Season 8 of Game of Thrones: key dates and conclusion
Season 8 of Game of Thrones premiered on April 14, 2019, and concluded with the series finale on May 19, 2019. This final season condensed the story into six episodes, moving toward the final resolution in Westeros. Below is a detailed look at the release schedule, episode breakdown, main cast, and how the show ended.
Air dates and episode schedule
Season 8 followed Season 7 by several months rather than the shorter gaps between earlier seasons. It aired across six episodes, with the finale marking the end of the television series.
| Episode | Title | Air date | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Dragon and the Wolf | April 14, 2019 | 62 min |
| 2 | The Queen’s Justice | April 21, 2019 | 59 min |
| 3 | The King’s Landing | April 28, 2019 | 56 min |
| 4 | The Last of the Starks | May 5, 2019 | 57 min |
| 5 | The Bells | May 12, 2019 | 80 min |
| 6 | The Iron Throne | May 19, 2019 | 80 min |
Main cast in Season 8
The season featured the core ensemble returning for the concluding arc, with some characters departing over the course of the season.
- Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen
- Kit Harington as Jon Snow
- Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
- Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister
- Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark
- Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister
- Iain Glen as Jorah Mormont
How the series concluded
Season 8 resolved long-running storylines in Westeros: the Great War against the Night King, the fall of King’s Landing, and the fate of the Iron Throne. The finale provided a definitive end to the Targaryen and Stark arcs, alongside major political and personal conclusions for the surviving characters.
Additional context for viewers
With only six episodes, Season 8 progressed more quickly than earlier seasons, focusing on war, alliances, and legacy. Viewers saw major battles, character exits, and the final decision about the future of the Seven Kingdoms. The season and series close on the consequences of choices made across eight seasons.