A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms finally has a date to circle: HBO’s new series premieres on January 18, 2026, with a six-episode, half‑hour season that brings Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall and his squire Egg to the screen. The story is set 100 years before the events of Game of Thrones and 72 years after House of the Dragon, positioning the tale squarely between the two flagship timelines.
HBO’s official logline sets the tone: “A century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros,” and “great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.” The trailer made its debut during New York Comic Con, confirming the show’s lighter, more intimate, and more grounded approach compared with the franchise’s other entries.
Release date & where to watch
- Premiere: January 18, 2026 (HBO; streams on Max)
- Season format: Six episodes; approximately 30 minutes each
- Setting in the franchise: 100 years before Game of Thrones; 72 years after House of the Dragon
- Based on: George R. R. Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas
Cast & creators (complete list from the trailer rollout)
The series stars Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg (Prince Aegon Targaryen). The ensemble also includes Finn Bennett, Bertie Carvel, Daniel Ings, Tanzyn Crawford, Sam Spruell, Ross Anderson, Edward Ashley, Henry Ashton, Youssef Kerkour, Daniel Monks, Shaun Thomas, Tom Vaughan‑Lawlor, Steve Wall, and Danny Webb.
George R. R. Martin and Ira Parker are writers and executive producers, with additional executive producers Ryan Condal, Vince Gerardis, Owen Harris, and Sarah Bradshaw. Season 1 is split between two directors: Adina Smith (three episodes) and Owen Harris (three episodes).
Trailer highlights & tone
The footage opens with Dunk burying his mentor, Ser Arlan of Pennytree, before he and Egg set off toward a tournament at Ashford. The staging and character beats suggest a more character‑driven, sometimes humorous dynamic between the hedge knight and his bald, sharp‑eyed squire, even as the pair collide with proud nobles and prickly Targaryens. The world is post‑dragon yet still defined by Targaryen rule—an era of smaller stakes that can turn deadly without warning.
One visual detail likely to spark debate is the Targaryen sigil treatment seen in the teaser—still the three‑headed, two‑legged dragon favored by Martin, but with bespoke flourishes to fit this era’s aesthetic.
Production & panel notes
The first public rollout for the series was at New York Comic Con inside the Jacob Javits Convention Center. George R. R. Martin previewed the plan earlier in the week, writing, “That’s where HBO is going to be rolling out A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS for the first time, come Thursday,” and adding, “We’re flying into New York tomorrow, Oct 8.” He also noted that showrunner Ira Parker would be flying in “from Belfast,” “bringing Dunk and Egg with him; that is to say, Peter Claffey (Dunk) and Dexter Sol Ansell (Egg).”
The exact place in the Game of Thrones timeline
The narrative is locked to a precise window in Westeros history: roughly a century before Game of Thrones begins and 72 years after the events chronicled in House of the Dragon. That span reflects a period when dragons are gone from the skies, but the Targaryen dynasty still occupies the Iron Throne and faces rivalries that play out in lists, inns, and castle yards rather than in great councils and dragonpits.
Every proper noun you’ll hear around the show’s debut
- New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javits Convention Center served as the trailer’s launch venue.
- George R. R. Martin referenced recent stops, including Seattle (Worldcon) and Bubonicon in Albuquerque, with travel through Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Santa Fe, and New Mexico.
- He name‑checked friends and genre lights Ed Bryant, John Miller, Howard Waldrop, Gardner Dozois, and Phyllis Eisenstein, and mentioned traveling with Janice Gelb and Stephen Boucher.
Why the premiere timing matters
Launching on January 18 places the series during a winter corridor that historically works for premium fantasy rollouts. The six‑episode, half‑hour structure could help the story breathe and keep the focus squarely on Dunk and Egg’s evolving bond. If Season 1 adapts the first novella, future seasons could—subject to renewal—tackle The Sworn Sword and The Mystery Knight, keeping the scope intimate while gradually weaving in wider Targaryen currents.
Bottom line
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms arrives on January 18 with a defined place in the saga, a compact first season, and a cast full of fresh faces and Westerosi heavy hitters behind the camera. For anyone tracking where and when it sits, the series is set 100 years before Game of Thrones and 72 years after House of the Dragon—and that clarity should make it easy to queue up when it lands on HBO and Max.
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