The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is back. Season 3 premiered on Prime Video on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026 with its first four episodes, released at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT (8 a.m. GMT). Unlike the weekly rollouts of the first two seasons, the rest of the season arrives in just two more drops: episodes 5 and 6 on Nov. 18 and the final two on Nov. 25. Here’s the full release schedule, who’s new in the cast, what critics are saying, and what we know about a fourth season.
Rings of Power season 3 release schedule
Amazon confirmed the three-batch rollout in its official press release, and the season has eight episodes in total, the same as seasons 1 and 2. According to Radio Times, the dates are the same in the UK and the US, so there’s no lag between territories.
- Episode 1, “Marnûkh”: Nov. 11 (out now)
- Episode 2, “The Gift of Men”: Nov. 11 (out now)
- Episode 3, “The Secret Fire”: Nov. 11 (out now)
- Episode 4, “Gundabad”: Nov. 11 (out now)
- Episodes 5 and 6: Wednesday, Nov. 18
- Episodes 7 and 8 (finale): Wednesday, Nov. 25
The episode titles for the first four come from Decider’s episode guide. Titles for episodes 5 to 8 hadn’t been listed there at the time of writing.
What time do new episodes come out?
Each batch lands at midnight Pacific / 3 a.m. Eastern on its release day, which is 8 a.m. GMT in the UK, according to GamesRadar+. That works out to 4 p.m. in Singapore and Beijing and 7 p.m. in Sydney on the same Wednesday.
Why is it released in batches?
Co-showrunner Patrick McKay told GamesRadar+ that the team wanted the full season out before the holidays: “We love the idea of having the whole thing out before the holidays, with the aspiration that maybe people will binge it together.” The finale lands the day before U.S. Thanksgiving, so anyone planning a holiday catch-up can watch the whole season in one go.
Where to watch The Rings of Power season 3
The series is a Prime Video exclusive, available in more than 240 countries and territories. All three seasons stream for Amazon Prime subscribers, including those on the ad-supported tier, GamesRadar+ notes. If you’re not a member, both Decider and Radio Times point to Prime’s 30-day free trial as a way to watch, though trial terms vary by country, so check before signing up. Seasons 1 and 2 (16 episodes) are on the service too if you need a refresher.
With so many services competing for a monthly fee, big releases like this are exactly what streamers use to win sign-ups. Amazon itself says the show “continues to be one of Amazon’s strongest drivers for new Prime membership sign-ups,” a trend we looked at in the future of streaming and subscription fatigue.
What season 3 is about
Season 3 opens five years after the fall of Eregion. In Amazon’s words, Sauron’s armies “have marched across the whole of the world, conquering all in their path.” Only a few strongholds are left: the Dwarf kingdom of Khazad-dûm, sealed deep inside its mountain, and the Elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell, protected by their Three Rings. In his newly finished tower of Barad-dûr, Sauron is working on the weapon that will finish them off: the One Ring.
McKay told SFX Magazine, as quoted by Elle, that “this third season is where every single storyline becomes part of the large, epic war between Sauron and the Elves.” One of the main storylines, GamesRadar+ explains, has a rogue Orc guiding Galadriel and Arondir to the Orc prison of Gundabad to rescue an Elven smith whose knowledge Sauron needs to forge the Ring.
Episodes are directed by Charlotte Brändström, Sanaa Hamri and Stefan Schwartz, and J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay return as showrunners.
Rings of Power season 3 cast: who’s new
Amazon’s season 3 guide lists these new cast members:
- Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things) as Celeborn, Galadriel’s long-lost husband
- Zubin Varla (Andor) as Khamûl, the Easterling of Rhûn
- Eddie Marsan as Thráin, King Durin IV’s older brother
- Andrew Richardson as Anárion, Elendil’s younger son and Isildur’s brother
- Adam Young as Marnûkh, a mysterious Orc “who may not be what he seems”
- Simon Pegg as the voice of the Balrog
Returning cast members include Charlie Vickers (Sauron), Morfydd Clark (Galadriel), Robert Aramayo (Elrond), Benjamin Walker (Gil-galad), Daniel Weyman (Gandalf), Sophia Nomvete (Disa), Owain Arthur (Durin IV), Lloyd Owen (Elendil), Maxim Baldry (Isildur), Trystan Gravelle (Pharazôn), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Míriel), Ismael Cruz Córdova (Arondir), Ciarán Hinds (the Dark Wizard) and Rory Kinnear (Tom Bombadil).
Rings of Power season 3 reviews: what critics say
Early reviews are split. Decider calls the season “finally truly epic,” praising darker storytelling, brutal action and a more openly villainous Sauron, and singling out Marnûkh as a favorite new character. The Guardian is far less impressed, calling the revamp “too little, too late,” though it singles out Bower’s Celeborn as the season’s splashiest addition. Polygon’s review argues that the season tries too hard to copy Peter Jackson’s film trilogy.
Whatever the critics think, the audience is large. Amazon says the series has attracted more than 185 million viewers worldwide, that season 1 is still the biggest TV series premiere in Prime Video history, and that season 2 ranks among its top five most-watched returning seasons. Arguments about Tolkien canon are a big part of the show’s life online, much like the debates we covered in how online fan communities shape entertainment trends.
Will there be a Rings of Power season 4?
Not officially, at least not yet. The Hollywood Reporter reported that a fourth season is in development, with preproduction planned for this fall and filming eyed for early 2027, but stressed that it “is not officially greenlit.” THR also noted that Amazon made a five-season production commitment when it bought the TV rights in 2017. If that schedule holds, a fourth season would most likely arrive in 2028.
The Rings of Power is one piece of a much bigger Middle-earth franchise. If you’re following how studios build long-running worlds across films, series and games, see our look at expanding universes and cross-platform storytelling.
FAQ
When did Rings of Power season 3 come out?
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, on Prime Video, with episodes 1 to 4 released at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT.
When is Rings of Power season 3 episode 5 out?
Episodes 5 and 6 arrive on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT (8 a.m. GMT).
When is the Rings of Power season 3 finale?
Episodes 7 and 8, including the finale, are out Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026.
How many episodes are in Rings of Power season 3?
Eight, released in three batches: four, then two, then two.
Who plays Celeborn in Rings of Power?
Jamie Campbell Bower, best known as Vecna in Stranger Things, plays Galadriel’s husband Celeborn in season 3.
Do I need Prime to watch The Rings of Power?
Yes. It streams only on Prime Video, including the ad-supported tier. A free trial may be available in your country.
Featured image: The Rings of Power panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, with Benjamin Walker, Charlie Vickers, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Jamie Campbell Bower, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. Photo by Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).
