- Tags:
- Wildlife
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Via announcement (typically late July or early August)
- Holiday emoji:
- 🦈
Shark Week plunges viewers into the mysterious depths of the ocean every July or August. Running from July 6 to 13, 2026, this annual Discovery Channel event features a week of thrilling documentaries, educational programs, and captivating stories about sharks. Tune in to learn more about these incredible apex predators, support conservation efforts, and share your favorite shark moments.
Want to sponsor Shark Week? Learn how
History of Shark Week
It’s a popular story among Discovery employees that the idea for Shark Week was originally literally scrawled on a cocktail napkin. In the late 1980s, creator Steve Cheskin and some colleagues were reputedly enjoying a drink and discussing what would be a fun thing to add to the then-young channel’s lineup, and somebody said, “You know what would be awesome? Shark Week!” Another member of the group grabbed a pen and wrote the idea down on the closest scrap of paper: the napkin.
Starting in 1988, the idea proved to be a winner, raking in winning ratings for the channel and rekindling America’s love affair with the ocean predator, the peak till that point was probably the 1975 movie, “Jaws.”
Since that time, Shark Week has gained popularity, adding hosts in 1994 starting with Peter Benchley and eventually household names such as Mike Rowe, Craig Ferguson, and Shaquille O’Neal.
We could go into greater detail, but Shark Week is one of those things you have to experience. Keep your finger on the pulse of cable releases, and don’t miss this year’s celebration!
Shark Week FAQs
When is Shark Week?
Shark Week 2026 runs from Monday, July 6 through Monday, July 13, bringing a fresh wave of shark-themed programming to screens across the nation. Prepare for eight days of thrilling ocean exploration.
How many people watch Shark Week?
Shark Week consistently draws a massive audience, with tens of millions of viewers tuning in annually across Discovery Channel and its streaming platforms. In 2025, the event continued its strong viewership, solidifying its status as a summer television staple.
Why is Shark Week so popular?
Shark Week’s enduring popularity stems from a potent mix of primal fascination with apex predators, high-quality documentary filmmaking, and its consistent summer scheduling. It offers an annual deep dive into the unknown, combining education with thrilling entertainment.
What is the goal of Shark Week?
Beyond entertainment, Shark Week aims to educate viewers about the vital role sharks play in marine ecosystems and to promote conservation efforts. It highlights the challenges sharks face and the work being done to protect them, fostering a deeper appreciation for these creatures.
Shark Week Activities
Take part…
Watch the shows, of course. As stated above (and we speak from experience), even if you never thought sharks were all that special, you’ll find yourself fascinated by the wealth of information and anecdotal evidence of their amazing ways. with solid facts.
2. Make a donation to save the sharks
They may not be the cutest, most cuddly creatures on earth, but sharks are still an integral part of the world’s ecosystem that is becoming endangered. Many organizations are trying to make a difference, from “Project AWARE” to “Predators in Peril.”
Read up on some strictly factual shark science
According to the website “Sharksider” (and we agree), the top three books to read about sharks are “Blue Meridian” by Peter Matthiessen, “Sharks of the World” by David E. Ebert, et al., and “The Secret Life of Sharks” by Peter Klimley. You can’t go wrong, armed
FIVE AMAZING FACTS ABOUT GREAT WHITES
Picking and choosing
Once a Great White reaches 2.5 meters (just over 8 feet) long, it will only eat sea mammals, making the switch from a diet of mostly small fish.
Sun lovers
Somewhat counterintuitively, the Great White prefers to hunt not at night but in broad daylight, depending upon its eyesight to properly track prey (though the shark does shut its eyes in the moment of the attack).
Not calorie counters
To keep up their body temperature (partially by transferring heat from their moving muscles) and to maintain energy levels, Great Whites predominately seek prey with high-fat content, like seals or whales.
Big babies
After a gestation period of 18 months, a mother Great White will give birth to four to six “pups,” each measuring in length between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (four or five feet)!
Not immune to cancer
Contrary to a popular myth that has persisted for decades and resulted in large amounts of shark-fin soup being consumed “medicinally,” there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that sharks don’t get cancer; they do.
Why We Love Shark Week
The “Jaws” theme music
Perhaps as a boy or a girl you had an older sibling who would come up behind you in the pool or at the lake, singing the ominous tones from “Jaws,” duh-nun, duh-nun, DUH-NUN, before grabbing you like an attacking shark. Hey, what’s childhood without inter-sibling trauma? But now, as an adult, you can joke more appropriately with your office cohorts, we presume.
It’s the original “binge-watching” series of programs
Here’s a thing: in 1988, the year of Discovery’s first Shark Week, MTV still played mostly music videos. You could turn the channel from Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” to frightening footage of an Australian Great White decimating a hapless seal. Hmm, which one to choose?
It’s part of Americana
We love it because it’s an ingrained part of our culture, like Super Bowl commercials or roadside fast-food joints. To enjoy the heck out of Shark Week is to take your place in the American mythos.
Shark Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | July 20–27 | Sunday–Sunday |
| 2026 | July 6–13 | Monday–Monday |
