Game of Thrones Prequel A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Finally Gets a Release Month After Premiere Delay
Westeros throws open its gates—dragons roar, alliances crack, and a ruthless new chapter is about to set the season ablaze.
Westeros just penciled in some concrete dates. HBO finally put a window on its next Game of Thrones prequel, and it is hitting a little sooner than the doom-and-gloom predictions.
So, when is it?
"A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will be in January, and then House of the Dragon will probably be just outside this Emmy cycle."
That is HBO CEO Casey Bloys, chatting at the Emmys. Translation for the non-industry folks: the new prequel drops January 2026, and House of the Dragon season 3 is aiming for later in 2026, likely after the Emmys eligibility cutoff (think post–May 31).
The Dunk and Egg of it all
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms adapts George R.R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas. It is a six-episode run led by Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and Dexter Sol Ansell as a very young Aegon V Targaryen, better known as Egg. The show takes place roughly a century before Game of Thrones, when the Targaryens still hold the Iron Throne and people still remember what living, fire-breathing dragons were like.
- Release window: January 2026 on HBO
- Episodes: 6
- Leads: Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall; Dexter Sol Ansell as Aegon V Targaryen (Egg)
- Timeline: about 90–100 years before Game of Thrones
- Setting snapshot: Targaryen dynasty in power; the last dragon is still within living memory
- Source material: George R.R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas
- Scheduling wrinkle: House of the Dragon season 3 will land later in 2026, likely after the Emmys cutoff
- Note on timing: this prequel was once eyed for 2025, then delayed; January 2026 is the new, firm window
- Current availability: House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Sky and NOW in the UK
How long a ride are we in for?
Francesca Orsi, who runs HBO drama and films, has already been talking up the dynamic between the two leads — think a big knight-little squire bond that is part brotherhood, part paternal — and says the team is mapping the story as a three-season arc to line up with the three novellas. It is not officially greenlit beyond season 1 yet, but they are clearly building with seasons 2 and 3 in mind. Inside baseball, sure, but it is a useful tell about HBO's confidence level.
Bottom line: the Dunk and Egg road trip kicks off in January 2026, and more dragon business should follow later that year. Start sharpening your broadswords accordingly.