{"id":536255,"date":"2026-07-06T19:42:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T19:42:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/536255\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T19:42:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T19:42:04","slug":"sharkfest-2026-new-nat-geo-shark-documentaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/536255\/","title":{"rendered":"SharkFest 2026: New Nat Geo Shark Documentaries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watch Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory and more new shark documentaries from National Geographic to celebrate SharkFest<\/p>\n

This July, something is lurking in the ocean. National Geographic\u2019s summer shark extravaganza began July 5. Join Bertie Gregory<\/a> 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\u2019s SharkFest lineup and the new documentaries worth adding to your Watchlist, plus even more National Geographic shows and specials<\/a> to explore on Disney+.<\/p>\n

National Geographic’s SharkFest Returns For 2026<\/p>\n

The celebration of all things shark is back for its 14th year, with a new lineup of Nat Geo documentaries.<\/p>\n

When does SharkFest 2026 start?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

How long will SharkFest 2026 last on National Geographic?<\/p>\n

SharkFest continues throughout July across National Geographic\u2019s family of channels, including Nat Geo WILD and Nat Geo Mundo, with select SharkFest titles streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.<\/p>\n

SharkFest Disney+ 2026 Schedule & How To Watch<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a glance at the SharkFest 2026 lineup:<\/p>\n

You can stream SharkFest on Disney+ and Hulu beginning July 5, or watch across National Geographic\u2019s channels. Check out the National Geographic Sharks Collection<\/a> and tune in to the SharkFest Stream for new deep-sea documentaries, shark favorites, and more ocean stories.<\/p>\n

Tracking Sharks Off The Mexican Coast: Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory\"AHammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory, National Geographic, Disney+, Hulu<\/p>\n

National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory<\/a> heads into Mexico\u2019s Pacific waters to get a closer look at these distinctive sharks and the protected seas that help them thrive.<\/p>\n

What is Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory about?<\/p>\n

Hammerheads have one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the water, but finding them isn\u2019t always that easy. This special follows Emmy\u00ae- 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.<\/p>\n

When and where can I watch Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory?<\/p>\n

It premiered July 5, 2026, on National Geographic and is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.<\/p>\n

Add Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Shark Documentaries To Watch During SharkFest 2026<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s new specials travel to New Zealand, Japan, Australia, and the South Pacific.<\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s Ancient Bite Mark Investigation: Attack of the Samurai Sharks\"AAttack of the Samurai Sharks, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

A 3,000-year-old skeleton known as Tsukumo 24, found near Japan\u2019s Seto Inland Sea, had wounds so deep they once looked like blade marks. There\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Add Attack of the Samurai Sharks to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

New Zealand\u2019s Supersized Mystery: World’s Biggest Mako\"AWorld’s Biggest Mako, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

North of New Zealand, scientists and a cinematographer follow a local fisherman\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Add World\u2019s Biggest Mako to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Bull Sharks Meet Saltwater Crocs: Shark vs. Giant Crocs\"AnShark vs. Giant Crocs, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

In Australia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Add Shark vs. Giant Crocs to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

South Pacific Predator Hierarchy: Shark Island Showdown\"AShark Island Showdown, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Add Shark Island Showdown to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Inside A Changing Reef Battleground: Sharks: Reef Rivals\"AnSharks: Reef Rivals, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Add Sharks: Reef Rivals to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Greenly Island\u2019s Shark Surprise: Great White Gauntlet\"AnGreat White Gauntlet, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

Greenly Island has the bait that great whites love, hundreds of seals and sea lions off Australia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Add Great White Gauntlet to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Even More Shark Documentaries & Shows To Watch On Disney+<\/p>\n

These returning shows and short specials dig into real shark encounters, oversized sightings, VFX reconstructions, and the behavior behind the bites.<\/p>\n

A shark story with a different angle, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story<\/a> examines the movie\u2019s legacy, impact on how audiences view sharks, and connection to shark science.<\/p>\n

Patterns Behind The Bite: Shark Attack Files\"AnShark Attack Files, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Add Shark Attack Files to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Unexpected Encounters Explained: When Sharks Attack\u2026 And Why\"AWhen Sharks Attack…And Why, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Add When Sharks Attack\u2026 And Why to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

A Gathering Of Giants: The World’s Biggest Sharks Mashup\"AnWorld’s Biggest Hammerhead, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

This mashup pulls together moments from across the World\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Add World\u2019s Biggest Great White to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Add World\u2019s Biggest Hammerhead to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Add World\u2019s Biggest Tiger Shark to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

Shorter Looks At Why They Bite: Shark Attack 360\"AShark Attack 360, National Geographic, Disney+<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Add Shark Attack 360 to Watchlist<\/a><\/p>\n

SharkFest FAQ<\/p>\n

Want to know more before you jump in? Start here.<\/p>\n

What is SharkFest?<\/p>\n

Dedicated entirely to sharks, SharkFest is National Geographic\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

When did National Geographic start SharkFest? <\/p>\n

The first one kicked off July 2012, making 2026 the 14th year. <\/p>\n

How long does SharkFest typically last?<\/p>\n

SharkFest runs as a summer programming event across multiple National Geographic channels. This year, SharkFest begins July 5 and continues through late July.<\/p>\n

Does SharkFest happen every year?<\/p>\n

Yes. SharkFest is an annual National Geographic event.<\/p>\n

Is SharkFest the same as Shark Week?<\/p>\n

No. SharkFest is National Geographic\u2019s annual shark event and is separate from Shark Week, with titles airing across National Geographic channels and select content streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Watch Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory and more new shark documentaries from National Geographic to celebrate…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":536256,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[61,60,82,263],"class_list":["post-536255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-science","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536255"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536255\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/536256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=536255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=536255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}