House of the Dragon Ends Game of Thrones’ Emmy Drought

After a short hiatus, the world of Game of Thrones is back in the Emmy spotlight thanks to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The Television Academy has revealed this year’s Emmy nominations, and AKOTSK is in the running for an impressive nine awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Cinematography.

Here’s the complete list of nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards, with the show’s sole Primetime Emmy nomination highlighted:

Given the franchise’s recent challenges, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms feels like a refreshing change. Rather than getting lost in the sprawling power dynamics of Westeros with numerous characters, this series zooms in on the lowborn hedge knight “Ser” Duncan and his unexpected squire, Egg, set many years before the original Game of Thrones saga.

The six-episode run primarily revolves around a single jousting tournament, yet it cleverly escalates the tension, culminating in a standout fifth episode that delivers the kind of emotional impact fans have come to expect from Game of Thrones. The show aired from January 18 to February 22 on HBO and HBO Max, and it has already been renewed for a second season expected in 2027.

While Game of Thrones was a staple during awards season, boasting a record 59 Emmy wins, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, 2016, 2018, and (somewhat humorously) in 2019, the spinoff House of the Dragon broke this impressive streak by not being nominated for Outstanding Drama in 2025. Although House of the Dragon’s first season garnered nine Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama, and won for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, its second season only received six nominations, all in Creative Arts categories like hairstyling, costumes, and makeup. The lack of buzz around these nominations was telling, as the season itself was somewhat lackluster and ended on an anticlimactic note.

Fortunately, 2026 has been much more favorable for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire. In addition to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms making a strong debut, House of the Dragon’s third season has started off impressively, with its first three episodes featuring a breathtaking battle followed by gripping political intrigue. Despite a lack of bloodshed, the latest episode created a palpable sense of dread, perfectly capturing the feeling of being under the Sword of Damocles. With the momentum House of the Dragon is building, it’s quite possible that two Game of Thrones spinoffs will be vying for awards at the next Emmys.

The 78th Emmy Awards are set to air on September 14 at 8 p.m. EDT / 5 p.m. PDT on NBC and will be available for streaming on Peacock.