Warner Bros. Discovery is treating July like a month-long summer blockbuster: one tent-pole event after another, with hardly a day on the calendar that isn’t launching either a brand-new series or the newest season of a fan favorite.
The strategy is clear—keep viewers bouncing between high-stakes survival, heart-pounding true crime, and feel-good travelogues, then funnel the whole audience to Discovery+ and Max for next-day streaming.
Below is a deeper look at the big swings the network is taking—and why they matter—followed by a day-by-day schedule you can bookmark now.
🦈 Shark Week 2025 (July 20 – 26)
Entering its 37th year, Shark Week is still Discovery’s undisputed MVP, and the 2025 edition is its most tech-forward yet. Every premiere is being filmed natively in 4K HDR, and select segments—such as the “Dancing with Sharks” opener—offer a 360-degree VR side stream for headset owners. Marine biologists are also piloting “fin-cam” tags that livestream a shark’s perspective in real time, giving researchers unprecedented data on hunting patterns. Viewers can expect nightly programming blocks built around marquee specials:
- Dancing with Sharks – professional free divers attempt a choreographed “ballet” with hammerheads and tigers.
- Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus – a multi-rig camera setup captures a rumored 20-foot great white breaching at night.
- Great White Assassins, Shark Storm, How to Survive a Shark Attack, and finale Battle of Shark Mountain round out 20 hours of never-before-seen footage.
Last year’s event drew 25 million multiplatform viewers; internal forecasts suggest 2025 will beat that thanks to the VR push and next-day availability on Max.
🔥 A Super-Sized Survival Sunday
- Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing – Season 3 (July 14, 8 p.m. ET/PT)
The all-star competition shifts to Australia’s Flinders Ranges, where 14 veterans must bushwhack through 50-mile checkpoints carrying nothing but a blade and their wits. The winner pockets $100,000—Discovery’s biggest single prize to date. - Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse – Series Premiere (July 27, 8 p.m. ET/PT)
In a franchise first, the location itself is post-apocalyptic: ghost towns, abandoned mines, and a scrapyard patrolled by predatory leopards in South Africa’s Northern Cape. There’s no extraction; contestants must find their own way back to civilization, all while rationing a 10-day water supply. The cast mixes legends like Steven Lee Hall Jr. with newcomers scouted from international editions, raising the difficulty ceiling—and the stakes.
💰 Gold Rush & Outdoor Adventure
- Gold Rush: Mine Rescue with Freddy & Juan – Season 5 (July 12)
With gold prices north of $2,000/oz., small miners are gambling bigger than ever. Dodge and Ibarra introduce a “sluice-scissor” mechanism—built entirely from scrap—to triple recovery rates for cash-strapped operations. - Two Guys Garage – Season 24 (July 15 on MotorTrend, same-day streaming on Discovery+)
Car culture purists will appreciate deeper dives into EV conversions, synthetic-fuel dyno tests, and an episode dedicated to retrofitting classic muscle cars with modern driver-assist tech.
🏠 True Crime & Lifestyle Corner
- Evil Lives Here – Season 18 (July 14, Investigation Discovery)
The premiere revisits a 1990s cold case finally solved by genetic genealogy, and the episode is framed around the killer’s own prison interview—Discovery’s first time airing the convict’s story in his own words. - Welcome to Plathville – Season 7 (July 22, TLC)
The Plaths split time between rural Georgia and a fixer-upper villa in Valencia, Spain, adding an overseas wrinkle that dovetails nicely with Eva Longoria’s new travel doc below. - Searching for Spain with Eva Longoria – Series Premiere (July 22, Discovery+/Max)
Following her acclaimed “Searching for Mexico,” Longoria hops across Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville, spotlighting everything from zero-waste olive oil producers to a Michelin-starred tapas bar built inside a 12th-century synagogue. The show doubles as the first joint production between CNN Original Series and Discovery Channel since the WBD merger.
Why Discovery’s July Matters
This is the most aggressive cross-network rollout since Warner Bros. and Discovery combined operations. By clustering tent-pole weeks (Shark Week), globe-trotting travelogues, and headline-grabbing survival competitions in a single 30-day window, executives hope to keep churn low during the notoriously quiet summer months—and convert casual cable viewers into year-round Discovery+ or Max subscribers.
