Dive Into Nat Geo’s SharkFest 2026 Lineup
by Explore Disney+ Contributor
July 6, 2026
Watch Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory and more new shark documentaries from National Geographic to celebrate SharkFest
This July, something is lurking in the ocean. National Geographic’s summer shark extravaganza began July 5. Join Bertie Gregory tracking hammerheads off the coast of Mexico, discover giant makos near New Zealand, uncover an ancient skeleton mystery in Japan, step into croc territory in Australia, and explore great whites off Greenly Island. Sink your teeth into this year’s SharkFest lineup and the new documentaries worth adding to your Watchlist, plus even more National Geographic shows and specials to explore on Disney+.
National Geographic's SharkFest Returns For 2026
The celebration of all things shark is back for its 14th year, with a new lineup of Nat Geo documentaries.
When does SharkFest 2026 start?
SharkFest started July 5 with Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory, which aired on National Geographic at 9pm ET / 6pm PT and streamed on Disney+ and Hulu the same day.
How long will SharkFest 2026 last on National Geographic?
SharkFest continues throughout July across National Geographic’s family of channels, including Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Mundo, with select SharkFest titles streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
SharkFest Disney+ 2026 Schedule & How To Watch
Here’s a glance at the SharkFest 2026 lineup:
Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory
Attack of the Samurai Sharks
World's Biggest Mako
Shark vs. Giant Croc
Shark Island Showdown
Sharks: Reef Rivals
Great White Gauntlet
You can stream SharkFest on Disney+ and Hulu beginning July 5, or watch across National Geographic’s channels. Check out the National Geographic Sharks Collection and tune in to the SharkFest Stream for new deep-sea documentaries, shark favorites, and more ocean stories.
Tracking Sharks Off The Mexican Coast: Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory
National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory heads into Mexico’s Pacific waters to get a closer look at these distinctive sharks and the protected seas that help them thrive.
What is Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory about?
Hammerheads have one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the water, but finding them isn’t always that easy. This special follows Emmy®- and BAFTA-winning cinematographer Bertie Gregory as he looks for hammerhead sharks off the coast of Mexico. Along the way, he explores what makes these sharks so unique and how protected marine areas can support their future.
When and where can I watch Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory?
It premiered July 5, 2026, on National Geographic and is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
Add Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory to Watchlist
Shark Documentaries To Watch During SharkFest 2026
This year’s new specials travel to New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the South Pacific.
Japan’s Ancient Bite Mark Investigation: Attack of the Samurai Sharks
A 3,000-year-old skeleton known as Tsukumo 24, found near Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, had wounds so deep they once looked like blade marks. There’s one problem: Tsukumo 24 died long before Japanese swords existed. Kyoto University scientists reopen the case to find out whether a shark was responsible and which species may have left its mark.
Add Attack of the Samurai Sharks to Watchlist
New Zealand’s Supersized Mystery: World's Biggest Mako
North of New Zealand, scientists and a cinematographer follow a local fisherman’s decades of ocean knowledge to find giant shortfin makos. One shark after another turns up, each larger than the last, giving the team a rare look at a local population that may be recovering while makos remain endangered elsewhere.
Add World’s Biggest Mako to Watchlist
Bull Sharks Meet Saltwater Crocs: Shark vs. Giant Crocs
In Australia’s Daintree River, bull sharks and saltwater crocodiles share the same murky tidewater. Shark experts Adam Barnett and Nico Lubitz try to attach a camera to a massive territorial crocodile, hoping its point of view will show what really happens when these river heavyweights cross paths.
Add Shark vs. Giant Crocs to Watchlist
South Pacific Predator Hierarchy: Shark Island Showdown
On remote Norfolk Island, shark experts Lauren Meyer, Adam Barnett, and Charlie Huveneers investigate why so many tiger, dusky, and Galapagos sharks gather in the surrounding waters. Their tracking tags and underwater experiments reveal shark nurseries, a surprising pecking order, and a predator hotspot in the South Pacific.
Add Shark Island Showdown to Watchlist
Inside A Changing Reef Battleground: Sharks: Reef Rivals
Scientists study a shark-packed lagoon that changes with the tide on a distant Great Barrier Reef island. Lemon sharks and tiger sharks time their moves around turtles, birds, and shifting water levels, revealing why the lagoon attracts so many hungry predators.
Add Sharks: Reef Rivals to Watchlist
Greenly Island’s Shark Surprise: Great White Gauntlet
Greenly Island has the bait that great whites love, hundreds of seals and sea lions off Australia’s southern coast. In rough seas, Lauren Meyer, Charlie Huveneers, and Adam Barnett work to attach a camera tag to a great white shark, capturing rare hunting footage and revealing a twist that changes what they thought was happening around the island.
Add Great White Gauntlet to Watchlist
Even More Shark Documentaries & Shows To Watch On Disney+
These returning shows and short specials dig into real shark encounters, oversized sightings, VFX reconstructions, and the behavior behind the bites.
A shark story with a different angle, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story examines the movie’s legacy, impact on how audiences view sharks, and connection to shark science.
Patterns Behind The Bite: Shark Attack Files
Get a closer look at real incidents through the eyes of a survivor and shark-behavior analysis. Each case digs into what happened before the bite, separating panic from pattern to show how sharks actually behave around people.
Add Shark Attack Files to Watchlist
Unexpected Encounters Explained: When Sharks Attack… And Why
Sudden clusters of shark bites leave beach towns and scientists asking the same question. Why here and why now? Experts examine attacks along U.S. coastlines and vacation beaches overseas, looking for the environmental clues that may explain why sharks appear in unexpected numbers.
Add When Sharks Attack… And Why to Watchlist
A Gathering Of Giants: The World's Biggest Sharks Mashup
This mashup pulls together moments from across the World’s Biggest Sharks documentaries to spotlight the oversized predators that made experts stop and measure twice. The special looks into why so many supersized sharks are being spotted, examining the science behind some seriously large encounters.
Add World’s Biggest Great White to Watchlist
Add World’s Biggest Hammerhead to Watchlist
Add World’s Biggest Tiger Shark to Watchlist
Shorter Looks At Why They Bite: Shark Attack 360
These shorter edits condense original Shark Attack 360 episodes into quicker investigations. An international team studies real shark incidents, then uses a VFX shark lab to understand why sharks attack.
Add Shark Attack 360 to Watchlist
SharkFest FAQ
Want to know more before you jump in? Start here.
What is SharkFest?
Dedicated entirely to sharks, SharkFest is National Geographic’s annual summer event. The lineup brings together new documentaries, returning shows, expert-led investigations, and close-up ocean filming that looks at how sharks hunt, travel, gather, and survive.
When did National Geographic start SharkFest?
The first one kicked off July 2012, making 2026 the 14th year.
How long does SharkFest typically last?
SharkFest runs as a summer programming event across multiple National Geographic channels. This year, SharkFest begins July 5 and continues through late July.
Does SharkFest happen every year?
Yes. SharkFest is an annual National Geographic event.
Is SharkFest the same as Shark Week?
No. SharkFest is National Geographic’s annual shark event and is separate from Shark Week, with titles airing across National Geographic channels and select content streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
