What is the best order to watch The Vampire Diaries Universe?

For first-timers, we recommend Release Order as it's the intended experience. For rewatches, Timeline/Chronological Order offers a fresh perspective by following the in-universe chronology.

How many titles are in The Vampire Diaries Universe?

The Vampire Diaries Universe currently includes content across multiple formats. Use the section filters to view specific content types and the order variants to choose your preferred viewing order.

Should I watch The Vampire Diaries Universe in release order or chronological order?

Release order is best for first-time viewers as it preserves the creators' intended narrative reveals. Chronological order is great for rewatches and understanding the timeline better.

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The Vampire Diaries Universe

edited 2026-05-21

A complete viewing and reading order for The Vampire Diaries Universe — covering all eight seasons of The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017), five seasons of The Originals (2013–2018), and four seasons of Legacies (2018–2022), plus the full L.J. Smith novel series and its officially-published continuations. Includes the TV series in combined release order and the novels in publication order, with tags distinguishing the two separate continuities.

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Tags · [tv-vampire-diaries][tv-the-originals][tv-legacies][smith-novels][ghostwritten-novels][tv-tie-in]

page order

tv series17 items · 17 unwatched

01TV

2009The 22-episode debut season of The Vampire Diaries, broadcast on The CW from September 10, 2009, to May 13, 2010. Based on the novel series…

02TV

2010The 22-episode second season, broadcast from September 9, 2010, to May 12, 2011. The season reveals the existence of the Original vampires —…

03TV

2011The 22-episode third season, broadcast from September 15, 2011, to May 10, 2012. Klaus (Joseph Morgan) forces Stefan to abandon his humanity…

04TV

2012The 23-episode fourth season, broadcast from October 11, 2012, to May 16, 2013. Following the events of the Season 3 finale, Elena (Nina Dob…

05TV

2013The 22-episode debut season of The Originals, broadcast on The CW from October 3, 2013, to May 13, 2014, created by Julie Plec. The season s…

06TV

2013The 22-episode fifth season, broadcast from October 3, 2013, to May 15, 2014. Elena and the group head to Whitmore College while Silas — an…

07TV

2014The 22-episode second season, broadcast from October 6, 2014, to May 11, 2015. Hope Mikaelson, the miracle baby born at the end of Season 1,…

08TV

2014The 22-episode sixth season, broadcast from October 2, 2014, to May 14, 2015. Following the destruction of the Other Side, Damon (Ian Somerh…

09TV

2015The 22-episode third season, broadcast from October 8, 2015, to May 20, 2016. A new faction of the Strix, an ancient vampire society aligned…

10TV

2015The 22-episode seventh season, broadcast from October 8, 2015, to May 13, 2016. With Nina Dobrev departing the series, Elena is placed under…

11TV

2016The 16-episode eighth and final season of The Vampire Diaries, broadcast from October 21, 2016, to March 10, 2017. Damon and Enzo (Michael M…

12TV

2017The 13-episode fourth season, broadcast from March 17, 2017, to June 23, 2017. Five years have passed since the Mikaelson siblings scattered…

13TV

2018The 16-episode debut season of Legacies, broadcast on The CW from October 25, 2018, to March 28, 2019, created by Julie Plec. Set at the Sal…

14TV

2018The 13-episode fifth and final season of The Originals, broadcast from April 18 to August 1, 2018. Seven years have passed, and the Mikaelso…

15TV

2019The 16-episode second season, broadcast from October 10, 2019, to March 26, 2020. Hope grapples with the aftermath of sacrificing herself to…

16TV

2021The 16-episode third season, broadcast from January 21 to June 24, 2021, delayed from fall 2020 by COVID-19 production shutdowns. The Salvat…

17TV

2021The 20-episode fourth and final season of Legacies, broadcast from October 14, 2021, to June 16, 2022. Hope Mikaelson fully activates as a t…

novels13 items · 13 unwatched

stefan's diaries6 items · 6 unwatched