Cue the theme from “Jaws,” because it’s Shark Week!

The 38th annual Shark Week began yesterday, July 26, but there’s still six whole days of shark-themed programming on the way from Discovery Chanel.

Shark Week 2026’s programming slate includes 20 new premieres, including the return of some fan-favorite franchises, like “Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach.”

“Expedition Unknown” host Josh Gates will explore the truth behind history’s first recorded shark attack and whether an infamous sea monster was a shark all along in a new shark-themed installment of that series.

World-class cliff diver Molly Carlson will attempt a harrowing, record-setting dive into shark-infested waters in “Ultimate Shark Dive,” and per Discovery, this year will also see the return of Paul de Gelder, Forrest Galante, Dr. Tristan Guttridge, who “push the boundaries through bold new expeditions and high-intensity investigations.”

When is Shark Week 2026?

Shark Week 2026 kicked off on July 27 and will run through August 1.

What time does Shark Week start?

New Shark Week programming begins every night at 8 p.m. ET.

What station is Shark Week on?

All of Shark Week will air on Discovery Channel.

How to watch Shark Week live for free

If you don’t have cable or an antenna, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream Shark Week live for free.

DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching sports live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes Discovery Channel as part of its 125+ channels.

Another service that includes Discovery in its base plan is Philo, which costs just $25.00/month after a seven-day free trial.

Shark Week 2026 schedule

Monday, July 27

• 8 p.m. ET: “Bull Shark Dinner Bell”
• 9 p.m. ET: “House of Sharks”
• 10 p.m. ET: “Biggest Mako on Earth”

Tuesday, July 28

• 8 p.m. ET: “Jurassic Sharks”
• 9 p.m. ET: “Jaws vs. Orca”
• 10 p.m. ET: “Chum Island: Catching a Killer”

Wednesday, July 29

• 8 p.m. ET: “Expedition X: Atomic Sharks”
• 9 p.m. ET: “Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets”
• 10 p.m. ET: “Alien Sharks: Untamed America”

Thursday, July 30

• 8 p.m. ET: “What Shark Attacked?”
• 9 p.m. ET: “How to Train a Great White”
• 10 p.m. ET: “Ultimate Shark Dive”

Friday, July 31

• 8 p.m. ET: “Secrets of the Great White Kill”
• 9 p.m. ET: “Sharkzilla Takes New York”
• 10 p.m. ET: “My Strange Shark Addiction”

Saturday, August 1

• 8 p.m. ET: “Great White Highway”
• 9 p.m. ET: “Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill”

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This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.