The 38th annual “Shark Week” returns again with an exciting lineup of programs. This annual event celebrates all things sharks, including 20 new specials, fan favorites and in-depth documentaries on a range of shark behavior, biology and human-shark interactions. Shark Week 2026 began on July 26 and will run through August 1, with opportunities throughout the week for viewers to tune in and learn more about sharks.
The event concludes with premieres of “The Great White Highway” and “Thresher: Stunned to Death,” exploring shark migration and hunting techniques. Image source (Instagram)
According to the Discovery Channel, “Shark Week” will begin on Sunday, July 26, and run through Saturday, August 1, with programming every night. The programming schedule begins with a new K-Pop special titled “K-Pop Shark Heroes” starring comedian Ken Jeong and singer Rei Ami, airing at 8 p.m. EST on July 26. The special follows two celebrities as they work to challenge misconceptions about sharks and promote a better understanding of the species.
Where to watch and watch Shark Week 2026
Shark Week 2026 can be watched live on the Discovery Channel. For fans who don’t have a cable subscription or can’t watch the live show, “Shark Week” is available on Discovery+ and HBO Max. The streaming option gives viewers the flexibility to watch any episodes they may have missed during the week-long event.
This year’s show explores the migration, unusual behavior and science behind some of the ocean’s most powerful predators. Image source (Instagram)
Shark Week 2026 programming schedule and new specialsJeong and Ami kicked off the show with “K-Pop Shark Heroes” on July 26 at 8pm, followed by a two-hour show. The first night featured a new special from the fan-favorite series Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach, followed by the documentary special Invasion of the Giant Sharks. The rest of the week follows a similar format, with three shows airing each night starting at 8 p.m. ET until 10 p.m.For the rest of the week, the Discovery Channel airs programs from all corners of the shark spectrum, including shark attack survivors advocating for the species, detailed CGI estimates of what Jurassic sharks look like today, shark researchers tracking some of the most bizarre sharks, and marine biologists trying to train great white sharks.Shark Week 2026 concludes with two premieres: “Jaws Highway,” which investigates how great white sharks migrate to the East Coast and leads to more shark interactions, and “Thresher Sharks: Stunning to Death,” which examines the physics of thresher shark tail strikes. The final new show will air on August 1 at 9pm ET.
