Shark Week 2026 returns, Ken Jeong opens the lineup

tvJul 26, 2026641,429

Discovery Channel’s 38th Shark Week opens Sunday, July 26 and runs seven nights through Saturday, August 1 with twenty new programs across Discovery Channel, Discovery+ and HBO Max. Ken Jeong and singer Rei Ami front the opener, a crossover special titled KPop Shark Heroes that ties into Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters; the article notes that KPop Demon Hunters became Netflix’s most-watched film, won two Academy Awards, and earned the first Grammy for a K-pop track. Rei Ami performed the actual dives, descending in cages and free diving among hammerheads, reef sharks and bull sharks off the Korean peninsula; Ken Jeong stayed on the boat and provided voicework and on-camera hosting. Discovery frames the special around conservation and real shark encounters, and Rei Ami told the Associated Press that Shark Week is entertaining and thrilling but at its core very educational. The casting choice reflects Discovery’s strategy of importing the glossy aesthetic and cultural momentum of a streaming hit rather than hiring a traditional marine-science marquee name; a primary host for the week has not been named. The week’s lineup also includes record-dive spectacles and great-white forensics alongside the pop-infused opener.

Avi, Kell of Sharks

@avibigshark.bsky.social

Might have to start posting here more, because my twitter is absolutely cooked.. But it's SHARK WEEK, so lets get it rollin'. 🎨 @petroverr.bsky.social

31745d ago

KTqtpi

@ktqtpi.bsky.social

I've been informed it's the start of shark week. Here's a cute Nikki by @spidersnax.bsky.social

13445d ago

XOR Da Toaster3

I love Nikki aaa >v<

CetoTheSharkGoddess1

That's so adorable!! <3 now cutie Kt needs to happen

Cheops Longfang1

Shark Week just got an adorable start.

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈

@whysharksmatter.bsky.social

The Reasons Why Scientists Get Angry at Shark Week - Washingtonian | How fictional animals, obsession with shark sex, and Nazis get in the way of actual discovery.

7745d ago

Hamlet of Melnibone 13

In honor of Tracy Jordan, I try to live every week like it’s Shark Week.

Starlie

@starlie.bsky.social

Oh, I almost forgot one of the important features!! The Gnashers~ Sorry I am gonna be very annoying this shark week

A shark girl underwater, looking down at a school of fish as her mouth hangs open behind them, showing her many sharp teeth.

7645d ago

fish 🎣🐟🏳️‍⚧️4

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLEASE KKEEP BEING ANNOYING THIS SHARK WEEK IM BEGGING

Zenny1

w wait how big are they

Damien, Gposing Bardic Failson1

Do not be sorry I am seated for shark week.

Benny Ross - Freelance Artist

@bennyjross.bsky.social

"Ahoy, matey! Rise and shine, ya salty sea dogs! It's Shark Week once again!"

5044d ago

BenJJedi2

Well, good morning to you too, handsome! 😉

Isaac_Mizusai_RB1

Ahoy Kaijuu mate!!! Glad to hear it's shark week for you!! That'll be JAWESOME!

FootyShorky

@footyshorky.bsky.social

It shark week now so i expect you to do a very good job 😡

6745d ago

Paw Pup Myro 🐾2

the final closeup on the lint between your toes?? it’s everywhere

Cool Tiger1

Duuuude your feet are so fuckin hot 🥴🥴I'd worship em nonstop all week if you let me x)

🌱🫜 Charlie (Chelizabeth) Delta 🦊🪻

@charliedeltawrites.bsky.social

Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters Shark Week starts tonight! (Don't laugh I just really like sharks 😂) So in honor of that, what aquatic animal do you associate your character with? A shark, a ray, a whale, a fish? Why? #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

8045d ago

🌱🫜 Charlie (Chelizabeth) Delta 🦊🪻54

Av'ry is an orca. Popular, charismatic, surprisingly clever and dangerous. Fox is a scaly-foot snail. They live on thermal vents, are highly heat resistant and grow a natural metal armor!

MrOmega9

#AwesomeCharacters Ash is an octopus. Able to slip into all sorts of places and hide easily. Ginra's an eel because that's the most snakelike fish I can think of. Shogum's a shark. But one of the less aggressive ones. Maxi's a crab. Because octopus was taken. And here's a bonus shark.

Omega Lairon7

• Meg: Zebra Lionfish. Mostly for the contrast of looking flashy while containing deadly toxin. • Tony: Octopus. Highly intelligent, but generally solitary and able to crawl into tiny spaces to hide.

Carolina | Looking for feedback7

I think Peter is a whale. Those mournful songs they sing... The slow gentle movements... And the whole blue whale internet thing tbh

Keegan Peter 🏳️‍⚧️5

Zan is an orca. Dangerous but protective of the people he sees as family. Ash is an octopus. Very intelligent and has a habit of escaping what he sees as his cages.

R.W. Meadors5

There actually is a spot in Projekt where Levi Ostrander is described as having shark-like eyes, so that’s a pretty easy one. Though it’s worth noting that God had a special affection for the oceans and, in his better moments, has a playful sort of serenity that calls to mind a dolphin.

Quoting this

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle)25

#AwesomeCharacters I'm making this up on the spot because I haven't thought about it🤣 Shallot is a whale because she has sweet mama vibes (whales are sweet mamas, okay?) Grilled is just a fuckin' shark, man. If we don't want to be stereotypical... Maybe a sawfish (which is a ray, not a shark)

PJC Cahill19

Kyoka: Barracuda! So fast! Taegen: Octopus! intelligent, adaptive, alien Rieka: Great White Shark! powerful, solitary predator Dominika: Pistol Shrimp! special claw go BOOM Portia: Japanese Spider Crab! Big, spidery, aquatic Sulaf: *snort* Lamprey! CHOMP, nomnomnom, blood #AwesomeCharacters

DD Ward ..."Sapphic Dr. DOOM"17

Blair: Bull Shark Nadia: Leafy Sea Dragon Amy: Atlantic Spotted Dolphin Fiona: Barracuda Ren: deep-sea dragonfish

Nicole "Ashrah" Hidalgo 😈🧄16

#AwesomeCharacters This one is quite hard to me, but... Swordfish for Ashrah, I suppose? 🤔 Mimic octopus for Sareena because a lil dude that disguises as other species to hide and attack? Yeah, that fits! No idea for Nitara; help me out, folks 😅 #ChroniclesOfTheRealms

J.M. Weaver🏳️‍⚧️🔥🪶15

#AwesomeCharacters EELS No. So Savage as You has this really significant underwater motif. Soooo this is pretty fitting. Let's say Hailey's a mermaid. Clearly! (She even sings!) And if that's too whimsical, a dolphin shall suffice. They make good aquatic protagonists. 😅 (1/2)

Rebecca E. Reyes14

#AwesomeCharacters Thalia: Mantis shrimp. She packs a punch, and is loud, and bright, yet is constantly overlooked. Calliope: Beta fish. Misunderstood, likes being decorative, and pretty. Alderius: Lobster. Something of an inside joke because clerics hold back aging and don't often die naturally.

Nicole R.14

#AwesomeCharacters Jane: Box Jellyfish. Quiet and unassuming, yet if attacked, it can go very badly for the aggressor. Liz: Hermit crab. Doesn't want anyone to know just how vulnerable she is on the inside, and she's changed homes many times. 1/2 #WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts

Amanda Turek💎Writing Rushak14

#AwesomeCharacters 🪉Rushak has to be a fish ‘cause everyone calls him “fishwit;” however he’s the feckin Salmon of Wisdom, take that, guys! 💎Drisal: emperor penguin because he’s an awesome parent and would gladly sit on an egg for 8 weeks w/o moving. 1/2

Sam Vimes 🫜14

Scruffy would probably be some sort of pyromaniac otter. 🦦 He's quite animated and is fond of splashing about. He also likes rock (music). #AwesomeCharacters

Joel Flanagan-Grannemann 13

Chana is a tiger shark. Deadly, always looking for an opening to exploit. Rose is something graceful like a manta ray. Mathias is an octopus. Able to hide, blends in most situations. Strikes hard. Handles multiple things at a time.

Shark Week Babey!!

@yoshiemblem.bsky.social

Happy Shark Week, people! Why stop at watching shark movies on TV for a week (or even do that at all) when you can just BE a shark at the beach for a week? Especially when friends like @bearbaron.bsky.social & @sleepydile.bsky.social embrace that holiday spirit so much! Art by @felino.bsky.social!

A tan, grey, and orange shark posing for a picture at the beach happily.

4245d ago

🔞 Extra Large Void (Shark Week!!)

@bigmanfulruun.bsky.social

Juicy July - Week 4 Finale(?) Just when Vae thought he couldn't get more, his good star-shark friend flies in to save the day with a whole new tank! Thank you, Orion! If this post reaches 100 likes, I'll do a part 5, ramping it up real fast! #blueberry #fatfur #inflation #sharkweek