‘Shark Week’ is back for its 38th edition, full of exciting shows. It’s an annual celebration of all things dangerous, featuring 20 new features, fan favorites, and in-depth articles on various shark behaviors, biology and behavior. ‘Shark Week’ 2026 kicks off on July 26 and runs through August 1, with the entire week filled with a variety of opportunities for viewers to listen and learn more about sharks throughout the week.
The event ends with the premiere of ‘Great White Highway’ and ‘Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill’, looking at shark migration and hunting methods. Photo gallery (Instagram).
Discovery Channel says ‘Shark Week’ will begin on Sunday, July 26 and continue through Saturday, August 1, with late-night programming. The program started with a special K-Pop program featuring actor Ken Jeong and singer Rei Ami, called ‘K-Pop Shark Heroes’, which aired at 8pm. ET on July 26. The special follows the two celebrities as they work to challenge misconceptions about sharks and promote better understanding of the species.
Where to watch and watch ‘Shark Week’ 2026
‘Shark Week’ 2026 is available to watch on Discovery Channel. For fans who don’t have a cable subscription or can’t watch the shows, Shark Week is available to stream on Discovery+ and HBO Max. Streaming options give viewers a chance to catch up on any events they may have missed during the week.
This year’s line-up focuses on great white shark migrations, unusual behavior and the science behind the sea’s most powerful beasts. Photo gallery (Instagram).
‘Shark Week’ 2026 program schedule and new innovationsJeong and Ami kick things off with ‘K-Pop Shark Heroes’ at 8 pm ET on July 26, followed by two hours of programming. Night one featured a new special from the band’s favorite ‘Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach’, followed by a special, ‘Invasion of the Mega Sharks’. The rest of the week follows suit, with three programs airing each night from 8pm ET until 10 p.m. ET.Over the course of the rest of the week, Discovery is showing programming from all angles of sharks, including shows featuring shark survivors promoting the species, CGI detailed simulations of what Jurassic sharks would look like today, shark researchers tracking down the most amazing sharks, and marine biologists trying to train great white sharks.‘Shark Week’ 2026 concludes with two episodes: ‘Great White Highway’, which explores how white sharks migrate to the East Coast and lead to shark interactions, and ‘Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill’, which looks at the physics of a shark’s tail strike. The new finale airs at 9 p.m. ET on August 1.