National Geographic’s ‘Sharkfest’ Returns: When and Where to Watch It Online for Free Without Cable
Year after year, summertime and shark programming go hand in hand, but with 2025 marking Jaws‘ 50th anniversary, the shark-centric content seems to be hitting an all-time high.
On June 15, all four movies in Steven Spielberg’s cult-favoritefranchise got their streaming debut exclusively on Peacock: Jaws, Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3 (1983) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987). Then, ahead of Discovery Channel premiering its 37th annual Shark Week on July 20, National Geographic is set to kick off its 13th annual SharkFest on Saturday, July 5.
Nat Geo’s television event has over 25 hours of new programming. This includes Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, a documentary diving into the film’s lasting impact, featuring rare archival footage plus interviews from Spielberg and other acclaimed Hollywood directors, top shark scientists and conservationists. Additionally, Sharkfest is home to an assortment of multi-part docuseries exploring shark behavior and the ongoing mystery surrounding these creatures.
Sharkfest 2025 kicks off on National Geographic channel on July 5, at 8 p.m. PT/ET, with Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory, followed by hours of new content airing over the coming days (see full schedule below). Cord-cutters can watch National Geographic on any live TV streaming service that carries the channel, including Philo, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV and Sling.
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Plus, select Sharkfest 2025 series and specials (also listed below) will begin streaming on Sunday, July 6, on both Disney+ and Hulu.
Since select streamers are offering free trials and limited-time discounts, viewers can watch the special programming at no cost; keep reading to learn more about each option.
At a Glance: How to Watch Sharkfest 2025 Online
Watch National Geographic for free with a seven-day trial to Philo, one of the most affordable cable alternatives. After the free trial, the Philo base plan is $28 per month.
Nat Geo is included in any of DirecTV’s signature packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate or Premier. Plus, DirecTV is offering a five-day free trial for its streaming service. Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $34.99 per month), at directv.com.
Watch National Geographic with a subscription to Fubo, which offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. After the trial, plans start at $64.99 for the first month and $84.99 monthly afterward.
Watch Nat Geo for free with a three-day trial to Hulu + Live TV, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, starting at $82.99 per month.
New subscribers to Sling’s Blue plan can stream National Geographic at a discount, as the live TV streaming service is currently half off for the first month ($50.99 $25.50).
New customers can also stream select Sharkfest 2025 programming (see list below) for free with a 30-day trial to the Hulu (with Ads). Following the trial period, packages start at $9.99 per month with ads or $18.99 per month without ads.
Finally, cord-cutters can watch select Sharkfest 2025 programming with a subscription to Disney+, starting at $9.99 monthly. Disney has a selection of bundles that include Disney+, Hulu, Max and/or ESPN+ from $10.99 monthly. Learn more about all of Disney’s streaming packages here.
