Discovery’s iconic summer event returns with 20 new premieres including Air Jaws, K-Pop crossovers, and high-stakes scientific investigations.
The most anticipated television event of the summer is swimming back to our screens. Discovery Channel has officially announced the return of its iconic programming block, and the Shark Week 2026 episode guide reveals a lineup that is more ambitious and diverse than ever before. Starting Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET/PT, viewers can expect a week of nonstop action featuring 20 all-new premieres.
This year, the network is leaning into a mix of high-stakes science, cultural crossovers, and record-breaking stunts. From the neon-lit world of K-Pop to the depths of nuclear dumping grounds, the Shark Week 2026 episode guide promises to showcase the raw power of apex predators across the globe.
Opening Night Spectacles on Sunday, July 26
The week kicks off with an unexpected cultural fusion in K-Pop Shark Heroes. Airing at 8:00 PM, actor Ken Jeong and singer REI AMI embark on a mission to reshape global perceptions of sharks using the massive influence of K-Pop. This boundary-pushing premiere aims to transform how audiences in East Asia and beyond view these often-misunderstood predators.
Immediately following at 9:00 PM is Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach. The legendary franchise returns to American soil as Jeff Kurr and his team investigate a surge in great white breaching behavior along the California coast. To round out the night, Invasion of the Mega Sharks at 10:00 PM follows Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and Paul de Gelder as they hunt for “Big Rose,” a massive great white located in a newly discovered hotspot off Nova Scotia.
Rivalries and Giants on Monday, July 27
Monday focuses on the factors that drive shark behavior and the hidden hierarchies within the species. At 8:00 PM, Bull Shark Dinner Bell features survivor Paul de Gelder and specialist Rosie Moore investigating what triggers aggressive human-shark confrontations in Jupiter, Florida.
The drama intensifies at 9:00 PM with House of Sharks, a premiere that explores the theory of “shark dynasties.” In New Zealand, Dr. Tristan Guttridge investigates whether great whites recognize kin and organize into competing clans to control feeding grounds. The night concludes at 10:00 PM with Biggest Mako on Earth, where researchers search for a rumored 15 to 20-foot mako shark near Santa Catalina.
Prehistoric Secrets and Apex Battles on Tuesday, July 28
Tuesday takes a turn toward the ancient and the competitive. Jurassic Sharks at 8:00 PM uses revolutionary CGI to resurrect bizarre prehistoric predators, guided by the living sharks that still swim today.
At 9:00 PM, Jaws vs Orca tackles one of the most pressing mysteries in marine biology: why killer whales are systematically targeting great white sharks for their livers. The evening ends with Chum Island: Catching a Killer at 10:00 PM, a “whodunnit” set off Australia’s southern coast where Dr. Riley Elliott builds a massive artificial island to lure in aggressive shark suspects.
Atomic Mysteries and Alien Species on Wednesday, July 29
Midweek programming dives into the strange and the historical. Expedition X: Atomic Sharks at 8:00 PM travels to the Marshall Islands to investigate if the 67 nuclear bombs detonated by the U.S. military decades ago created “mutant” sharks with erratic behaviors.
Josh Gates takes the lead at 9:00 PM in Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets, exploring the history of the USS Indianapolis and the legendary “Stronsay Beast.” At 10:00 PM, Alien Sharks: Untamed America follows Forrest Galante as he hunts for bizarre domestic species like glowing swell sharks and sawfish to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
High Stakes and Training Missions on Thursday, July 30
Thursday features a blend of forensic science and daring athleticism. What Shark Attacked? at 8:00 PM uses bite pattern analysis to identify species involved in rare human encounters. Following this, How to Train a Great White at 9:00 PM sees Dr. Tristan Guttridge testing if great whites can solve complex problems using U.S. Navy dolphin-training techniques.
The adrenaline peaks at 10:00 PM with Ultimate Shark Dive. World-class high diver Molly Carlson attempts the highest freefall dive in the event’s history, leaping from a helicopter into shark-infested waters.
Intelligence and Obsession on Friday, July 31
The final full weekday begins with Secrets of the Great White Kill at 8:00 PM, revealing how these predators adapt their hunting tactics in real-time. At 9:00 PM, Sharkzilla Takes New York investigates a wave of mauled marine life near a nuclear dumping ground off the coast of the Hamptons.
Friday concludes with a look at human behavior in My Strange Shark Addiction at 10:00 PM. This special follows four individuals whose lives, finances, and relationships are entirely dominated by their obsession with sharks.
The Grand Finale on Saturday, August 1
The week closes with two high-intensity investigations. Great White Highway at 8:00 PM tracks the movement of great whites farther up the East Coast, as scientists race to tag the animals near popular beaches. Finally, at 9:00 PM, Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill uses the discovery of a new feeding ground to solve the long-standing mystery of how these sharks use their tails as lethal whips.
Shark Week 2026 remains the longest-running programming event on television, continuing a legacy of science and spectacle that captures the imagination of millions every summer.
