series premise: Dunk and Egg's adventures

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is centered on the journey of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg. The narrative is set around a hundred years before Game of Thrones and around a century after House of the Dragon. Season 1 adapts the events of The Hedge Knight, the first of George R.R. Martin's Dunk and Egg novellas.

The story tracks Dunk as he competes in tournaments and meets central figures of Westerosi noble houses, including Targaryens. HBO producers have indicated that the series might last for three seasons, and more Dunk and Egg stories could be explored. Contrary to bigger Game of Thrones spin-offs, this show focuses on personal arcs, character growth, and Westerosi history.

For new fans, the show offers a smaller-scale introduction to Westeros, providing background on the Targaryen dynasty and life in the Seven Kingdoms before the events of Game of Thrones.

Production and expected impact

HBO greenlit A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in April 2023. The production takes place under Warner Bros. Discovery and will be available on HBO Max. Peter Claffey plays Ser Duncan the Tall, and Dexter Sol Ansell plays Egg as part of the main cast. Several Targaryen and other Westeros characters are included, broadening the franchise's historical scope.

The series is deliberately smaller in scope than shows such as House of the Dragon, emphasizing character-based storytelling at the expense of big ensemble battles. This makes it able to provide a new take within the franchise while still being connected to the existing Game of Thrones world.

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With its January 2026 premiere date, the series is one of HBO's ongoing efforts to grow the fantasy universe. Fans will get to see Westeros in an intimate, concentrated manner, but still be able to connect with the bigger lore.

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