Shark Week 2020 schedule: Your guide to all 24 specials

It’s not safe to go many places these days — see: pandemic — but Discovery is making sure that you can virtually head back into the water without swimming into harm’s way. As part of its annual summer tradition, the network will unveil eight consecutive days of programming dedicated to those most dangerous predators of the sea. Shark Week 2020, which airs Aug. 9 to Aug. 16 and represents the 32nd installment of the fearsome franchise, will feature a record 24 specials that explore the deadly-but-misunderstood creatures. (And this year, in place of nightly wrap-up talk show Shark After Dark, a special Shark Week edition of Josh Gates Tonight can be seen Aug. 9 to Aug. 14 at 11 p.m. ET/PT.) Several notable celebrities have inhaled bravely and volunteered to go along for the ride: Will Smith, Mike Tyson, and Shaq will face down their fears (with YouTube stars Mark Rober and Dude Perfect assisting the NBA Hall of Famer), while Workaholics alums Adam Devine, Anders Holm, and Blake Anderson reunite to crash a tiger shark lair. This year’s catch also includes: a 20th anniversary Air Jaws special; a search for the world’s largest male white shark; a Snoop-narrated hour about great whites congregating along American shores; and an attempt to figure out what kind of Caribbean creature might have attacked a 14-foot tiger shark. (Yep, that one is titled... Tiger Shark King.) In addition, two specials will whisk landlocked (and homelocked) viewers away to New Zealand and Australia to detail how a lack of human interaction during the COVID-19 lockdown might have impacted various shark communities. Your escapism — and, yes, your white-knuckling — begins now, as EW exclusively brings you the Shark Week 2020 schedule.

Airs: Sunday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Three teams of researchers return to one of the last hunting grounds for Air Jaws. They will use decoys, drones, and underwater cameras to count the number of breaches and collect data on hunting techniques to see if the shark population is rebounding.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “The spectacle of a flying great white, Air Jaws, is the most terrifying and beautiful sight that exists in nature,” says executive producer/director Jeff Kurr.

Airs: Sunday, Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: Legendary boxer and entrepreneur Mike Tyson is taking on a new challenge… and he picked the most unlikely training partner. Iron Mike will go head-to-head with some of the ocean's top apex predators including the blacktip reef shark. With famed ring announcer Michael Buffer calling the shots, these two heavyweights will square off underwater, where Mike Tyson will try to score a TKO over the massive shark… all in the name of research. And don’t worry, no sharks were harmed (or bitten) in the making of this episode.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Watch me, the Baddest Man on the Planet, show the sharks that I also reign as the Baddest Man of the Sea,” says Tyson.

Airs: Sunday, Aug. 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “In the waters off New Zealand, the largest female great whites are measuring over 20-feet long, earning the nickname ‘the 747s.’ With no human interaction during COVID-19, researchers built a self-propelled cage to see how hunting patterns have changed.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “During COVID-19 lockdown, New Zealand shark researchers track a legendary megashark… and where it leads them, exceeds their wildest expectations,” says executive producer Kim Woodard.

Airs: Monday, Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “COVID-19 has changed the world’s behavior and that has presented shark researchers with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study the massive great whites at Australia’s Neptune Islands. With no human interaction for the first time in decades, some of the biggest great white sharks on earth are returning to their natural behaviors…allowing scientists to study them up close and personal in ways that were nearly impossible before.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Due to COVID-19, our cameras get an unprecedented look at what great white sharks do when they have the ocean to themselves,” says executive producer Tim Kelly.

Airs: Monday, Aug. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “After surviving a shark encounter in Shaq Does Shark Week, Shaquille O’Neal is back… and now he’s on a mission to determine what shark has the perfect predatory attack.  But he can’t do it alone. Shaq is deploying YouTube stars Dude Perfect and Mark Rober to put various species to the test and uncover the most mind-blowing hunting techniques of this ultimate predator. ”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “'Boy does Shaq look small!’ — words I never thought I’d say until I saw him come face to face with a 30-foot whale shark!” says executive producer Will Packer.

