The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns to Prime Video on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with an epic new season promising war, dark magic and the growing threat of Sauron. The third instalment of Amazon’s fantasy drama will see the free peoples of Middle-earth pushed towards the brink as the Dark Lord works to forge the One Ring.
The new season picks up five years after the fall of Eregion, with Sauron’s forces sweeping across Middle-earth and the remaining Elven and Dwarven strongholds fighting to survive. As the war intensifies, alliances will be tested, families divided and familiar characters forced to confront an increasingly powerful enemy.
With a new trailer teasing Sauron’s army, mysterious Ring-servants and Gandalf fighting against the gathering darkness, the series is preparing for one of its most consequential chapters yet.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three, including when it starts, how many episodes there are, the story, cast and the cost of watching it on Prime Video.
When does The Rings of Power season 3 start?
The third season premieres on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Rather than releasing one episode each week, Prime Video is launching the eight-episode season in three batches. The first four episodes will be available together on launch day, followed by two episodes the following week and the final two the week after.
The full release schedule is:
- Wednesday, November 11: Episodes 1–4
- Wednesday, November 18: Episodes 5–6
- Wednesday, November 25: Episodes 7–8, including the season finale
This means viewers can watch the opening four episodes in one sitting before following the remainder of the story over the next two weeks. The dates have been announced by Amazon. (Source: About Amazon)
How many episodes are in The Rings of Power season 3?
Season three consists of eight episodes.
The new run follows the first two seasons, which each contained eight episodes. All 16 episodes from seasons one and two are already available to stream on Prime Video, making it possible for newcomers to catch up before the new instalment arrives.
The series is set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books.
Rather than retelling the familiar story of Frodo’s journey, the drama explores the earlier history of the world, including the rise of Sauron, the forging of the Rings of Power and the conflicts that shape the kingdoms of Middle-earth.
What is The Rings of Power season 3 about?
Middle-earth is at war, and Sauron is determined to achieve total domination.
Five years have passed since the fall of Eregion. Sauron’s armies have advanced across the world, leaving only a handful of strongholds standing between the Dark Lord and victory.
The Dwarves of Khazad-dûm have retreated deep into their mountain halls, while the Elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell remain protected by the Three Rings. Their survival, however, is far from guaranteed as the conflict threatens to overwhelm the remaining forces resisting Sauron.
Meanwhile, in Mordor, Sauron has completed his tower of Barad-dûr. From this imposing fortress, he devotes himself to creating an ultimate weapon: the One Ring, designed to give him the power to defeat his enemies and bend the peoples of Middle-earth to his will.
The coming season will see Elves, Dwarves, Men and Wizards forced to find common ground as they race to prevent Sauron from completing his plan.
The stakes are enormous. If the Dark Lord succeeds, the consequences could reach every corner of Middle-earth.
What does the new trailer reveal?
The latest trailer offers a glimpse of the escalating conflict, with the peoples of Middle-earth facing Sauron and his army of Orcs.
Among the most ominous images are the Dark Lord’s terrifying Ring-servants, clad in black armour as they roam the land. Their presence hints at the growing influence of the Rings and the dangers facing those who fall under Sauron’s power.
The Elves are shown struggling to hold the front lines, while tensions within the Dwarven community threaten to undermine their resistance. In Khazad-dûm, family ties are strained at a time when unity could mean the difference between survival and defeat.
Political divisions also threaten the island kingdom of Númenor, where rival factions push the realm towards the brink of civil war. As Sauron’s influence spreads, internal conflict could prove just as dangerous as the armies gathering beyond its shores.
In the eastern lands of Rhûn, Gandalf draws on his powers of magic and persuasion in an attempt to turn the tide of impending darkness.
Together, these storylines suggest a season that will broaden the conflict beyond individual rivalries, bringing the fate of several kingdoms into one enormous struggle.
Who stars in The Rings of Power season 3?
