This year, National Geographic Channel redefined underwater exploration with its annual summer spectacle, SharkFest 2023. This multi-week television event offered viewers a captivating and comprehensive journey into the lives of the world’s most fascinating apex predators, pushing the boundaries of exploration and expanding our understanding of the ocean’s dominant species.
This year’s SharkFest will kick off on the Channel’s flagship station on July 2 and will continue throughout the month on Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney+, Hulu and ESPN2.
From the safety of our homes, SharkFest 2023 lets us to come face to face with the power and mystery of sharks in their natural environment. The programming slate was filled with groundbreaking discoveries, awe-inspiring footage, and a newfound appreciation for these magnificent creatures, which was achieved through a blend of traditional scientific investigation, advanced technology, and compelling storytelling.
Each episode presents an immersive experience that shed light on the rich diversity of shark species, their complex behaviors, hunting strategies, social structures, and survival techniques. The range of content will be vast, featuring everything from the Great Whites and Hammerheads of the Atlantic, to the less-known species lurking in the deep blue.
Some of the highlights of this year’s programming:
BULL SHARK BANDITS
National Geographic – Premieres July 2at 8/7c
ESPN2 – July 7 at 10/9c
Nat Geo WILD – July 24 at 10/9c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
Shark biologists Dr. Johan Gustafson and Dr. Mariel Familiar López investigate rising reports of bull sharks stealing from fishermen in Weipa, northern Australia. Could this methodical and radical shift in behavior provide new evidence of shark intelligence? To find out, the team deploys groundbreaking experiments and technology, including a new prototype diving cage.
SHARK EAT SHARK
National Geographic – Premieres July 2at 9/8c
Nat Geo WILD – July 26 at 10/9c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
Around the world, reports of shark-on-shark attacks are on the rise. Now, off South Africa’s dramatic southern coast, a new hotspot has emerged — a bay where white sharks hunt other sharks. In a groundbreaking investigation, Enrico Gennari and Lacey Williams lead a team of experts into the deep to capture conclusive evidence of SHARKS EATING SHARKS!
SAVED FROM A SHARK
National Geographic – Premieres July 2at 10/9c
Nat Geo WILD – July 27 at 8/7c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
The scientific community is divided as to whether dolphins or whales will deliberately save a person from a shark attack. But the people who have lived through these terrifying encounters don’t doubt what happened.
WHEN SHARKS ATTACK 360 (Six-Episode Series)
National Geographic – Premieres July 3 at 8/7c, with new episodes each night through July 11
Nat Geo WILD – July 30 at 6/5c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
An international team of experts hunts for clues as they investigate why sharks bite humans. They unravel the surprising threads that link these incidents. As the evidence mounts, they analyze data in a cutting-edge VFX shark lab to understand in forensic detail why sharks attack.
RETURN OF THE WHITE SHARK
National Geographic – Premieres July 3at 9/8c
Nat Geo WILD – July 25 at 8/7c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
Hundreds of great white sharks have recently appeared on the doorstep of one of America’s most popular tourist destinations, hunting in ways never documented before. To understand why the sharks are here and what this means for Cape Cod, a team of scientists are studying this new phenomenon to try to keep people safe. Are the sharks changing the natural ecosystem … or restoring it?
BULL SHARK VS. HAMMERHEAD
National Geographic – Premieres July 3at 10/9c
ESPN2 – July 7 at 9/8c
Nat Geo WILD – July 28 at 9/8c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
In Florida, a rare event between top ocean predators was captured on video: bull sharks attacking a great hammerhead. Dr. Heithaus and a team of shark experts launch an investigation pinning one against the other. They put experiments to the test to see what happens when these top predators come head-to-head.
SHARK BELOW ZERO
National Geographic – Premieres July 5at 9/8c
Nat Geo WILD – July 24 at 8/7c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
White sharks have been spotted across Canada as far north as the coast of Newfoundland. After the first suspected white shark attack in Canada for over 150 years, experts Greg Skomal, Heather Bowlby, Megan Winton and Warren Joyce investigate what drives white shark’s journey to the northernmost limit of their range.
SHARKANO: HAWAII
National Geographic – Premieres July 5at 10/9c
Nat Geo WILD – July 24 at 9/8c and 11/10c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
To find out why sharks are drawn to Hawaii’s volcanoes, biologists Dr. Mike Heithaus and Dr. Frances Farabaugh free dive with one of the most dangerous sharks: the tiger shark.
WHEN SHARKS ATTACK…AND WHY (Eight-Episode Series)
National Geographic – Premieres July 6 at 9/8c, with new episodes each night through July 12
Nat Geo WILD – July 26 at 8/7c and 9/8c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
From America’s coastlines to exotic beaches around the world, shark attacks are becoming more unpredictable. Many of these attacks occur suddenly, in large numbers and in unexpected locations — puzzling locals and scientists alike. Experts investigate these mysterious incidents to discover what is affecting some of nature’s most feared fish.
SHARKS VS. DOLPHINS: BAHAMAS BATTLEGROUND
National Geographic – Premieres July 10at 10/9c
Nat Geo WILD – July 28 at 8/7c
Disney+ and HULU – July 2
In the Bahamas, more than 30% of dolphins have shark-bite scars. With a never-before-seen non-toxic gel bite pad and life-sized dolphin decoy, Dr. Mike Heithaus and Dr. Valeria Paz collect bite impressions from three shark species that might be the predators. Bites from bull sharks, tiger sharks and great hammerheads — up to 14 feet long — are compared to scars photographed on dolphins.
The SharkFest 2023 experience extended beyond the screen as well. National Geographic Channel offered interactive digital content including 360-degree videos, augmented reality filters, and live Q&As with marine biologists. Moreover, educators and parents found a wealth of resources, lesson plans, and activities to help children learn about sharks and their vital role in maintaining the health of the ocean’s ecosystem.
National Geographic’s SHARKFEST hub, natgeo.com/sharkfest, will be updated throughout the summer to include enhanced content about sharks, including facts, photos and videos, quizzes and more, providing audiences with a better understanding of the ocean’s most misunderstood predator. For kids and their families, the National Geographic Kids YouTube channel will feature a Sharkfest playlist, in addition to shark-related content featured on the Kids website throughout the month of July.
Throughout SharkFest, the network amplified its commitment to conservation. The programming included several documentaries spotlighting the challenges sharks face, such as overfishing and climate change. These features took viewers on a sobering journey, exposing the bleak reality of human-induced threats and their impact on shark populations. By providing a platform for scientists and conservationists, SharkFest 2023 hoped to inspire audiences to become advocates for shark preservation and ocean conservation.
Just as sharks continue to inspire awe and curiosity, SharkFest 2023 sparked a global conversation about the significance of these predators, promoting a message of respect, understanding, and preservation. As the event concluded, viewers were left not only with unforgettable images and facts but also with a powerful impression of our shared responsibility to protect the ocean’s most incredible creatures.