Westeros is heading back to TV with a new prequel focused on Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire Aegon Targaryen. Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms launches on HBO in January 2026, with each episode arriving the next day on HBO Max in the United States. If you want to follow every chapter as soon as it drops, the full release calendar is already set.
How the weekly release works on HBO and HBO Max
The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is structured as a short, contained arc of six episodes. The season premiere airs on HBO on January 18, 2026, and each episode is then available the following day on HBO Max in the United States.
This weekly rollout mirrors the release pattern used for other series set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire: one new episode every week, encouraging appointment viewing, discussion, and speculation between episodes instead of a one-shot binge.
Episode-by-episode release dates on HBO and HBO Max
Below is the official broadcast schedule for both HBO (linear channel) and HBO Max (streaming). All dates are confirmed for season 1, including the frame of the finale.
| Episode | Title | US broadcast (HBO) | US streaming (HBO Max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | The Hedge Knight | January 18, 2026 | January 19, 2026 |
| Episode 2 | Hard Salt Beef | January 25, 2026 | January 26, 2026 |
| Episode 3 | To be confirmed | February 1, 2026 | February 2, 2026 |
| Episode 4 | To be confirmed | February 8, 2026 | February 9, 2026 |
| Episode 5 | To be confirmed | February 15, 2026 | February 16, 2026 |
| Episode 6 | To be confirmed | February 22, 2026 | February 23, 2026 |
What timeline the new prequel explores
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms goes back roughly ninety years before the events of Game of Thrones. The show adapts George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, following Ser Duncan the Tall, a lowborn wandering knight, and his squire Egg, who is destined to become Aegon V Targaryen.
Rather than sprawling across dozens of characters and continents, this prequel focuses on a more intimate slice of Westeros, where dynastic rivalries, tournaments, and the codes of knighthood shape the lives of two central figures on the road.
Story focus of season 1
The first season is primarily built around the plot of The Hedge Knight. That story sets up the relationship between Dunk and Egg, grounding the saga in personal struggles, honor, and the subtle political tensions simmering across the realm.
Across its six episodes, the season uses this smaller scale to dig into individual journeys and the expectations placed on knights and rulers, rather than immediately aiming for massive wars or continent-wide conflicts.
FAQ
How long does the season 1 run of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms last?
The season spans a little over a month: it begins with the first HBO broadcast on January 18, 2026, and concludes with the sixth episode airing on February 22, 2026, followed by streaming on HBO Max the next day.
Do I need to watch Game of Thrones before starting this prequel?
The series is set about ninety years before Game of Thrones and centers on Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg. While knowledge of Game of Thrones and the wider A Song of Ice and Fire universe adds extra context, the information provided here indicates this prequel follows its own, more intimate storyline.
Which story from George R. R. Martin does season 1 adapt?
Season 1 mainly adapts the plot of The Hedge Knight, one of George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, using it as the backbone for the first six-episode arc.
On which platform can I stream the episodes in the United States?
Episodes air first on HBO, then become available the following day on HBO Max in the United States, with one new installment each week across the six-episode season.
