Discovery’s Shark Week took a big bite of out the Big Apple this week with a fabulous and fun launch party.
The kickoff on July 21 took place at Watermark at South Street Seaport and showcased themed cocktails, a mechanical shark ride, and a live shark week tattoo experience with professional artists on-site.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 21: A general view of the atmosphere is seen at Discovery’s Shark Week Launch Party on July 21, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Discovery Channel)
Joining the celebration were Shark Week personalities Paul de Gelder (Environmentalist, Navy Diver & Shark Attack Survivor), Rei Ami (K-Pop Shark Heroes” & KPop Demon Hunters), and Emily Morrison (Marine Biologist & Guinness World Record Holder for most shark tattoos, featured in My Strange Shark Addiction).
It was crazy fun, but also a great way for fans to understand that it’s more than just a culture phenom to be in the midst of the ever popular Shark Week.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 21: Paul de Gelder attends Discovery’s Shark Week Launch Party on July 21, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Discovery Channel)
“I can’t wait to show this like adventurous side of me that I’ve always had, and I also can’t wait to educate the public about all the misinformation that is about sharks,” Ami told The Knockturnal. “As human beings, without our oceans, we’re dead. So we have to make sure we protect every species. We have to protect our waters.”
Shark Week 2026 from July 26, through August 1.
