Shark Week is back, and this year, the ocean’s apex predators return with more force, scale and spectacle than ever. From Monday, 3 August to Sunday, 9 August, Discovery Channel Africa (DStv 121) brings viewers a full week of new premieres, wild encounters and edge‑of‑your‑seat science.
This year’s line‑up features 16 brand‑new global specials, each pushing deeper into the world of sharks. Expect towering breaches, high‑risk expeditions and stunts that defy belief. With cutting‑edge tech and bold fieldwork, Shark Week 2026 pulls viewers straight into the water, from glowing sharks and Jurassic‑era giants to K‑Pop‑driven conservation and a helicopter‑height dive into a feeding frenzy.
“As the original and longest‑running programming event, Shark Week is an unmatched legacy built on bold storytelling, pioneering science, and must‑see cultural moments,” said Joseph Boyle, Head of Content, Discovery Channel. “This year, we continue to raise the bar with glowing sharks, Jurassic giants, record‑setting stunts… and even K‑Pop.”
Across seven nights, African audiences will follow the world’s top shark experts as they chase colossal makos off California, investigate bull shark behaviour in Florida, and test whether great whites can learn and respond to cues. It’s a global adventure, and Africa is firmly part of the story.
Shark Week 2026 brings together familiar favourites including Paul de Gelder, Dr Tristan Guttridge, Rosie Moore, Forrest Galante, Dr Craig O’Connell, and South Africa’s own Dr Alison Towner.
Based in Gansbaai, Dr Alison Towner is one of Africa’s most respected shark scientists. Her research into great white movements and the impact of orca predation has shaped global understanding of shark behaviour along South Africa’s coastline. With more than a decade in the field, she’s become a key voice in marine conservation and a familiar face to Shark Week fans.
This year, Towner appears in Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach, joining a specialised team investigating a new wave of mega‑breaching great whites off California. Her experience, instinct and deep connection to South Africa’s marine ecosystems continue to put local science on the world stage.
Shark Week 2026 Highlights
• K‑Pop Shark Heroes - Ken Jeong and GRAMMY®‑nominated REI AMI use the power of K‑Pop to shift shark perceptions across East Asia
Ultimate Shark Dive - Cliff diver Molly Carlson attempts a record‑breaking leap from a helicopter into a floating cage surrounded by reef sharks
• Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach - A new era of mega‑breaching great whites emerges off the California coast
• Jaws vs Orca - A high‑risk investigation into how killer whales are hunting and overpowering great whites
• Jurassic Sharks - Prehistoric superpredators return through cutting‑edge CGI and real‑world expeditions
• Invasion of the Mega Sharks - A daring search for “Big Rose,” an 18‑foot great white believed to be one of the largest in the North Atlantic
Whether you’re obsessed with sharks or simply love a rush, this year’s line‑up delivers a full week of pure ocean drama. Don’t miss it. Tune in to Discovery Channel Africa (DStv 121) from Monday, 3 August to Sunday, 9 August and experience the ocean’s greatest predators up close.
Full Shark Week broadcast schedule:
Invasion of the Mega Sharks - Mon, 3 Aug @ 21:55
A search for “Big Rose,” an 18‑foot great white, uncovers a massive population of giant sharks off Nova Scotia.
Bull Shark Dinner Bell - Mon, 3 Aug @ 22:45
Paul de Gelder and Rosie Moore investigate what’s driving a surge in bull shark aggression in Florida.
Biggest Mako on Earth - Tue, 4 Aug @ 21:55
A new report sparks an investigation into whether the world’s largest mako is hunting off California’s coast.
House of Sharks - Tue, 4 Aug @ 22:45
In New Zealand, rival great white “houses” battle for dominance in a hidden shark battleground.
Ultimate Shark Dive - Wed, 5 Aug @ 21:55
Cliff diver Molly Carlson attempts a world‑first 50‑foot helicopter dive into a floating shark cage.
How to Train a Great White - Wed, 5 Aug @ 22:45
Experts test whether great whites can learn, solve problems, and respond to cues.
Jaws vs. Orca - Thu, 6 Aug @ 21:55
Experts provoke orcas to strike, revealing how killer whales hunt and take down great whites.
Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill - Thu, 6 Aug @ 22:45
Scientists attempt to capture the thresher shark’s deadly tail whip on film in the Philippines.
Air Jaws: Red, White, and Breach - Fri, 7 Aug @ 21:55
Reports of flying great whites off California spark a high‑stakes investigation.
Expedition X: Atomic Sharks - Fri, 7 Aug @ 22:45
A team investigates reports of aggressive “mutant” sharks in Micronesia’s Marshall Islands.
Alien Sharks: Untamed America - Sat, 8 Aug @ 21:55
Forrest Galante explores America’s strangest alien sharks in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
K‑Pop Shark Heroes - Sat, 8 Aug @ 22:45
Ken Jeong and REI AMI use K‑Pop to transform perceptions of sharks across East Asia.
My Strange Shark Addiction - Sat, 8 Aug @ 23:35
Four shark fanatics reveal their extreme obsessions — from intimate relationships to life‑size replicas.
What Shark Attacked? - Sun, 9 Aug @ 21:55
Experts use forensic analysis to identify which shark species are behind real‑world attacks.
Jurassic Sharks - Sun, 9 Aug @ 22:45
Prehistoric sharks rise again through cutting‑edge CGI and scientific expeditions.
Sharkzilla Takes New York - Sun, 9 Aug @ 23:35
A scientist hunts for a possible radioactive shark killer near a nuclear dumping ground off New York.
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