‘Outlander’ Announces Final Season Will Air in Early 2026 originally appeared on Parade.
Every good story comes to an end, and such is the case with Outlander, which while renewed for Season 8, will also be the series’ final season, wrapping up the epic, romantic, time-travel tale based on the novels by bestselling author Diana Gabaldon.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Sam Heughan, who plays Jamie Fraser, says in the video just below, while Caitríona Balfe, who plays Claire, says, “We hope we do you proud.”
And John Bell, who plays Young Ian, adds, “We’re going to go out with a bang and tell the story the way it should be.”
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
In making the announcement of the final season, Kathryn Busby, president, Original Programming for STARZ said, “For nearly a decade Outlander has won the hearts of audiences worldwide and we’re pleased to bring Claire and Jamie’s epic love story to a proper conclusion. But before we close this chapter there is plenty of their passionate story to tell over the course of 26 new episodes and even more to explore of this dynamic world and its origin story. We’re thrilled to continue to partner with Matthew [B. Roberts], Maril [Davis] and Ronald [D. Moore] and can’t wait to see where their alluring storytelling takes us next.”
Where that story will be isn’t exactly known at present. Season 7— with its 16 episodes—will be taking story from Gabaldon’s sixth and seventh books in the series —A Breath of Snow and Ashes and An Echo in My Bones—but until it airs, it’s hard to speculate on what will come next.
Season 8—with its 10 episodes—will most likely be adapted from books eight and nine—Written in My Own Heart’s Blood and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, respectively—but Gabaldon is currently working on book 10, which may or may not wrap up the love story of Jamie and Claire Fraser. She hasn’t committed to an answer to that question yet.
So, we’ll just have to wait to see whether or not Season 8 will wrap up not only Jamie and Claire’s story, but also those for Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin), and Young Ian, but one thing that seems clear is that Gabaldon will have input into the ending of the series.
What is the Outlander Season 8 release date?
On July 25 at San Diego Comic-Con, STARZ revealed that it will release the final season in early 2026.
The eighth season of Outlander wrapped production in Scotland, with Sam and Caitríona posted the announcement saying, “Today marks the final day of filming on the final season of #Outlander. Words cannot express the gratitude owed to each and every hard-working cast and crew member who brought this incredible series to life and every single fan who supports it with passion, creativity, and dedication. Outlander really is more than just a show, it’s a family, and while filming might be ending, there’s so much more to this journey that’s just beginning.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Outlander Universe (@outlander_starz)
Is there a trailer for Outlander Season 8?
Also at San Diego Comic-Con, STARZ released the following trailer:
Which Outlander cast members are returning for Season 8?
Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser
Related: Sam Heughan on How His Lonely Childhood Led Him to Outlander and Jamie Fraser
Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser
Related: Caitriona Balfe Gets Unexpected Honor (and Kudos from Her Co-Star
Richard Rankin as Roger MacKenzie
Sophie Skelton as Brianna “Bree” MacKenzie
John Bell as Young Ian
David Berry as Lord John
Charles Vandervaart as William Ransom
Izzy Meikle-Small as Rachel Hunter
Joey Phillips as Dr. Denzell Hunter
Lauren Lyle as Marsali Fraser
César Domboy as Fergus Fraser
Watch the video on the Instagram post revealing Marsali and Fergus’ return:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Outlander Universe (@outlander_starz)
Who will be joining the cast of Outlander for Season 8?
As part of World Outlander Day, STARZ revealed the casting of three new players for the eighth season of the series based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon as the 10-episode eighth and final season is currently filming in Scotland. The three new characters are:
Kieran Bew as Captain Charles Cunningham, a retired British soldier
Frances Tomelty as his mother, Elspeth Cunningham
Carla Woodcock joins in the role of Amaranthus Grey, a new member of the Grey family.
How many episodes of Outlander will there be in Season 8?
The last season of Outlander will consist of 10 episodes.
Did Diana Gabaldon write a script for Season 8 of Outlander?
Yes, Diana tells Parade that she wrote Episode 809 but she also had some input into the series finale (810). Since book 10 in the Outlander series is not yet done, the ending of the TV version of Outlander will differ from the books but that was to be expected.
“Yes, I did write an episode for Season 8, and am glad to have been able to contribute to the show’s final season,” she said. “I think the show overall has been spectacular, and am happy to see it end gracefully.”
What will happen in Outlander Season 8?
Again, it is guesswork, but the Revolutionary War will be in full swing. Jamie and Claire will be caught up in it in some form or another, Roger and Brianna will have come back from the future trying to find their place in the 18th century, and Young Ian will either be married or engaged.
Related: The Season 7 Title Sequence Shares Major Outlander Spoilers
Will there be a sequel to Outlander?
There won’t be a sequel, but there will be a prequel. The previously announced 10-episode prequel series, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, centering on the lives and love of Jamie’s parents, Brian Fraser and Ellen MacKenzie, was given the green light and will be produced by the same team that gives us Outlander, Matthew B. Roberts, Maril Davis, and Ronald D. Moore.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood is also based on an idea by Gabaldon, an as-yet-unreleased novel that she is in the process of writing, but she has definitely had input into the series.
“Outlander: Blood of My Blood is, at its heart, a love story. It will explore what lengths a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury, and when marriages are made strategically, often for political or financial gain,” said Roberts, showrunner and executive producer. “The title is a nod to Jamie Fraser’s marriage vow to Claire and there will be several names and faces that Outlander fans will know and recognize. Jamie and Claire’s TV story may be coming to an end with season eight, but Diana is continuing on with their literary journey in her wonderful book series and is working diligently on book ten. With Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, there is still so much more to come in the Outlander universe, and we cannot wait to continue sharing these stories with our dedicated fans.”
Where will Outlander Season 8 be filmed?
As the majority of previous seasons were—with the exception of some scenes in South Africa in Season 3, Outlander is filmed in Scotland, which doubles for America.
Where can I watch and stream Outlander Season 8 on TV and online?
When it premieres, Outlander Season 8 will air on STARZ
and the STARZ app
, most likely premiering new episodes on Sunday nights. Previous seasons of Outlander are currently available to stream through the STARZ app
, Netflix has Seasons 1-5, and Prime Video.
Next, Diana Gabaldon Reveals Her Involvement with the Outlander Prequel as the Spinoff Series Moves Forward
‘Outlander’ Announces Final Season Will Air in Early 2026 first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