The third season brings back familiar faces from the earlier episodes, including:
- Charlie Vickers as Sauron
- Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
- Robert Aramayo as Elrond
- Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad
- Daniel Weyman as Gandalf
- Sophia Nomvete as Disa
- Owain Arthur as Durin IV
- Lloyd Owen as Elendil
- Maxim Baldry as Isildur
- Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Míriel
- Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir
The new season also introduces additional characters, including Celeborn, played by Jamie Campbell Bower, and Khamûl, played by Zubin Varla. Simon Pegg joins the cast as the voice of the Balrog.
The returning characters will continue to navigate the political, personal and military consequences of Sauron’s growing power, while the new arrivals add further connections to the wider mythology of Middle-earth.
Who makes The Rings of Power?
The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios, with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay returning as showrunners and executive producers.
They are joined by executive producers Lindsey Weber, Kate Hazell, Justin Doble and Charlotte Brändström, who also serves as an executive producer-director. Matthew Penry-Davey is the producer, with Ally O’Leary Cantrell, Tim Keene and Andrew Lee serving as co-producers.
The creative team continues to bring Tolkien’s Second Age to television, combining large-scale fantasy battles with stories of loyalty, ambition, power and the consequences of choosing whom to trust.
What is The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power about?
For viewers unfamiliar with the series, The Rings of Power explores the history of Middle-earth long before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
The story takes place during an era when kingdoms rise and fall, powerful artefacts are forged and evil begins to threaten the world once again. Its ensemble cast follows familiar and new characters as they confront the re-emergence of Sauron and the dangers that accompany his return.
The action spans a variety of locations, from the forests of Lindon and the mountain halls of Khazad-dûm to the island kingdom of Númenor, the eastern lands of Rhûn and the dark territory of Mordor.
The series explores how these different peoples respond to the same growing threat, with decisions made in one kingdom carrying consequences far beyond its borders.
Season three takes this overarching story into a more openly militarised phase, with Sauron no longer simply manipulating events from the shadows but moving towards the creation of the One Ring that will define his quest for power.
How much does Prime Video cost in the UK?
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available exclusively on Prime Video, so you will need a suitable subscription to watch season three.
The UK subscription options listed by Amazon include:
- Prime Video only: £7.99 per month
- Amazon Prime: £8.99 per month or £95 per year
- Prime Student: £4.49 per month or £47.49 per year for eligible members
An Amazon Prime membership includes Prime Video alongside other benefits, such as eligible delivery services. The standalone Prime Video subscription provides access to the streaming service without the wider shopping benefits. Pricing and offers can change, so check Amazon’s official Prime Video page before subscribing. (Source: About Amazon UK)
Eligible new customers may also be offered a free trial, depending on their account and current offer.
Where can you watch The Rings of Power?
Season three will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from November 11, 2026, in the UK and other supported territories.
You can watch through the Prime Video app on compatible smart TVs, streaming devices, games consoles, smartphones and tablets, or through the service’s website.
If you have not watched the earlier seasons, all 16 episodes of seasons one and two are available on the platform now. Catching up beforehand will help you follow the relationships, rivalries and political developments that lead into the new war.
What to expect from The Rings of Power season 3
The third season looks set to raise the stakes for the peoples of Middle-earth as Sauron’s ambitions move closer to fruition. With the Dark Lord building his power in Mordor, the remaining strongholds must overcome internal divisions if they are to stand a chance against his forces.
The trailer’s hints of Ring-servants, political turmoil in Númenor and Gandalf’s struggle in Rhûn suggest that the conflict will affect every corner of the world.
For fans of Tolkien’s mythology, the season also promises to explore a pivotal part of Middle-earth’s history: the rise of the One Ring and the struggle to prevent Sauron from using it to rule all life.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three premieres on Prime Video on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, with four episodes released on launch day. Episodes five and six follow on November 18, with the final two episodes arriving on November 25.
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