George R.R. Martin’s Winds of Winter reaches a notable milestone in its long-awaited journey.

While it’s no secret that fans have been eagerly anticipating The Winds of Winter, it might surprise you to learn that we’ve now officially waited longer than it took George R.R. Martin to release the first five books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

As noted recently, the time elapsed between A Dance With Dragons and The Winds of Winter has now exceeded the duration between A Game of Thrones and A Dance With Dragons. The first five books in the series were published over a span of 5,457 days—almost 15 years—culminating with A Dance With Dragons hitting shelves on July 11, 2011. As of today, June 21, 2026, it has been 5,458 days since A Dance With Dragons was released.

Despite the lengthy wait for The Winds of Winter, George R.R. Martin has been quite active during this period. Since the release of A Dance With Dragons, he has penned several other works set in the A Song of Ice and Fire universe, though the next main installment remains unfinished. Additionally, he has contributed to various television projects, including Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

A Song of Ice and Fire has gained significant recognition beyond the literary world, largely due to Martin’s involvement in other media while fans await The Winds of Winter. However, those who were dissatisfied with the conclusion of the Game of Thrones series and have been loyal followers since its inception in 1996 are anxiously hoping for Martin to complete The Winds of Winter.

In May, a detailed timeline was created outlining every tease and update regarding The Winds of Winter over the past two decades. This timeline highlights that it has been over a year since we last received any news about the book, leaving us in the dark about when we might finally see The Winds of Winter released.