Airs: Monday, Aug. 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Shark expert Chris Fallows joins Jeff Kurr and Dickie Chivell to search for the largest male great white shark in the world. Together, Chris, Jeff, and Dickie explore the waters of New Zealand trying to find a nearly 20-foot long, two-ton shark named Fred.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “The filming team got face-to-fin with what could be the largest male white shark in the world — a goliath they call Fred!” says executive producer Matthew Kelly.

Airs: Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Wildlife biologist and conservationist Forrest Galante dives into some of the most treacherous, shark-infested waters in the southern hemisphere all in an attempt to rediscover three unique sharks lost to science for as long as 100 years.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Extinct or Alive will take you on an epic adventure into previously un-dived waters, to tangle with deadly man-eaters, while using the latest technology to uncover three species of shark lost to science for decades,” says Galante.

Airs: Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Will Smith is diving headfirst into action, excitement, and shark-infested waters, as he confronts his fear of the open seas and the open jaws of nature’s fiercest predators.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: "It's rare to see Will Smith this vulnerable and genuinely scared,” says executive producer Lukas Kaiser. “The guy is actually terrified of sharks — and the process he puts himself through to swim with them is pretty damn powerful.”

Airs: Tuesday, Aug. 11 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “The Great White Serial Killer returns and it's on a killing spree that may push the California Sea Otter to extinction. Investigators deploy an otter dummy to get a closer look and witness one of the most spectacular attacks in Shark Week history.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Great White and Otter behavior captured for the first time ever, making new discoveries and leading to conservation and protection," sums up director Jimi Partington.

Airs: Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Scientists believe that monster sharks make their home under the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Fishermen claim that one of the sharks is a 18-foot-long, one-ton great hammerhead named Big Moe. If this is true, he will be the largest hammerhead on the planet.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: "A scientific team’s journey from massive great hammerheads to bridge night dives, genetic analysis, freediving, and underwater scooters — this show has it all!” says behavioral ecologist Dr. Tristan Guttridge.

Airs: Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Last year, Adam Devine and a team of marine biologists deployed a CATS camera tag on a massive tiger shark that yielded a surprising scientific discovery: a secret tiger shark lair. Scientists believe this may be the largest congregation of tiger sharks on the planet or in Adam's mind, the ultimate shark party! Adam Devine, Anders Holm, and Blake Anderson find out what makes this tiger shark party so epic. Are they mating? Are they pupping? Are they feeding? What makes this such a great shark party?”

Why you should watch in 20 words or less: “Me and the guys in shark-infested waters?” says Holm. “What could go wrong?”

Airs: Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Australia is in the midst of a rising wave of shark attacks, with great whites leading the way. And scientists have just discovered that Aussies are facing not one population of great whites, but two and researchers want to know who rules the waters.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “A mind-blowing duality of great white existence,” says shark expert Paul de Gelder. “Two populations, same species, same area, no cross mating.”

Airs: Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Shark Week celebrates 20 years of flying sharks with Jeff Kurr, Chris Fallows, Dickie Chivell, and many more as they revisit the most popular and iconic Air Jaws moments.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “The spectacle of a flying great white, Air Jaws, is the most terrifying and beautiful sight that exists in nature,” says executive producer/director Jeff Kurr.

Airs: Thursday, Aug. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Snoop Dogg takes a look at why Great White Sharks are taking up residence along America's shores. Will this be the ‘sharkiest’ summer in U.S. history? In this special, Snoop will break down the craziest shark encounters caught on tape, marvel at the wild and unpredictable reactions, and meet with the leading experts who are trying to unlock the secrets behind this great white shark invasion.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “This episode highlights some of the greatest shark sightings in this region and follows a team of scientists as they hope to find the legendary massive white sharks that call this region their home,” says marine biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell.

Airs: Thursday, Aug. 13 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Shark expert Riley Elliot and underwater cameraman Andy Casagrande are on an epic expedition to uncover the mysteries of the mako shark in one of the last places on earth where these apex predators rule the waters.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Mako Nation is fins-down the most action packed cinema science mako shark film in history... it’s literally liquid lightening!” says Casagrande.

