Prepare for an unprecedented dive into the ocean’s depths as Discovery Channel announces the highly anticipated return of Shark Week 2026! Kicking off on Sunday, July 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, this week-long celebration promises 20 jaw-dropping, blockbuster premieres, packed with pulse-pounding action, epic breaches, and high-stakes encounters. Featuring pioneering technology, groundbreaking investigations, and unbelievable stunts, each special dives into the mysterious worlds of these apex predators, bringing audiences closer to their raw power and untamed nature like never before.
Joseph Boyle, Head of Content at Discovery Channel, emphasizes the event’s enduring legacy: “As the original and longest-running programming event, Shark Week is an unmatched legacy built on bold storytelling, pioneering science, and must-see cultural moments.” This year, Boyle teases an extraordinary lineup, featuring “glowing sharks, Jurassic giants, record-setting stunts…and even, K-Pop.”
A Groundbreaking Kick-Off: K-Pop, Breaches, and Mega Sharks
The excitement begins on Sunday, July 26. At 8 PM ET/PT, actor and comedian Ken Jeong teams up with GRAMMY-nominated artist REI AMI in the boundary-pushing K-Pop Shark Heroes. This unique special aims to transform the perception of sharks in East Asia and beyond, harnessing the global power of K-Pop. Following at 9 PM ET/PT, fan-favorite franchise Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach returns, with filmmaker Jeff Kurr, marine biologist Alison Towner, and cinematographer Andy Casagrande investigating unprecedented great white breaches off the U.S. coastline. The night concludes at 10 PM ET/PT with Invasion of the Mega Sharks, where Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and Paul de Gelder embark on a high-risk mission to track “Big Rose,” a colossal great white off Nova Scotia.
Unveiling Predator Dynamics: Bull Sharks to Mako Giants
Monday, July 27, brings more intense investigations. At 8 PM ET/PT, shark attack survivor Paul De Gelder and Rosie Moore delve into Bull Shark Dinner Bell in Jupiter, Florida, exploring factors that trigger aggressive encounters. Then, at 9 PM ET/PT, House of Sharks transports viewers to New Zealand, where Dr. Tristan Guttridge and Kina Scollay uncover competing “houses” of great whites potentially at war for prime seal feeding grounds. The night wraps up at 10 PM ET/PT with Biggest Mako on Earth, as Tristan Guttridge, Kendyl Berna, and Keith Poe chase rumors of 15- to 20-foot makos off Southern California, potentially rewriting shark science.
Ancient Beasts and Modern Battles: Jurassic Terror and Orca Dominance
Tuesday, July 28, promises a journey through time and into modern conflicts. Jurassic Sharks premieres at 8 PM ET/PT, using revolutionary CGI to resurrect the ocean’s most bizarre prehistoric sharks. At 9 PM ET/PT, Jaws vs Orca examines the alarming rise of killer whales as formidable challengers to the great white’s reign, with Dr. Tristan Guttridge placing himself in the path of orca encounters. Finally, at 10 PM ET/PT, Chum Island: Catching a Killer sees Dr. Riley Elliott build the world’s first “chum island” off Australia to identify a new, elusive population of sharks responsible for a surge in aggressive attacks.
Unearthing Secrets: Atomic Impacts, Historical Mysteries, and Alien Species
Wednesday, July 29, explores the mysterious and the unknown. Expedition X: Atomic Sharks at 8 PM ET/PT follows Phil Torres and Heather Amaro to the Marshall Islands, investigating reports of “mutant” sharks linked to U.S. nuclear testing. At 9 PM ET/PT, global explorer Josh Gates dives into history with Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets, probing the truth behind the first recorded shark attack, the USS Indianapolis tragedy, and whether Scotland’s “Stronsay Beast” was a massive shark. The evening concludes at 10 PM ET/PT with Forrest Galante’s Alien Sharks: Untamed America, a nationwide quest to find the most bizarre and dangerous alien sharks, from glowing swell sharks to elusive sawfish.
Pushing Boundaries: Forensics, Training, and Record-Setting Feats
Thursday, July 30, showcases groundbreaking human and scientific ventures. What Shark Attacked? at 8 PM ET/PT features leading shark scientists Tom “Blowfish” Hird, Rosie Moore, and Kinga Phillips using cutting-edge forensic analysis to identify species responsible for mysterious attacks. At 9 PM ET/PT, Dr. Tristan Guttridge tackles a provocative question in How to Train a Great White, applying U.S. Navy techniques to test shark intelligence. The night’s adrenaline peak comes at 10 PM ET/PT with Ultimate Shark Dive, where world-class Red Bull high diver Molly Carlson attempts a harrowing, record-setting freefall from a helicopter into shark-infested waters – a stunt never before attempted.
The Hunt Unpacked: Kill Tactics, Radioactive Theories, and Human Obsessions
Friday, July 31, delves into the complexity of shark behavior and human fascination. Secrets of the Great White Kill at 8 PM ET/PT reveals the full range of great white hunting tactics, reinforcing their status as highly intelligent, adaptive predators. At 9 PM ET/PT, Sharkzilla Takes New York sees Dr. Craig O’Connell investigate mauled marine life near an old nuclear dumping ground, leading to a chilling theory about radioactive makos off the Hamptons. The evening concludes at 10 PM ET/PT with My Strange Shark Addiction, exploring the lives of four devoted “fin-atics” whose obsessions shape every aspect of their existence.
Coastal Invasions and Tail Strikes Unveiled
The final day, Saturday, August 1, brings more urgent investigations. Great White Highway at 8 PM ET/PT follows a daring team of shark scientists racing to tag great whites pushing farther up the East Coast, amidst increasing close encounters and beach closures. Finally, at 9 PM ET/PT, Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill features Dr. Craig O’Connell and Aliah Banchik diving into the direct line of fire to reveal the physics behind the thresher shark’s devastating tail strike, observed for the first time in a shallow-water feeding ground.
With such a diverse and thrilling lineup, Shark Week 2026 is poised to deliver an unforgettable week of deep-sea exploration, groundbreaking science, and raw, untamed nature. Mark your calendars and prepare to be immersed in the mysterious worlds of these apex predators like never before!
