SHARKFEST 2026 KICKS OFF WITH HAMMERHEAD SHARKS UP CLOSE WITH BERTIE GREGORY
National Geographic Wild’s annual event SharkFest returns for its fin-credible 14th year, combining jaw-dropping encounters with groundbreaking science and expert-led storytelling that reveal new insights into the behavior, power and conservation of one of the ocean’s most fascinating predators, on Sundays this July.
The shark-infested celebration kicks off on 5 July with Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory at 18:00 on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, Startimes 221). The special follows Emmy®– and BAFTA-winning cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory he dives into Mexico’s Pacific waters to discover how protected seas can deliver a spectacle of one of the ocean’s most visually iconic sharks, the unmistakable hammerhead.
The line up also includes Shark Attack Files, World’s Biggest Sharks, When Sharks Attack and Why, and World’s Biggest Mako, exploring whether a once thought to be endangered giant mako may be staging a remarkable comeback as well as other shark infested programming.
Programming includes:
Sunday 5 July at 18:00 – Hammerhead Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory
In Mexico’s Pacific waters, Bertie Gregory goes in search of one of the ocean’s most iconic predators: the hammerhead shark. Once abundant in these seas, hammerhead populations have plummeted, making sightings increasingly rare. Joining forces with leading shark scientists and local experts, Bertie investigates what’s driving the hammerhead decline, and how protected waters offer hope for the future. His journey culminates in a rare and unforgettable encounter that shines a light on the future of one of the world’s most famous sharks.
Sunday 5 July at 18:45 – Shark Attack Files
From Australia to Florida, researchers investigate a series of alarming shark encounters involving surfers and paddleboarders. With surfers accounting for a significant proportion of unprovoked shark bites worldwide, the programme examines why these incidents occur and what can be done to reduce risk.
Sunday 12 July at 18:00 – World’s Biggest Sharks
Scientists travel from the Florida Keys to the Bahamas and Hawaii in search of the world’s largest shark. Along the way, they explore the biological and environmental factors that allow some apex predators to grow to extraordinary sizes.
Sunday 19 July at 18:00 – World’s Biggest Mako
A team of scientists and a cinematographer search the waters north of New Zealand to find giant mako. With the help of a local fisherman who has worked this stretch of ocean for decades, they encounter a series of increasingly large mako sharks. While endangered elsewhere on the planet, this team discovers a population of mako that might be making a comeback.
Sunday 26 July at 18:00 – When Sharks Attack and Why: Compilations
When Sharks Attack and Why investigates some of the world’s most puzzling and dramatic shark encounters, exploring why attacks suddenly spike in certain locations and what may be driving the behaviour. Through eyewitness accounts, expert analysis, archive footage and marine science, the series revisits real-life shark incidents from coastlines around the world as investigators search for answers behind these rare but often frightening events
How to tune in to National Geographic Wild:
DSTV: Channel 182
StarTimes: 221 on DTH, 210 on DTT (250 on DTT in Uganda)
