Shark Week is Discovery Channel’s iconic annual programming block dedicated to the ocean’s most magnificent apex predators — the longest-running cable television event in history, launching in 1988 and captivating audiences for nearly four decades. Each summer, world-class marine biologists, daredevil filmmakers, and celebrity hosts plunge into the deep to document extraordinary shark behavior, debunk myths about megalodons, and champion shark conservation through thrilling expeditions and jaw-dropping encounters.
Count down the days until Shark Week with our live countdown timer.
Shark Week 2026 — Lineup & Highlights
Shark Week 2026 kicks off Sunday, July 26, 2026, on Discovery Channel and streams on Max/Discovery+, running through Saturday, August 1 with 20 all-new specials Yahoo+1.
Kickoff Night — July 26
- 8:00 PM ET/PT – K-Pop Shark Heroes
Ken Jeong teams with GRAMMY®-nominated artist REI AMI to use K-Pop’s global reach to reshape shark perceptions in East Asia and worldwide Yahoo+1. - 9:00 PM ET/PT – Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach
Investigates unprecedented great white shark breaching in California, with filmmakers and marine biologists capturing the phenomenon Yahoo+1. - 10:00 PM ET/PT – Invasion of the Mega Sharks
Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and Paul de Gelder track “Big Rose,” a record-breaking great white in the North Atlantic Yahoo+1. - 11:00 PM ET/PT – Encores (varies nightly) TV Insider.
Other Notable Specials
- Bull Shark Dinner Bell (Mon, 8 PM) — Bull sharks in unexpected settings TV Insider.
- House of Sharks (Mon, 9 PM) — Inside a shark-themed restaurant TV Insider.
- Biggest Mako on Earth (Mon, 10 PM) — Tracking the largest mako shark ever recorded TV Insider.
- Jurassic Sharks (Tue, 8 PM) — Ancient shark species and their modern relatives TV Insider.
- Jaws vs. (Tue, 9 PM) — Shark Week’s signature rivalry format TV Insider.
- Ultimate Shark Dive (various nights) — Cliff diver Molly Carlson attempts a record-setting plunge into shark-infested waters Yahoo+1.
- Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets (various nights) — Josh Gates investigates history’s first recorded shark attack Bleeding Cool+1.
What to Expect
Discovery promises 20 premieres blending:
- Pioneering science and marine biology
- Record-setting stunts and high-risk expeditions
- Cultural moments like the K-Pop Shark Heroes crossover Yahoo+1
- Epic breaches, orca encounters, and underwater challenges Bleeding Cool+1
How to Watch
- TV: Discovery Channel (7–8 PM ET/PT for premieres; encores later) TV Insider
- Streaming: Max and Discovery+ (availability may vary by region) Awareness Days
If you’re planning to join the “Greatest Week in History,” mark July 26–August 1 for a mix of adrenaline, education, and shark culture.
