Shark Week continues tonight with a lineup that includes a hunt for a potentially radioactive predator lurking near New York waters and a look at some of the world’s biggest shark superfans.
The Friday, July 31 lineup on Discovery features three new specials: “Secrets of the Great White Kill,” “Sharkzilla Takes New York,” and “My Strange Shark Addiction.”
Cord-cutters can watch Shark Week for free on Philo (7-day free trial), DIRECTV (5-day free trial), and other streaming services listed below.
What time does Shark Week start tonight?
Tonight’s Shark Week lineup begins at 8 p.m. ET on Discovery and includes:
8 p.m. ET — “Secrets of the Great White Kill”
9 p.m. ET — “Sharkzilla Takes New York”
10 p.m. ET — “My Strange Shark Addiction”
How to watch Shark Week 2026 for free
Viewers without cable can watch the entire Shark Week lineup for free on Discovery through live TV streaming services that offer free trials, including Philo (7-day free trial) and DIRECTV (5-day free trial). Cancel anytime.
Sling also carries Discovery with the Discovery+ add-on for $5.99/month. Sling plans start at $19.99/month.
Comparing streaming services
Philo – One of the most affordable live‑TV streaming options available, giving viewers a choice between its Essential plan for $25/month after a 7-day free trial, which includes 70+ live channels, 120+ free streaming channels, unlimited DVR and 80,000+ on‑demand titles, or Bundle+ for $33/month, which adds AMC+ along with access to the HBO Max (Basic with Ads) and discovery+ apps for a full premium bundle.
Philo
7-day free trial
Stream your favorite channels free for 7 days or upgrade to Bundle+ for added access to AMC+, HBO Max, and discovery+.
DIRECTV – Watch live TV from major broadcast and popular cable networks. Enjoy local and national live sports, breaking news, and must-see shows the moment they air. Included: unlimited cloud DVR storage space so you can record as many shows as you want and stream them from wherever you go. DTV starts as low as $19.99/month after a 5-day free trial when you shop their customizable genre packs.
DIRECTV
5-day free trial
Stream your favorite shows free for 5 days, with new promotional pricing on subscriptions.
Sling – With plans starting at $19.99/month, Sling offers customizable channel lineups for sports, news, and entertainment. Now, Sling adds even more value with passes that let you stream live TV without a subscription: just $4.99 for a day, $9.99 for the weekend or $14.99 for a full week. These one-time payments are perfect if you just want to watch a single show, live game or special event. No commitment, no auto-renewal, just affordable access when you need it.
Sling
Starting at $19.99
Bundle Sling’s Blue and Orange plans for $60.99.
With so many streaming platforms and ever-changing subscription prices, it’s always worth checking the latest free trials and promo deals to make sure you’re getting the best value when tuning in.
What’s on tonight?
The night’s first premiere, “Secrets of the Great White Kill,” airing at 8 p.m. ET, examines new scientific research into how great white sharks hunt.
While great whites were once believed to simply stalk prey, researchers now believe the sharks are highly intelligent predators capable of adapting their hunting strategies in real time. The special promises to reveal the full range of hunting tactics used by great whites and explore what makes them one of the ocean’s most effective apex predators.
Premiering at 9 p.m. ET, “Sharkzilla Takes New York” follows conservation biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell as he investigates a series of attacks on marine life washing ashore in New York.
The mystery leads him to an old nuclear dumping ground populated by great white sharks and makos. As the investigation unfolds, O’Connell explores the unsettling possibility that the predator behind the attacks could be radioactive.
His search eventually uncovers an unexpected hotspot for massive mako sharks near the Hamptons, raising questions about whether an even larger predator may be hiding beneath the surface of the Atlantic.
At 10 p.m. ET, Discovery airs “My Strange Shark Addiction.” The special profiles four self-described shark enthusiasts whose fascination with the animals has taken over their daily lives.
Among those featured are a dentist whose collection of life-size shark replicas fills his home, a woman who says she has a special connection with her shark “boyfriend,” and a world-record holder covered in shark-themed tattoos. The program explores how their passion for sharks influences their relationships, finances, and everyday routines.
What is Shark Week?
Now one of television’s longest-running annual events, Shark Week features seven nights of original programming focused on shark science, conservation, exploration, and close encounters with some of the ocean’s most powerful predators.
This year’s event includes 20 new specials, featuring returning experts such as Paul de Gelder, Forrest Galante, Dr. Tristan Guttridge, and Josh Gates, as well as investigations into shark behavior, great white migrations, and record-setting underwater expeditions.