So, you’re sitting there on a Friday night, snacks ready, remote in hand, and you flip to ABC only to find... something that is definitely not Kevin O’Leary calling someone a cockroach. It’s frustrating. We’ve all been there. For years, the ritual was simple: Friday night was for the Tank. But things have changed quite a bit recently, and if you're asking what time is shark tank on in 2026, the answer depends entirely on whether you're looking for the fresh pitches or the nostalgic reruns that keep us motivated while we fold laundry.
The New Wednesday Night Home
Let’s get the big news out of the way first. ABC made a pretty significant pivot with Season 17. While the show lived on Friday nights for what felt like an eternity, the current season has largely moved to Wednesdays at 10:02 PM EST.
Yeah, 10:02. That extra two minutes is a classic network television quirk, usually to let whatever lead-in show finish its dramatic climax before the Sharks start biting. If you’re on the West Coast, you’re looking at 10:02 PM PST as well, though check your local listings because sometimes sports or local news can bump things around.
Why the shift? Networks are constantly playing Tetris with their schedules to fight off streaming giants. By moving Shark Tank to Wednesdays, ABC is trying to capture that mid-week "I need business inspiration" energy. Honestly, it kind of works. There’s something about a Wednesday night that feels more "business" than a Friday night when most people just want to shut their brains off.
👉 See also: Questions From Black Card Revoked: The Culture Test That Might Just Get You Roasted
Where to Find the Sharks Today
If you are looking for an episode right now, here is the breakdown of the 2026 broadcast schedule.
- New Episodes (Season 17): These air on ABC, Wednesday nights at 10:02 PM EST. We’ve recently seen some wild guest Sharks like Chip and Joanna Gaines and even Michael Strahan stepping back into the tank.
- Next-Day Streaming: If staying up until 11:00 PM on a school night isn't your vibe, Hulu is your best friend. New episodes drop there the following morning, usually by 3:00 AM EST.
- The CNBC Marathon: This is where most people get confused about what time is shark tank on. CNBC still owns the syndication rights, and they play the show constantly. On any given Thursday or Friday, you can catch a 4-hour or 5-hour marathon starting around 7:00 PM EST. These are older episodes, but let's be real—watching a 2018 pitch and seeing if they’re still in business is half the fun.
Season 17 Highlights and Upcoming Episodes
This season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve moved past the "COVID-era" pitches and into some truly high-tech territory. If you’re tuning in this month, here’s what’s on the docket:
On January 21, 2026, there’s a highly anticipated episode (1711) featuring a "no-swipe" dating app pitch. Alexis Ohanian—the Reddit co-founder—is the guest Shark for that one. Then on January 28, Chip and Joanna Gaines return for Episode 1713. They usually go for the "home and lifestyle" stuff, but they’ve been known to surprise people with some tech investments lately.
✨ Don't miss: The Reality of Sex Movies From Africa: Censorship, Nollywood, and the Digital Underground
It’s worth noting that the panel feels different this year. Daniel Lubetzky (the Kind Bar billionaire) has officially moved into a more permanent role, and his "kind" approach is a hilarious foil to Kevin’s "Mr. Wonderful" persona.
Is Shark Tank Still on Fridays?
Strictly speaking, for new episodes? No.
But if you turn on your TV on a Friday night in 2026, you’re still very likely to find the show. CNBC basically uses the Tank to fill their entire weekend primetime block. If you’re looking for the comfort food of Robert Herjavec getting excited about a dog product, Friday at 8:00 PM on CNBC is still a safe bet.
🔗 Read more: Alfonso Cuarón: Why the Harry Potter 3 Director Changed the Wizarding World Forever
Just don't expect to see the brand-new gadgets or the updated "where are they now" segments on those Friday airings. For the fresh stuff, you’ve gotta make that Wednesday switch.
How to Watch if You Don't Have Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, you aren't out of luck. You’ve basically got three main paths:
- Hulu: The most reliable. You get the new episodes roughly 5 hours after they air on the East Coast.
- Live TV Streamers: FuboTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV all carry ABC. If you want to watch the deals happen in real-time and join the chaos on X (formerly Twitter) as it happens, this is the way.
- The ABC Website: Usually, they’ll let you stream the most recent episode for free about a week after it airs, though you’ll have to sit through some pretty repetitive ads for insurance or prescription meds.
Making the Most of the Tank
Knowing what time is shark tank on is only half the battle. If you're watching for business tips rather than just entertainment, keep an eye on the "multiples." In 2026, the Sharks are getting way more aggressive about customer acquisition costs (CAC).
If a founder walks in and doesn't know their "LTV to CAC" ratio, they get shredded. It’s a good reminder for anyone with a side hustle: the product matters, but the math is what closes the deal.
To stay ahead of the schedule, set a recurring calendar alert for Wednesdays at 10:00 PM. It beats scrolling through a confusing TV guide every week. If you miss a live broadcast, jump on Hulu Thursday morning before the spoilers hit your social feed. You can also follow the official Shark Tank accounts for "update" segments that don't always make the full broadcast cut—those are often where the real drama of "did the deal actually close?" happens.