Waiting for the Outlander TV series schedule to actually make sense is basically a full-time job. Honestly, the "Droughtlander" has become a literal meme at this point. If you’ve been following the Frasers since 2014, you know the drill. You get a handful of episodes, and then Starz goes radio silent for what feels like a decade.
We are currently in the weirdest phase of the show’s history. Season 7 was split into two halves, which is a move streamers love but fans generally find exhausting.
The first eight episodes aired way back in the summer of 2023. Since then? Mostly crickets. But the schedule is finally firming up as we approach the home stretch of the American Revolution storyline. You’ve got Claire, Jamie, and Young Ian finally back on Scottish soil, while Roger and Bree are dealing with some seriously dark stuff in the 1980s. It’s a lot to keep track of, especially when the network decides to sit on the remaining footage for over a year.
The Mid-Season 7 Return and Beyond
So, here is the deal with the Outlander TV series schedule right now. Starz officially confirmed that Season 7, Part 2 (often called 7B) is hitting screens in November 2024. Specifically, the premiere date is November 22.
It’s been a long wait.
Expect eight new episodes. These will drop weekly, which means your Friday nights are basically booked through the end of the year and into early 2025. If you're watching on the Starz app, episodes usually drop at midnight ET on Fridays. If you’re waiting for the linear cable channel, you’re looking at 8:00 PM ET.
But what about Season 8?
That is the big one. The final one.
Production on the eighth and final season wrapped in late 2024. Diana Gabaldon, the author of the books, has been on set, and the cast has been posting those tearful "wrap" photos on Instagram. Because post-production on a show with this many visual effects and period-accurate locations takes forever, don't expect Season 8 until late 2025 or even early 2026.
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Why the Gaps Are So Big
People always ask why the Outlander TV series schedule is so erratic.
Part of it is the sheer scale. They aren't filming in a studio in Burbank. They are out in the Scottish Highlands dealing with rain, mud, and midges. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan aren't just actors anymore either; they are producers. They have a massive say in the creative direction, which adds time to the process.
Also, Starz likes to stretch their hit properties. If they air everything at once, people subscribe for a month and then cancel. By splitting Season 7 into two parts, they keep you on the hook longer. It’s business. It’s annoying. But it’s how the industry works now.
What to Expect from the Upcoming Episodes
If you’ve read An Echo in the Bone or Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, you know things are about to get wild.
The Outlander TV series schedule for late 2024 is going to cover the second half of the seventh book and likely start bleeding into the eighth. We are looking at the Battle of Saratoga. We are looking at Jamie’s return to Lallybroch—which, let's be real, is going to be an emotional wrecking ball for long-time viewers.
Then there is the William Ransom factor.
Jamie’s secret son is now a grown man fighting for the British. The tension there is thick. The show has spent years building this up, and the back half of Season 7 is where the payoff starts.
The Prequel: Blood of My Blood
While you’re tracking the Outlander TV series schedule, you have to account for the spin-off. Outlander: Blood of My Blood is currently in development and has been filming alongside the main series.
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This show will follow two parallel love stories: Jamie’s parents (Ellen and Brian) in 18th-century Scotland, and Claire’s parents (Julia and Henry) during World War I. It’s a bold move. It doubles the amount of "Outlander" content, but it also explains why the main show's production might feel a bit slower. The resources are being split.
- Check your Starz subscription status now.
- Mark November 22 on your physical calendar.
- Rewatch Season 7, Part 1 in October to refresh your memory on the "Buck MacKenzie" situation.
Where to Stream Each Season
Navigating where to watch is almost as confusing as the Outlander TV series schedule itself. In the US, Starz is the primary home. You can get it as a standalone app or as an add-on channel on Amazon Prime or Hulu.
Netflix has most of the show, but they are always behind. Usually, a new season doesn’t hit Netflix until two years after it finishes airing on Starz. If you are waiting for Season 7 on Netflix, you’re going to be waiting until 2025 or 2026.
For international fans, it varies.
- UK: Lionsgate+ (formerly StarzPlay) or MGM+ via Prime.
- Canada: W Network or the STACKTV Amazon channel.
- Australia: Foxtel or Binge.
Common Misconceptions About the Ending
There’s a rumor going around that Season 8 will cover the tenth book. That’s impossible. Diana Gabaldon hasn't even finished writing Book 10 yet.
The showrunners, Maril Davis and Matthew B. Roberts, have had to work closely with Diana to ensure the TV ending is satisfying without spoiling her future novels. It’s a "Game of Thrones" situation, but hopefully with a better reception.
The Outlander TV series schedule for the final season will likely consist of 10 episodes. That’s shorter than the massive 16-episode Season 7, but it’s intended to be a "tight" finish.
Jamie Fraser's ghost? We might finally get an answer to that mystery from the very first episode. Diana has promised that the ghost will be explained in the final book, and the show might give us a version of that answer in the series finale.
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Managing the Wait for Season 8
Since the Outlander TV series schedule has these massive gaps, you need a plan.
First, go back to the books. The TV show is great, but the books have so much more internal monologue that explains why Claire makes some of her more... questionable medical decisions.
Second, watch the cast's other projects. Sam Heughan has Men in Kilts, which is basically just him and Graham McTavish messing around in Scotland and New Zealand. It’s the perfect palate cleanser when the drama of the main show gets too heavy.
Third, stay away from "leaks" on Reddit. Most of them are fake. Stick to official Starz press releases or the actors' verified social media accounts for the most accurate info on the Outlander TV series schedule.
Real Talk on the Production Timeline
Let's look at the math.
Filming usually takes about 9-12 months.
Post-production (editing, music by Bear McCreary, color grading) takes another 6-8 months.
If Season 8 finished filming in September 2024, the earliest we would see it is late summer 2025. But Starz often holds shows for "optimum" windows. They like the fall/winter slots for Outlander because it feels like a "cozy" show.
So, realistically? November 2025 is a safe bet for the final season premiere.
Next Steps for Fans
To stay ahead of the curve on the Outlander TV series schedule, you should verify your access to the Starz app before the November 22 premiere. Ensure your subscription hasn't lapsed, as many "promotional" rates from previous seasons may have expired. If you are a Netflix-only viewer, consider a one-month Starz trial in December to binge the new episodes without waiting two years for the license to transfer. Finally, if you haven't explored the "Outlander" companion books like The Outlandish Companion, now is the time to dive into those to fill the narrative gaps while waiting for Season 8's production updates.