We’re almost halfway through the year, and it’s been pretty tough for Walking Dead fans.
While other TV shows have returned with brand-new seasons already, zombie fans are still having to patiently wait for the return of the only two ongoing Walking Dead spinoffs.
One of those spinoffs is Dead City. The highly anticipated third season is confirmed to premiere on AMC and AMC+ this year, and fans have been doing everything they can in the meantime to keep themselves busy.
Luckily, there have been several major updates recently that will surely get you pumped up. Perhaps you've been out of the loop when it comes to The Walking Dead franchise. No worries! Below, we shared three key Dead City season 3 updates you absolutely need to know.
1. Dead City season 3 receives official premiere date on AMC
Of the three most recent updates on this list for Dead City season 3, the announcement of the official premiere date is hands down the most exciting. Fans had been waiting months for AMC to finally reveal when exactly they'd see Maggie and Negan (Lauren Cohan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan) back on their screens. Of course, everyone had been hoping for a premiere sometime in 2026, especially since Daryl Dixon season 4 had already been confirmed to come out this year.
But there was also the worry that the third season would be pushed into 2027. Luckily, all of our worries were put to rest when news recently broke that Dead City season 3 would be premiering on AMC and AMC+ this summer. The network announced this great news via a press release on May 15. So, what's the exact date that fans will be able to return to the zombie-infested Manhattan in Dead City season 3?
Well, that'll be Sunday, July 26, 2026. This is when the first episode of the eight-episode third season will start airing and streaming. After that, a new episode is expected to premiere every Sunday night until the season finale. The previous installment aired new episodes at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on their release dates. While an official release time hasn't been announced yet for Dead City season 3, it's possible AMC will stick with that same schedule. However, this is just speculation for now.
If the third season follows the rollout plan of a new episode every Sunday night, then this is what a potential release schedule could look like:
- Episode 1: July 26, 2026
- Episode 2: Aug. 2, 2026
- Episode 3: Aug. 9, 2026
- Episode 4: Aug. 16, 2026
- Episode 5: Aug. 23, 2026
- Episode 6: Aug. 30, 2026
- Episode 7: Sept. 6, 2026
- Episode 8: Sept. 13, 2026
2. AMC drops exciting teaser trailer for Dead City season 3
Along with announcing the Dead City season 3 premiere date, AMC also dropped a short yet gripping teaser on May 15. We'd say this is the second most exciting recent update for the third installment. In the season 3 teaser, we're shown a much different Maggie and Negan. Not appearance-wise, it's in the way that they are now on the same side.
For those who have been following these two iconic characters since the original series, you'd know that they've had a pretty complicated relationship. Even with Negan's redemption arc, Maggie still hadn't quite forgiven him for killing Glenn. However, the two find themselves joining forces at the end of the Dead City season 2 finale.
In the new Dead City season 3 teaser, Maggie is shown telling Negan that she needs his help in rebuilding a successful community in Manhattan. The teaser then quickly flashes to different scenes showing Negan and Maggie fighting walkers. We're even shown quick glimpses of some of the new characters like Renata (Aimee Garcia), Dillard (Jimmi Simpson), and Luis (Raúl Castillo).
Take a look at the thrilling teaser trailer below!
3. Additional Dead City season 3 plot details are revealed
Last but not least are the new Dead City season 3 plot details. When news broke of the third season's premiere date, Entertainment Weekly included in its report an interview with Dead City season 3's new showrunner Seth Hoffman. As mentioned earlier, the third installment will see former enemies Negan and Maggie putting their differences aside for a common goal.
Hoffman mentioned in his interview with EW that Dead City season 3 will not have a big central villain like previous seasons. However, that doesn't mean that the Dama (Lisa Emery), the Croat (Željko Ivanek), and New Babylon won't still be around. Hoffman also shared more details about new series regulars Garcia, Castillo, and Simpson.
Renata, played by Garcia, is the leader of a survival group that Maggie and Negan will cross paths with in the third season. Then there's Luis, Renata’s brother and a doctor who is played by Castillo. According to Hoffman, Luis will serve as a mentor to Hershel (Logan Kim) after the teen boy finds a new interest in medicine.
And we can't forget Dillard, who is portrayed by Simpson. Now, he's described as a deeply isolated survivor who has managed to endure the apocalypse entirely on his own for many years. According to Hoffman, Dillard and Negan will form some kind of relationship. So, that should be interesting!
Now, get ready to be really excited. According to EW, Dead City season 3 will also include an "alternate-reality" episode. While the news outlet didn't go into detail about what the episode will entail, we're pretty sure it will include a cameo appearance from Emily Kinney. Back in January 2026, photos leaked of Kinney on the set of the third season. If you're not aware, Kinney portrayed Beth Greene in the original series up until her death.
The alternate-reality episode of Dead City season 3 will take place in a very different-looking New York City, and Kinney is expected to reprise her role as Beth. The leaked photos of her also featured Cohan in character as Maggie. So, it looks like we'll see some scenes between the sisters. That should be exciting!
Stay tuned to Undead Walking for more updates on Dead City season 3!
Add us as a preferred source on Google