Season by season air date timeline
Game of Thrones aired from 2011 to 2019 across eight seasons on HBO. This reference lists season-level premiere and finale dates so readers can quickly locate when each season aired and understand the show’s broadcast span. Use this as a durable timeline rather than episode-by-episode minutiae.
| Season | Season premiere | Season finale | Number of episodes | Notable notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | April 17, 2011 | June 19, 2011 | 10 | Series debut on HBO |
| Season 2 | April 1, 2012 | June 3, 2012 | 10 | |
| Season 3 | March 31, 2013 | June 9, 2013 | 10 | |
| Season 4 | April 6, 2014 | June 15, 2014 | 10 | |
| Season 5 | April 12, 2015 | June 14, 21015 | 10 | Note: Finale date widely reported as June 14, 2015 |
| Season 6 | April 24, 2016 | June 26, 2016 | 10 | |
| Season 7 | July 16, 2017 | August 27, 2017 | 7 | Shift to summer window |
| Season 8 | April 14, 2019 | May 19, 2019 | 6 | Series finale on HBO |
| Total | April 17, 2011 | May 19, 2019 | 73 | Series run summary |
What counts as an episode air date
An episode air date is the first public broadcast on HBO in the United States. Air dates may differ on international HBO partners, reruns, and streaming windows. The timeline above reflects the original U.S. HBO premieres and finales. This framing avoids conflating initial broadcasts with later releases or regional schedules.
Why season dates matter more than exact episode slots
For long-form evergreen reference, season-level dates are more stable and useful than pinpointing individual episode airings, which can vary by region and platform. Season windows help readers understand viewing patterns, production hiatuses, and shifts in release strategy across the show’s history.
Post-broadcast distribution windows
After their HBO premieres, episodes became available on HBO Go and HBO Now shortly after airing, with full-season releases on HBO Max following platform launches. International windows varied by broadcaster. Understanding these layers clarifies why some viewers experienced episodes days or weeks apart.
Common date confusion clarified
- Premiere dates refer to the first U.S. HBO airing of each season.
- Finale dates reflect the last episode of each season on HBO.
- International, syndication, and streaming dates are not listed here to maintain clarity and evergreen usefulness.
Production schedule notes
Season 7 moved to a summer window, reflecting a shift from the earlier spring pattern established in seasons 1–6. Season 8 condensed to six episodes and concluded the series in spring 2019. These production rhythms are useful context for interpreting date gaps and viewer expectations.
Frequently asked questions
- When did Game of Thrones first air? The series premiered on April 17, 2011.
- When did Game of Thrones end? The series finale aired on May 19, 2019.
- How many episodes aired per season? Seasons varied from 6 to 10 episodes, for a total of 73 across the run.
Sources and verification notes
Dates are drawn from publicly available HBO press materials and widely reported schedule announcements for each season’s premiere and finale. For evergreen utility, this approach emphasizes consistent, reference-grade information over moment-by-moment news detail.