How to watch House of the Dragon online: stream the Game of Thrones prequel now where you are - episode guide, synopsis, trailer

House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel series, tells the Targaryen's story. No queen has ever sat atop the Iron Throne, but when King Viserys I Targaryen names Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, his first-born child, as his heir, his younger brother is not impressed. Prince Daemon Targaryen disputes the ruling, the King bungles his opportunity to make his word final and any chance of a peaceful succession goes up in flames. Cue dragon-flaming drama. With the series now live, here's how to watch House of the Dragon online wherever you are in the world.

• Watch House of the Dragon: 40% off HBO Max on annual plan sign ups

Family feuds tend to get more than a little heated when the Targaryens are involved. Being named Viserys' successor at such a young age means Princess Rhaenyra never had an opportunity to stake her claim to the Iron Throne, the most dangerous seat in the realm, and surely the least comfortable. 

But in spite of the grand status of her uncle, a dragonrider and the most fearsome warrior in Westeros, she's determined to take back what she believes to be rightfully hers, no matter the price.

This being the brainchild of George R.R. Martin, the main players change faster than you can say "Dance of the Dragons", especially with the calculating Alicent Hightower and master puppeteer Eve Best corroding old alliances and forging new ones in those shadowy corners of the halls of power.

Brace yourself for a blitz of betrayal, bloodshed, and bleach blonde hair. Here's how to watch House of the Dragon online where you are.

House of the Dragon trailer

• Need a refresher? Where to watch Game of Thrones online

House of the Dragon episode dates

All dates US

• Episode 1, The Heirs of the Dragon: Sunday, August 21
• Episode 2, The Rogue Prince: Sunday, August 28
• Episode 3, Second of his name: Sunday, September 4
• Episode 4, King of the Narrow Sea: Sunday, September 11
• Episode 5, We Light the Way: Sunday, September 18
• Episode 6, The Princess and the Queen: Sunday, September 25
• Episode 7, Driftmark: Sunday, October 2
• Episode 8, The Lord of the Tides: Sunday, October 9
• Episode 9, The Green Council: Sunday, October 16
• Episode 10, The Black Queen: Sunday, October 23

How to watch House of the Dragon online in the US without cable

House of the Dragon premiered on HBO on Sunday, August 21, with new episodes airing at the same slot weekly on Sundays at 9pm ET / PT.

If you've cut the cord or don't have HBO as a part of your cable package, you can watch House of the Dragon on HBO Max instead.

There are two HBO Max price points - $9.99 a month with commercials, or the 4K HDR, commercial-free subscription at $14.99 that also unlocks 4K streaming and Dolby Atmos sound. 

However, right now you can save a huge 40% off when you prepay with its annual plan. Pay $69.99 for its ad-supported plan (usually $99.99 a year), or $104.99 to go ad-free (down from $149.99 a year).

What else can I watch on HBO Max?

That's a total bargain, considering you'll get access to a huge library of top-drawer entertainment, including Westworld, The Flight Attendant, award-winning animation from Studio Ghibli, DC Universe shows like Peacemaker, plus Succession, Mare of Easttown, The Matrix Resurrections, and all episodes of Game of Thrones, of course.

The 7-day HBO Max free trial has long since been discontinued. But, if you're a current HBO Now subscriber or pay for HBO through your cable provider, you could be entitled to HBO Max at no extra cost.

Devices compatible with HBO Max include iPhone and Android devices, Apple and Samsung TVs, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, Chromecast and Chromebooks, and laptops and PCs. HBO Max on Roku and Amazon Fire Stick is also available.

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How to watch House of the Dragon online in the UK

In the UK, House of the Dragon premieres new episodes at 2am BST on Sunday night/Monday morning on Sky Atlantic at the same time as the US, but will repeat every episode at the more reasonable time of 9pm every Monday evening.

Sky subscribers can also stream House of the Dragon on the go on mobile devices via the Sky Go streaming service, which has dedicated apps for iOS, iPadOS and Android devices, along with Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

If you're not a Sky customer, you can check out our dedicated guide to Sky TV deals and packages for today's best prices.

Don't fancy being locked in to a long, expensive contract? Consider the more flexible streaming option, Now, (formerly Now TV). Now entertainment passes start at £9.99.

How to watch House of the Dragon online in Canada

Crave is the place to watch House of the Dragon in Canada, with episodes landing on the streaming service at 9pm ET/PT every Sunday from August 21.

You’ll need to choose between Crave Total for $19.99 (+tax) a month, or sacrifice simultaneous streams and offline viewing for Crave Mobile for $9.99 a month. First, though, you can enjoy Crave's 7-day FREE trial, available to new subscribers only.

Crave offers classic HBO series, on-demand movies, Crave originals and Showtime content, including addictive TV shows like The Gloaming, Dexter, and 30 Rock, in addition to the latest HBO Max releases, such as The Time Travelers' Wife and We Own This City.

How to watch House of the Dragon: stream every episode online in Australia

Binge is the place to watch House of the Dragon in Australia, with new episodes hitting the streaming service at 11am AEST every Monday, from August 22.

Starting at just AU$10 a month, Binge is very temptingly priced, and what's more, new customers are entitled to a generous 14-day FREE trial, meaning you can try before you buy. 

The Basic plan provides a single stream in SD quality, and you can upgrade to Standard and Premium plans if you want additional streams and better video quality.

You also have the option of Foxtel and Foxtel Now, which offers more of a full package, cable-like experience. Boasting 70+ channels and a 10-day free trial, get the Foxtel Now Essentials Base pack and pay just $25 a month to watch House of the Dragon.

Once subscribed, you’ll get access to 10,000 hours of content: reality shows, dramas, comedies and documentaries including Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Big Little Lies, Modern Family, Mayans, and Gossip Girl. It also offers more than 800 movies, and content from HBO, FX, and Warner Bros.

House of the Dragon cast

• King Viserys I Targaryen: Paddy Considine
• Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen: Emma D’Arcy
• Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen: Milly Alcock
• Prince Daemon Targaryen: Matt Smith 
• Lady Alicent Hightower: Olivia Cooke 
• Young Alicent Hightower: Emily Carey 
• Ser Otto Hightower: Rhys Ifans

House of the Dragon: when is it set?

Winter is some way off in House of the Dragon, which chronicles events that take place 200 years before Daenerys Targaryen's rise to power in Game of Thrones.

This is a time of peace in the Seven Kingdoms, under the rule of King Viserys I Targaryen, the fifth Targaryen to ascend to the Iron Throne. 

However, though the Targaryens are powerful, their bloodline is vulnerable, and Viserys' ill-judged efforts to please everybody close to him are set to backfire spectacularly.