Full July 2025 Discovery Schedule
| Date | Program | Channel / Platform | Time (ET/PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 12 (Sat) | Gold Rush: Mine Rescue with Freddy & Juan – Season 5 | Discovery | 8:00 p.m. |
| July 14 (Mon) | Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing – Season 3 | Discovery | 8:00 p.m. |
| July 14 (Mon) | Evil Lives Here – Season 18 | Investigation Discovery | 9:00 p.m. |
| July 15 (Tue) | Two Guys Garage – Season 24 | MotorTrend / Discovery+ | 9:00 p.m. |
| July 20 – 26 (Sun – Sat) | Shark Week 2025 (Nightly block) | Discovery / Max next-day | 8:00–11:00 p.m. |
| July 22 (Tue) | Searching for Spain with Eva Longoria – Series Premiere | Discovery+ / Max | 3:00 a.m. (streaming drop) |
| July 22 (Tue) | Welcome to Plathville – Season 7 | TLC | 10:00 p.m. |
| July 27 (Sun) | Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse – Series Premiere | Discovery | 8:00 p.m. |
Bookmark those dates, set your DVR, or queue them up on Discovery+ and Max—July is about to be wall-to-wall adventure, adrenaline, and authentic storytelling.
Key Takeaways
- Shark Week 2025 premieres on July 20th with new marine science discoveries and thrilling underwater footage.
- Eva Longoria’s new culinary series “Searching For Spain” debuts on July 22nd, offering a fresh perspective on Spanish cuisine.
- Returning favorite “Welcome to Plathville” launches its seventh season on July 23rd with new family developments.
Major Originals and Exclusive Premieres on Discovery+ in July 2025
Discovery+ is bringing an impressive lineup of new content this July with exclusive originals and fan-favorite returns. The streaming service continues to expand its collection of nature documentaries, reality shows, and collaborative projects that will keep viewers engaged throughout the summer.
Max Original Series and Documentaries
July 2025 will see the debut of “Ocean Depths Unexplored,” a groundbreaking Discovery+ Original series that takes viewers to never-before-seen ocean ecosystems. The five-part documentary features cutting-edge filming technology and renowned marine biologists.
“Culinary Journeys” returns for its third season on July 12, following award-winning chefs as they explore international cuisine across six continents. This Max Original has garnered critical acclaim for its stunning visuals and cultural insights.
Warner Bros. Discovery is also releasing “Tech Revolution: 2025,” a two-part documentary examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping society. The documentary includes interviews with leading tech innovators and ethicists.
“Wildlife Warriors” premieres July 18, continuing the tradition of excellence in nature programming that has earned Discovery multiple Emmy nominations.
Discovery and TLC New Season Premieres
“Property Brothers: Ultimate Renovation” kicks off its new season on July 5. The popular home renovation show will feature celebrity homes and more ambitious projects than ever before.
TLC’s hit series “90 Day Fiancé: Ever After?” returns on July 15 with six new couples navigating international relationships. The show remains one of the network’s top-performing programs for summer viewing.
“Gold Rush: Antarctica” debuts July 22, taking the treasure-hunting format to new extremes. The series follows four teams competing to find minerals in one of Earth’s harshest environments.
“Dr. Pimple Popper: Extreme Cases” returns for its eighth season on July 28, continuing to attract its dedicated fanbase with more challenging medical mysteries.
Highly Anticipated HBO and Max Collaborations
“The Pacific: Untold Stories” arrives on July 8, a follow-up to the acclaimed HBO World War II series. This documentary expansion features recently discovered footage and interviews with remaining veterans.
HBO’s award-winning team joins forces with Discovery’s nature experts for “Yellowstone: The Changing Season,” premiering July 20. The special examines how climate change is affecting America’s most famous national park.
“Behind the Lens” debuts July 25, a new series exploring the making of HBO’s most iconic shows. The first episode focuses on the technical achievements that brought “House of the Dragon” to life.
“Cooking with the Stars” combines HBO’s celebrity access with Discovery’s food programming expertise in a competition show featuring Golden Globe winners preparing meals with professional chefs. The six-episode series premieres July 30.
Returning Fan Favorites and Popular Series Highlights
Discovery+ brings back many beloved shows in July 2025 with new episodes, seasons, and special events. Fan favorites across reality, competition, and documentary genres return with fresh content while maintaining the qualities that made them popular.
Shark Week 2025: Special Programming and Events
Shark Week 2025 arrives with an expanded two-week format featuring unprecedented ocean predator content. The annual event kicks off July 14th with “Great White Assassins 3,” exploring new hunting behaviors discovered off Australia’s coast.
“Dancing with Sharks” returns with marine biologist Madison Stewart taking celebrities underwater for close encounters. This season features three A-list actors and a famous athlete swimming alongside tiger sharks in the Bahamas.
The critically acclaimed “Alien Sharks” series continues its 12th year, documenting rare deep-sea species recently discovered in the Indian Ocean. Scientists utilize advanced submersible technology to film these creatures in their natural habitats.
A practical survival special, “How to Survive a Shark Attack,” brings experts together to demonstrate the latest safety techniques and dispel common myths about shark behavior. The program includes interviews with actual attack survivors and their stories.
Reality TV Staples and New Episodes
“90 Day Fiancé” introduces its new spinoff “90 Day: International Affairs” focusing exclusively on couples navigating extreme cultural differences. Four new pairs and three returning favorites face unique challenges across different continents.
