Rhaenyra & Daemon’s Epic House Of The Dragon Season 3 Returns Finally Revealed In New Images

HBO has finally released the first official images of House of the Dragon season 3, showcasing Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen as they gear up for some of the franchise’s most brutal battles yet. After a long two-year gap, House of the Dragon season 3 is finally returning to HBO in summer 2026which will consist of eight episodes for the intense next chapter in the Dance of the Dragons.

Although no official date has been set for its premiere, HBO has dropped a long-awaited set of images revealing Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Daemon Targaryen’s (Matt Smith) returns in season 3. One image sees Rhaenyra looking down at her crown, which she inherited from her father, King Viserys I Targaryen. The other image shows Daemon leading his army on the battlefield in the Riverlands.

As a soaking-wet, bloodied, and Dark Sister-wielding Daemon takes charge of Rhaenyra’s army in the lands seemingly outside Harrenhal, he’s followed close behind by an armored young Lord Oscar Tullywho pledged his loyalty and that of the Riverlands to Daemon and Rhaenyra at the end of season 2. Among the banners and shields seen following Daemon are those from House Tully, House Darry, and House Blackwood, the latter of which is the family of House of the Dragon season 3’s anticipated new character Alysanne Blackwood.

It’s unclear exactly which battle Daemon is fighting in as seen in the image. Based on George RR Martin’s Fire & Blood book, some of the biggest upcoming Riverlands-set conflicts expected for early season 3 are the Battle at Red Fork, Battle at Acorn Hall, and the extra bloody Battle by the Lakeshore, known better as the Fishfeed. However, Daemon didn’t fight in any of those in the book, hinting at a big change for his role in season 3’s battles in the Riverlands.

While Daemon’s first-look image highlights the epic scale of House of the Dragon season 3’s battles and action, the first look at Rhaenyra’s return showcases more of the political, emotional, and dramatic stakes being raised in the Game of Thrones prequel’s next installment. Rhaenyra stares down at her crown somberly as she holds it in her hands, seemingly taking in the weight of what the crown means and the sacrifices that come with wearing it.

House of the DragonS ‘ X account captioned the image “For the crown at any cost,” hinting that the moment of Rhaenyra reflecting on the crown will follow a pivotal, tragic loss for the Targaryen queen. Rhaenyra also stands alone in what looks to be the Red Keeppotentially spoiling The Black Queen taking King’s Landing and the Iron Throne from the control of the Greens in season 3. When season 2 left off, King Aegon II Targaryen had secretly fled King’s Landing with Larys, leaving the Red Keep in the hands of Prince Aemond.

As the power dynamics continue to shift throughout season 3, the groundwork is also being laid for the now-officially renewed House of the Dragon season 4. In addition to season 3’s summer 2026 release window, HBO confirmed today that House of the Dragon season 4 will premiere in 2028. Season 3 is just the beginning of the climb in epic scale for the Dance of the Dragon’s battles and major set pieces, which season 4 will inevitably take to the next level.

Now that HBO has released two images of key members of Team Black for House of the Dragon season 3, it’s expected that more images of representatives from Team Green will soon follow. Additionally, further details on the exact release date, teasers, and more clarification on what season 4 will entail are anticipated as we continue to get closer to season 3’s arrival in summer 2026.

Release Date

August 21, 2022

NETWORKS

HBO

Directors

Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

Writers

Gabe Fonseca

• 
• 

  Fabien Frankel

  Ser Criston Cole