Airs: Friday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Mysterious and bizarre alien sharks lurk far beneath the waves in remarkably deep waters where researchers are on a quest to make first contact. Pursuing the elusive frilled shark, sleeper shark, and cookie cutter shark bring even more unexpected encounters.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Paul Clerkin and I go on an expedition to some of the most remote places to find the rarest sharks on the planet," says underwater cinematographer Joe Romeiro.

Airs: Friday, Aug. 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: "A team of experts attempts to find out why a population of great whites off the coast of Western Australia is so much more aggressive than others. The team must brave the elements and venture into treacherous underwater caves to find out for themselves.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “This episode takes you Down Under to study great white sharks... without using bait!” says marine biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell. “This revolutionary approach not only was successful, but revealed some of the most unique predatory tactics of this incredible shark.”

Airs: Friday, Aug. 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “In the Caribbean, a deep-sea camera captured footage of a 14-foot tiger shark suffering an assault by a large, unseen beast. It could be an unknown species of megashark or even a cannibalistic tiger shark. Dr. Austin Gallagher wants to find out.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “This is the first time we've filmed on the bottom of the Tongue of the Ocean," says executive producer Michael Sorensen. "Subs were able to get us up close with deep-sea sharks." 

Airs: Friday, Aug. 14 at 11 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Two adventure seekers recount their horrifying shark attack experiences. Off the coast of Australia, a spearfishing expedition turns into a nightmare featuring a ferocious bull shark, and a great white attacks a paddle boarder on Ascension Island.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “The true stories of survival in unimaginable life and death circumstances must be seen to be believed!” says executive producer Rob Shaftel.

Airs: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “On the edge of the Bermuda Triangle lies Ghost Island, a place locals have abandoned after multiple shipwrecks and shark attacks. Dr. Craig O'Connell has been here before to study the potential shark hot spot, but his first trip ended abruptly when his boat nearly sank. Now Craig is back with a team of experts and they are determined to find why this island attracts so many sharks, even the great white.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “A new team of shark experts explores a haunted Caribbean island. After overcoming many unexplained vessel issues, this team reveals that this island may be home to the greatest number of shark species per unit area on the planet,” says O’Connell.

Airs: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “As the number of great white shark encounters on Cape Cod spikes, shark expert Dr. Greg Skomal breaks out cutting-edge technology to capture the white shark’s point of view — revealing exactly how and where they hunt in the summer to better protect the public.”'

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Dr. Greg Skomal and I tracked white sharks in Cape Cod gaining new insights into how these predators hunt in 3D for the first time and also which beaches are at the highest risk,” says underwater cinematographer Joe Romeiro.

Airs: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “Everything you always wanted to know about viral shark videos but were afraid to ask! Sharks Gone Wild 3 reviews everything from viral videos and the biggest news stories to the latest in cutting-edge shark science.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “For Shark finatics everywhere, this show has it all — sharks, science, and more!” says Discovery Channel  SVP/executive producer Howard Swartz.

Airs: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 11 p.m. ET/PT

Official description: “A California surfer, a Canadian thrill-seeker, an Alabama football coach, and a mother from North Carolina reveal how they each came face-to-face with the ocean's top predator and lived to tell their stories.”

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “They all seemed like ordinary days until these people came face-to-face with sharks,” says executive producer Rob Shaftel. “Honestly, I can't believe they lived to tell their stories.”

Airs: Sunday, Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT (2-hour special)

Official description: “On the edge of the Bermuda Triangle, five Naked and Afraid veterans — Matt Wright, Jeff Zausch, Serena and Amber Shine, and Alex Manard — attempt to survive on a remote strip of islands whose waters are so teeming with predators, locals call it ‘Shark Alley.’ With limited resources and punishing conditions on land, they’ll have no choice but to take to the waters and compete with hungry sharks for the same food."

Why you should watch, in 20 words or less: “Our only hope for food is in the water... but there are just so many sharks!” says Shine.