“Welcome to Plathville” enters season 7 with major developments for the Georgia family. The older children establish their independence while parents Kim and Barry adjust to their new relationship dynamic following significant life changes.
“Celebrity IOU” brings on five Hollywood A-listers helping deserving individuals with home renovations. The season premiere features a major film director surprising his childhood mentor with a complete home makeover.
“Naked and Afraid” launches its toughest challenge yet with “Naked and Afraid: Arctic Survival,” where contestants face sub-zero temperatures in Alaska. The extended 30-day challenge tests even the most experienced survivalists from previous seasons.
Competition and Cooking Shows
“Family Recipe Showdown” returns with its fourth season featuring multi-generational cooking teams competing to win $50,000. This season introduces a new “heritage challenge” where families must modernize century-old family recipes.
“Worst Cooks in America” welcomes a celebrity edition with eight famous faces with notorious kitchen disasters. Two renowned chefs lead competing teams through increasingly complex culinary challenges over eight episodes.
“Chopped” introduces international ingredients with its “Global Pantry” theme. Each episode focuses on a different world cuisine, challenging chefs to create cohesive dishes using unfamiliar components from various cultures.
Food Network favorites continue with new episodes of “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” where Guy Fieri explores hidden culinary gems in small Midwestern towns. The season also features a special crossover episode with “House Hunters” where contestants must cook in their potential new homes.
Must-Watch Movies and Special Film Additions
Discovery’s July 2025 lineup brings an impressive selection of films spanning blockbusters, thought-provoking documentaries, and beloved classics that will satisfy viewers of all tastes.
Blockbuster Arrivals and Genre Standouts
The platform welcomes several major theatrical hits this month. Horror fans can look forward to both modern and classic frights with “Get Out” and the chilling “Annabelle” joining the catalog. These psychological thrillers offer perfect summer scares for those seeking air-conditioned frights.
Action enthusiasts will be thrilled by the addition of “Mortal Kombat,” bringing its signature fight sequences and fantasy elements to Discovery. For those who prefer underwater terror, “The Meg” delivers with its massive prehistoric shark and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
A24’s acclaimed “Death of a Unicorn” also makes its streaming debut this month. This darkly comic fantasy starring several award-winning actors received strong critical praise during its theatrical run.
The highly anticipated anime-action hybrid “Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League” brings the caped crusader to feudal Japan in a stylized adventure that blends Western and Eastern storytelling traditions.
Acclaimed Documentaries and Indie Features
Discovery strengthens its documentary offerings with “Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me,” the fascinating chronicle of the influential 1970s rock band whose impact far exceeded their commercial success. Music lovers will appreciate this must-see film from Sundance.
A24’s contemplative drama “Opus” also arrives, showcasing the studio’s commitment to boundary-pushing storytelling. The film follows a classical musician’s psychological journey through fame and artistic crisis.
“Film Geek” offers a charming indie comedy about a socially awkward movie store employee whose encyclopedic knowledge of cinema both hinders and ultimately transforms his life. It’s a heartfelt tribute to cinephiles everywhere.
“Carol,” the critically acclaimed period romance, brings its exquisite cinematography and nuanced performances to the platform. The film’s sensitive portrayal of a forbidden relationship in 1950s America remains as powerful as ever.
Classic Cinema and Cult Favorites
Vintage film noir fans will appreciate the additions of “Jewel Robbery” and “Two O’Clock Courage,” both showcasing the genre’s trademark shadows, suspense, and snappy dialogue. These classics demonstrate why noir remains an influential filmmaking style.
Comedy classics join the library with “The Big Lebowski” and “Napoleon Dynamite” bringing their quotable lines and eccentric characters. The 1980s teen comedy “Better Off Dead” also arrives, featuring John Cusack in one of his early iconic roles.
Epic westerns make a strong showing with Kevin Costner’s “Dances With Wolves” and the frontier adventure “Canyon River” offering contrasting views of the American West. “The Thin Man Goes Home” delivers sophisticated mystery with humor.
Cult action enthusiasts will appreciate the addition of the original “Red Dawn,” while horror fans can revisit the controversial “The Last House on the Left” and the supernatural terror of “The Amityville Horror” in their unedited forms.
Live Sports, Special Events, and Notable Guest Appearances
July 2025 brings an exciting lineup of live programming to Discovery+ featuring wrestling events, celebrity collaborations, and musical performances that subscribers won’t want to miss.
All Elite Wrestling and AEW Special Programming
AEW continues its strong partnership with Discovery+ in July 2025 with several must-watch events. AEW Dynamite will feature special themed episodes every Wednesday night, including the highly anticipated “Beach Break” special on July 16.
