House of the Dragon season 3 will be missing a major 2026 release deadline, confirms HBO boss Casey Bloys, who explains when it will be coming out. House of the Dragon season 3 began filming in March 2025, with the series expected to wrap production in October. The show is slated to come out sometime in 2026 on HBO.
While speaking to Deadline after the Emmys, Bloys revealed House of the Dragon season 3 has a tentative release window of June 2026. This would put it just shy of 2026 Emmy eligibility, the window for which closes on May 31, 2026. However, his update still offers a more concrete expectation as to when the upcoming episodes will be arriving.
What House Of The Dragon Season 3’s Release Means For The Emmys
Emma D’Arcy in House of the Dragon
Alongside House of the Dragon’s critical praise, the show has also been nominated for eight Emmys, including a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in 2024. It’s won two Creative Arts Emmys, ones for Outstanding Sci-Fi/Fantasy Costumes in 2024, and one for Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) in 2025. It’s an important part of today’s TV landscape.
However, based on what Bloys revealed about its release date, it seems like House of the Dragon won’t be getting recognition at the Emmys next time they come around. While its June release window means it will be eligible in 2027, it sounds like the series will just miss the ability to get any nods when the award ceremony returns.
Luckily, the world of Westeros may still have a shot of getting recognized at the next Emmys, regardless of the Game of Thrones prequel’s absence. Another spinoff, the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will be airing in early 2026, meaning it will make the cut. Whether it gets nominated or not, though, remains to be seen.
Our Take On House Of The Dragon Season 3’s Upcoming Emmy Absence
Aemond in House of the Dragon
It’s not a surprise that House of the Dragon season 3 might not end up eligible for the 2026 Emmys. Season 2 arrived in mid-June 2024, meaning it wasn’t eligible for Emmy nominations until 2025. It won’t be a big deal if the series suffers the same fate again, though it does mean its presence will be missed.
Even so, the series is promising a climactic continuation of the Targaryen civil war, with exciting events that could earn it more nominations at the Emmys than the previous two installments. Depending on how House of the Dragon season 3 plays out, its absence could be beneficial long-term for the fantasy series’ recognition at its next ceremony.
Release Date
August 21, 2022
Network
HBO
Directors
Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel
Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole