Jurassic Sharks on Shark Week 2026: When and where to watch the prehistoric special in the US and UK without a cable subscription

Shark Week 2026 is officially here, and this year's lineup is packed with exciting new specials for shark fans. One of the biggest highlights is "Jurassic Sharks," a documentary that explores what some of the world's earliest sharks may have looked like if they were alive today.

Using advanced CGI and the latest scientific research, the special recreates ancient shark species that lived millions of years ago. It offers viewers a fascinating look at prehistoric ocean predators and how sharks have evolved over time.

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When and where to watch Jurassic Shark during Shark Week 2026

Jurassic Sharks is part of Shark Week 2026, which runs from July 26 through August 1 on the Discovery Channel. New Shark Week specials air every night starting at 8 p.m. ET.

If you don't have cable, you can also stream Jurassic Sharks and other Shark Week programs on Discovery+ and HBO Max, making it easy to watch live or catch up later.

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What is the 'Jurassic Sharks' special about?

Jurassic Sharks is one of the standout documentaries of Shark Week 2026. It combines paleontology, marine biology and CGI technology to recreate ancient sharks that lived millions of years before humans.

Instead of focusing only on sharks swimming in today's oceans, the documentary takes viewers back in time to explore how prehistoric shark species evolved and ruled ancient seas.

Using fossil discoveries and computer-generated images, scientists recreate extinct sharks and compare their size, body structure and hunting style with modern-day species. The special also explains how sharks have survived dramatic changes on Earth, including several mass extinction events.

Shark Week 2026 began with a K-pop special

This year's Shark Week kicked off on Sunday, July 26, with a unique opening program.

Comedian Ken Jeong joined singer Rei Ami for "K-Pop Shark Heroes," which aired at 8 p.m. ET. The special followed the pair as they worked to challenge common myths about sharks and encourage people to better understand these misunderstood animals.

The opening night also featured two more premieres:

• Air Jaws: Red, White and Breach
• Invasion of the Mega Sharks

Throughout the week, viewers can watch three new programs each evening, covering shark behavior, conservation, scientific discoveries and incredible underwater encounters.

What else can viewers expect during Shark Week 2026?

This year's schedule features a wide range of shark stories from around the world.

Some of the biggest highlights include:

• Shark attack survivors sharing why they now support shark conservation
• Marine biologists trying to train great white sharks
• Scientists searching for some of the ocean's rarest and strangest shark species
• Research into great white shark migration
• CGI recreations of prehistoric predators in Jurassic Sharks

The combination of science, adventure and conservation continues to make Shark Week one of television's most popular annual wildlife events.

How does Shark Week 2026 end?

The final night of Shark Week 2026 takes place on August 1 and features two new premieres. The lineup includes "Great White Highway," which explores how great white sharks migrate along the US East Coast and why those movements may lead to more shark encounters.

It is followed by "Thresher Shark: Stun to Kill," which examines how thresher sharks use their powerful tails to hunt prey.

The final premiere airs at 9 p.m. ET, bringing another Shark Week to a close with more science, exploration and remarkable shark stories.

Why 'Jurassic Sharks' is one of this year's biggest attractions

Among the 20 new specials premiering during Shark Week 2026, Jurassic Sharks has generated plenty of interest because it brings prehistoric predators back to life using modern technology.

The documentary combines fossil evidence with CGI to imagine what ancient sharks may have looked like if they were swimming in today's oceans. It also gives viewers a closer look at shark evolution over the past 200 million years.

For both longtime Shark Week fans and first-time viewers, Jurassic Sharks offers a fresh perspective on one of nature's oldest and most successful predators, making it one of the most anticipated specials of this year's event.