A new documentary series “AEW: Behind the Curtain” premieres July 10, offering unprecedented backstage access. The series follows wrestlers through their daily routines and match preparations.
The month’s biggest wrestling event is “AEW: Summer Slam” on July 26, broadcasting live from Madison Square Garden. This special event will include championship matches and the long-awaited return of several fan-favorite wrestlers.
Discovery+ subscribers also gain exclusive access to post-show content featuring interviews with wrestlers and behind-the-scenes footage not available on regular broadcasts.
Spotlighting Celebrity Collaborations and Guest Stars
July’s programming features an impressive lineup of celebrity guest appearances across multiple shows. Eva Longoria hosts a new travel series “Global Kitchen” premiering July 5, exploring international cuisines with local chefs.
Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega join forces on “Unexplained Phenomena” (July 12), investigating mysterious occurrences across America. The odd-couple pairing brings both humor and genuine curiosity to the paranormal investigation format.
Rising stars Ayo Edebiri and Cazzie David launch their new talk show “Unfiltered” on July 15, featuring:
- Celebrity interviews
- Pop culture commentary
- Social media trend analysis
- Live audience interaction segments
Award-winning actor John Malkovich narrates “Ancient Civilizations Uncovered,” a new documentary series developed by filmmaker Ryan Coogler and historian Alex Scharfman premiering July 21.
Events Featuring Music Legends and Pop Culture Influencers
Music takes center stage with several special events in July. The documentary “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” premieres July 8, providing an intimate look at the legendary musician’s career and personal life through rare interviews and performance footage.
“Piano Man: Live at Madison Square Garden” follows on July 9, presenting Billy Joel’s complete anniversary concert with special guest performers and behind-the-scenes moments.
Discovery+ presents “Influencer Island” starting July 19, a reality competition where social media stars face challenges requiring actual survival skills. The series aims to test whether online popularity translates to real-world capabilities.
Sports fans can enjoy live coverage of the 2025 National French Road Championships for cycling enthusiasts, with elite women’s races streaming throughout early July.
Frequently Asked Questions
Discovery Channel has an exciting lineup for July 2025, including the highly anticipated Shark Week and several new series premieres. Viewers can look forward to unique programming, documentaries, and returning favorites across multiple platforms.
Which new series are premiering on Discovery Channel in July 2025?
Discovery Channel is launching several new series in July 2025. One notable premiere is “Dancing With Sharks,” hosted by Emmy Award-winning television personality Tom Bergeron. This special features an underwater dance competition between expert divers and sharks.
“Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+” will premiere on Disney Junior on July 21, 2025. Additionally, Netflix will release “The Hunting Wives” on the same day, though this is not a Discovery production.
Several technology and environmental exploration shows are also set to debut as part of Discovery’s expanded 2025 programming slate.
Are there any new episodes of ‘Naked and Afraid’ scheduled for release in July 2025?
While the exact schedule for “Naked and Afraid” has not been confirmed in the search results, Discovery typically releases new episodes of this popular survival series during summer months. The show remains one of Discovery’s flagship programs in their 2025 lineup.
Viewers should check the official Discovery programming schedule closer to July for confirmed dates of “Naked and Afraid” episodes.
What is the lineup for ‘Naked and Afraid XL’ in July 2025?
The specific cast and challenges for “Naked and Afraid XL” in July 2025 have not been announced in the available search results. This extended survival challenge typically features returning contestants from previous seasons of the original show.
Details about locations, survival durations, and participant information will likely be released by Discovery closer to the air date.
How can viewers access the latest season of ‘Naked and Afraid’ upon its release?
Viewers can watch the latest season of “Naked and Afraid” through multiple platforms. The episodes will air on the Discovery Channel according to their broadcast schedule.
For streaming options, Discovery+ will be the primary platform for accessing new episodes. Subscribers can watch episodes on-demand shortly after they air on the traditional channel.
The Discovery website and mobile app will also provide access to new episodes for those with valid cable or streaming credentials.
Will there be any special documentaries airing on Discovery Channel in July 2025?
July 2025 will feature special documentaries as part of Shark Week, which begins on July 20th. This annual event attracted more than 25 million viewers in the previous year.
The documentaries will include “ripped-from-the-headlines stories of chilling shark encounters” and scientific explorations. Shark Week remains Discovery’s signature documentary event, bringing viewers face-to-face with the ocean’s apex predators.
Are the release dates for new Discovery Channel series and episodes in July 2025 available?
Some key release dates for July 2025 have been announced. Shark Week officially kicks off on July 20, 2025.
“The Hunting Wives” will premiere on Netflix on July 21, 2025, at 3/2 AM. On the same day, “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+” will debut on Disney Junior at 9/8 AM, according to the complete list of TV premieres.
The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will air on ABC on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 8:30/7:30 PM, though this is not a Discovery Channel program.
