Outlander Season 7: We Finally Have a Premiere Date, and More Big News

In March 2021—a full year before season six of Outlander premiered—Starz announced that it had picked up season seven from executive producer Ronald D. Moore and Sony Pictures Television. Since then we’ve returned to Fraser’s Ridge, and a lot has happened: Claire struggled with the aftermath of sexual assault, Bree and Roger embarked on a new future as their family grew, the Christies came to town, what really happened during young Ian’s last few years was revealed, Jamie came to terms with the upcoming revolution, and everything fell apart with Malva’s claim that Jamie had fathered her unborn child, which led to Claire wrongfully accused and arrested for Malva’s death. 

Yeah, a lot happened. But the season—especially the finale, which aired on May 1, 2022 (gosh, doesn’t that seem like lifetimes ago?)—was one of the most breathtaking of the series. 

Now, with season six over, fans are already looking ahead to a supersized season seven. It’s double the number of episodes from season six, which was truncated due to star Caitriona Balfe’s pregnancy and pandemic-related scheduling issues. And now, we finally know when it will premiere: Friday, June 16, 2023.

Also, as some fans have guessed, season seven will indeed be split into two parts, with the first eight episodes airing in June, and the other eight airing sometime in 2024. (Starz hasn't given any other details about those episodes). As for when you'll be able to start watching on June 16, all of that information is listed below.

But first, we have five new photos from those eight episodes: 

Did you notice that Claire is standing in front of her and Jamie’s home on Fraser’s Ridge? Her hair is also a bit longer, which means (as we kind of knew), she gets rescued. The question now is when and how does it happen?

Starz has been announcing several updates about the new season over the last few months, including the key art, teaser trailer, and the newest iteration of the Outlander opening title sequence. The series has adapted its iconic theme song, “The Skye Boat Song,” to each season, drawing inspiration from upcoming storylines (the American Revolution!) and locations. Per the press release, this season’s interpretation was crafted and performed by Grammy-winning artist Sinead O’Connor. 

“We are honored to have Sinead O’Connor performing ‘The Skye Boat Song.’ Her rendition is, for me, a reminder of all that’s beautiful about Outlander. She is talented beyond measure. Hers is a voice of the ages—one which pierces heart and soul—and embodies the spirit of the show,” says Matthew B. Roberts, showrunner and executive producer.

Without further ado, take a look:

When will season 7 of Outlander air?

June 16, 2023, at midnight ET on the Starz app, all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms. If you prefer to watch on linear television (the old-fashioned way), then it will still premiere on June 16, just at 8 p.m. ET. 

Also, since season seven is super-sized, it will be split into two installments of eight episodes each. The second part will air sometime in 2024, but a date hasn't been announced yet. New episodes will stream on Fridays.

Here’s the official teaser trailer, which was first released earlier this year. We’ll let you know when the official trailer drops.

Chills, right? Meanwhile, here’s the key art for the new season, which asks, “When do you belong?”

Production on the new season began in late March 2022. The show’s official Instagram account announced the news on April 6. Matthew B. Roberts will return as showrunner.

In late April, Caitriona Balfe told Glamour that filming on the new season has “been really good. We’re almost finished with the first block of episodes, but it’s been really fun.”

How many episodes are in season 7? 

Much more than season six, that we know for sure. Starz’s PR office confirmed with Glamour that it will be a whopping 16 episodes. It’s the biggest since season one (also 16 episodes), but even that was split into two parts that aired over 2014 and 2015.

Which book is the new season based on?

Season seven will be based on the seventh (out of nine) book in the Outlander series, An Echo in the Bone. In case you haven’t read the books—and the series does deviate a bit from them—I won’t reveal what happens, but you can read more about that here if you wish to do so.

What about new cast members?

Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, and Richard Rankin will all be back.

On October 11, 2022, Starz announced some big casting news: “Loyal fans will recognize Graham McTavish reprising his role as ‘Dougal MacKenzie,’ Jamie’s uncle whom he killed just before the battle of Culloden; Nell Hudson as ‘Laoghaire Fraser,’ Jamie’s ex-wife and Marsali’s mother; Steven Cree as ‘Old Ian Murray,’ Young Ian’s father and Jamie’s brother-in-law; Andrew Whipp as ‘Brian Fraser,’ Jamie’s father; Layla Burns as ‘Joan MacKimmie,’ Marsali’s sister and Jamie’s stepdaughter; and Lotte Verbeek as ‘Geillis Duncan,’ Claire’s former friend turned enemy and a fellow time traveler from the 1960s.     
 
“Several new actors will be joining the cast for season seven, including Gloria Obianyo as ‘Mercy Woodcock,’ a free Black woman navigating the hardships of life in Colonial America; Rod Hallett as ‘Benedict Arnold,’ the notorious Revolutionary soldier turned traitor; Chris Fulton as ‘Rob Cameron,’ a new acquaintance of Roger and Brianna; Diarmaid Murtagh as ‘Buck MacKenzie,’ the illegitimate son of Dougal MacKenzie and Geillis Duncan, and Roger’s ancestor, a role previously played by Graham McTavish in season five; and Kristin Atherton as ‘Jenny Murray,’ Jamie’s sister and Young Ian’s mother, a role originated by Laura Donnelly in seasons one through three.”

On May 5, Starz announced that Charles Vandervaart will star as Jamie Fraser’s son, William Ransom. He is the secret son of Jamie (though Jamie of course knows) and has been raised by his stepfather, Lord John Grey (David Berry), who last made an appearance in season six. William is the ninth Earl of Ellesmere; per the press release, he “will arrive in Wilmington full of patriotic zeal and enthusiasm to join the British Army and help put an end to the escalating tensions in the American Colonies. As fans may remember from season three, William is actually the biological son of Jamie Fraser, though he does not know the truth of his parentage. On the surface, William Ransom is a courteous aristocrat, but simmering under the surface is a Highlander’s fire.”

In a statement to the press, executive producer Maril Davis said, “The character of William Ransom is a wonderful role, and one fans have been eager to see. Finding someone with the talent and physicality to play Jamie’s son was a daunting task, but Charles’s charisma was evident during the audition process and we are excited to see what he will bring to William’s multilayered journey.”

On June 27, 2022, Starz announced that Izzy Meikle had been cast as Rachel Hunter, and Joey Phillips had been cast as Dr. Denzell Hunter for season seven. The siblings are Quakers whose quiet country life is changed when Young Ian arrives at their farm with a sick and injured William Ransom (Jamie’s son). Dr. Hunter has been trained in medicine in Boston and London, and as a firm believer in liberty, he is preparing to join the Revolutionary Army as a surgeon. According to Starz, Rachel is modest but shows flashes of a fiery spirit that attracts the admiration of both William and Young Ian. 

So what else will happen in season 7?

If that season-six finale is any indication, we’re in for a lot. (This is Outlander—of course we are.) Claire has to get out of that jail cell first and foremost, and it would be helpful if Malva’s killer could come to light. It does in the books, but we don’t know how the show will address it. What we do know, per showrunner, executive producer, and writer Matthew B. Roberts, is that “Scotland will again be our production home as the Frasers and MacKenzies try to make a home against the backdrop of the Revolutionary War. Season seven promises more adventure, time travel, and emotional peril than any season before.” 

Anytime you need a recap on what happened in the season six finale, check out our detailed summary here.

We’ll update this post as more information becomes available.

Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the New York Times best-selling book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.