The sixth season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on

April 24, 2016, and concluded on June 26, 2016. It consists of ten episodes, each of approximately
50–60 minutes long. Much of the season is made up of content not yet found in George R. R.
Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, although a significant amount of material was used from A
Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons and the upcoming sixth novel The Winds of Winter, which
Martin outlined to the show-runners.[1] The series was adapted for television by David Benioff and D.
B. Weiss. HBO ordered the season on April 8, 2014, together with the fifth season, which began
filming in July 2015[2][3] primarily in Northern Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Iceland and Canada. The entire
season cost over $100 million to produce. [4]
The season follows the continuing struggle between the Starks and other noble families of Westeros
for the Iron Throne. The Starks defeat the Bolton forces in the "Battle of the Bastards", culminating
with Sansa Stark feeding her tormenting husband Ramsay Bolton — who had earlier murdered his
father Roose and stepfamily — to his starving hounds, and Jon Snow is proclaimed the King in the
North. Tyrion attempts to rule Meereen while Daenerys is held captive by a Dothraki tribe. At King's
Landing, the Tyrell army attempts to liberate Margaery and Loras, but Margaery capitulates to
the High Sparrow, who becomes more powerful by influencing King Tommen. At her trial, Cersei
burns the Great Sept — killing her rivals — and is later crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms,
while Tommen commits suicide. Ellaria Sand and three of Oberyn Martell's daughters kill Doran and
Trystane Martell and seize control of Dorne. In Essos, Daenerys Targaryen is captured by Khal Moro
who takes her before the khals; she burns them alive and takes command of the
Dothraki. Olenna and the Dornish ally with Daenerys.
Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast, including Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-
Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington. The season introduced new cast members,
including Max von Sydow, Pilou Asbæk and Essie Davis.
Critics praised its production values, writing, plot development, and cast. Game of Thrones received
most nominations for the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards, with 23 nominations, and won twelve,
including that for Outstanding Drama Series for the second year in a row. U.S. viewership rose
compared to the previous season, and by approximately 13% over its course, from 7.9 million to 8.9
million by the finale.