How to watch 'Shark Week' 2026 online from anywhere: Full schedule, TV channels

Promotional image for Shark Week 2026
(Image credit: Discovery)

Prepare for a jaw-some week of entertainment as “Shark Week” returns for 2026! With 20 blockbuster specials spread across the evenings, there’s something for everyone from K-Pop premieres to nerve jangling high dives, ground-breaking technology to whodunnit investigations. Here's how to watch "Shark Week" 2026 online from anywhere with a VPN.

'Shark Week' 2026 — Streaming details, release date

U.S. date and time: "Shark Week" begins on Sunday, July 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Full schedule at the bottom of this page.
• U.S. — Watch on Discovery Channel via Sling / HBO Max
• Watch anywhere — try Surfshark 100% risk-free

Among the feeding frenzy of new premieres this year is season opener “K-Pop Shark Heroes,” which sees actor Ken Jeong team up with singer REI AMI to reshape the perception of sharks across Asia via the power of K-Pop, and “Ultimate Shark Dive” in which professional high-diver Molly Carlson aims to complete the highest freefall dive in “Shark Week” history, aiming squarely for a floating plexiglass box, and not the chum-filled, shark-infested waters surrounding it.

Other stand-out episodes include “House of Sharks,” which investigates the “Game of Thrones”-style house structure and power grabs of a group of great whites off New Zealand, the search for a rumoured 15 to 20-foot mako off Southern California in “The Biggest Mako on Earth” and the self explanatory “How to Train a Great White.”

There’s also two special episodes of the "Expedition" franchise with "Expedition X: Atomic Sharks” investigating sharks thriving in the shadow of former nuclear testing sites, and "Expedition Unknown: Shark Secrets,” which delves into some of history’s most notorious shark encounters. Also look out for “Chum Island: Catching a Killer,” a “Shark Week” whodunnit in which marine biologist Dr. Riley Elliott aims to catch the culprits behind a series of aggressive shark attacks on a small Australian community.

There’s plenty to sink your teeth into, so read on to find out how to watch “Shark Week” 2026 online from wherever you are.

Watch 'Shark Week' 2026 from anywhere

Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Shark Week" 2026 on your usual subscription?

You can still watch the show thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. One of our favorites is Surfshark.

Surfshark One: 7-Day Free Trial

Surfshark One: 7-Day Free Trial

Surfshark is one of our favorite streaming service unblockers, and right now it comes with a 7-day free trial. After that, pay just $2.49/month for the Surfshark One plan, with other plans also available.

Get Surfshark today and stream "Shark Week" from around the world.

How to watch 'Shark Week' in the U.S. without cable

US flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

"Shark Week" 2026 is a TV event comprising multiple shows airing across seven days. You can tune in from Sunday, July 26 on the Discovery Channel or Max. Scroll to the bottom of this page for the full schedule.

We would recommend a cord-cutter to access the 20 shows on Discovery Channel across the week with Sling, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream among our favorites.

Sling is the one we would recommend:

Stream "Shark Week" on Sling

Stream "Shark Week" on Sling

You can access Discovery Channel on Sling via their Blue Plan. Prices start at $45.99/month with your first month available for half price ($23).

HBO Max prices start at $10.99 per month, and it's one of the best streaming services. You also have the option of paying from $19.99 per month for the Disney Plus bundle, including Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max.

Traveling outside the U.S.? You can always use a VPN — we recommend Surfshark — to watch HBO Max from anywhere on the planet.

How to watch 'Shark Week' in Canada

Canadian flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

"Shark Week" 2026 in Canada will air on Discovery and Discovery+ in Canada. Prices start at CA$5.99/month.

U.S. viewer currently traveling in Canada? You can use one of the best VPN services to tune in as you would at home. We recommend Surfshark.

Can I watch 'Shark Week' in the U.K.?

British flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Certain specials from "Shark Week" usually arrive on Discovery+ in the U.K., although Blighty doesn't officially receive the week-long event.

Currently abroad in the U.K. from North America? You can use one of the best VPN services, such as Surfshark, to access your usual streaming service.

Can I watch 'Shark Week' in Australia?

Australian flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

"Shark Week" will go out in Australia on HBO Max from Sunday, August 16. Prices start from AU$11.99/month.

U.S. or Canada viewer in Australia? Make use one of the best VPN services, such as Surfshark, allowing you access to your usual streaming service.

"Shark Week" TV schedule 2026

Sunday, July 26

“K-Pop Shark Heroes” | 8 p.m. ET/PT

After a recent series of shark encounters off the Korean Peninsula, actor and comedian Ken Jeong joins forces with GRAMMY-nominated singer and lifetime shark lover REI AMI on a mission to reshape the perception of sharks across East Asia and around the globe, fueled by the power of K-POP.

“Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach” | 9 p.m. ET/PT

Across the U.S. coastline, a new phenomenon is emerging as great white sharks are captured on film breaching in California like never before. Filmmaker Jeff Kurr, marine biologist Alison Towner, and cinematographer Andy Casagrande set out to capture this unprecedented behavior and uncover the secrets behind the Great American Breach.

“Invasion of the Mega Sharks” | 10 p.m. ET/PT

Shark researcher Dr. Neil Hammerschlag, joined by "Shark Week" expert Paul de Gelder, leads a team on a high-risk mission to track down "Big Rose," a record-breaking great white believed to be one of largest predators in the North Atlantic. Using innovative tagging technology and daring field operations, they venture to a newly discovered shark hotspot off Nova Scotia aiming to transform our understanding of these ocean giants.

More from Tom's Guide

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

TOPICS
Tom Wardley
Contributor

Tom is a freelance writer, predominantly focusing on film and TV. A graduate of Film Studies at University of South Wales, if he's not diving in to the Collector's Edition Blu Ray of an obscure 80s horror, you'll find him getting lost with his dog or mucking about in the water with his board.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.