Celebrate Shark Week All Summer Long: Shark Encounters, Exhibits & Events in Southern California
Updated: July 2026
Shark Week and a full summer of shark activities in Southern California? Oh yeah!
Aquarium encounters, beachside pop-up tents, and a blockbuster museum exhibition celebrating one of the greatest ocean movies ever made — local families have a lot to dive into this summer!
Discover Sharks After Hours at Ocean Institute’s Sharks After Dark
Ocean Institute, Dana Point
July 10 & August 14, 2026 | 5:30–8:30 PM
The sharks and rays at Ocean Institute are more active at night, making this after-hours event one of the coolest ways to see them in action.
Take a deep dive into interactive exhibits and activities exploring local shark species and their environments, then cap the evening with a live shark feeding session.
Beer, wine, and specialty cocktails are available for adults, along with food from Taste Collective and live music. Tickets start at $14 for kids.
Dive into a Month of Shark Science at Birch Aquarium’s Shark Summer
Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla
July 1–August 2, 2026
Birch Aquarium goes all-in on sharks all summer long with a packed lineup of shark exploration stations, live shark feedings, themed dive presentations, and Sharks and Rays 101 talks — all included with general admission.
Kids can chat with researchers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, watch aquarists in action, and learn about local shark species found right off the San Diego coast. The aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Shark Summer, so there’s plenty of time to see it all.
Learn About Sharks All Week at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Shark Week
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro
July 12–18, 2026
✅ FREE!
Kids can explore shark facts, learn about their important role in the local ecosystem, and discover what makes these animals such unique animals.
No reservations needed — just show up. The aquarium is free to visit year-round with a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children.
Meet the Real Shark Experts at CSULB’s Sharks @ The Beach
Hall of Science (HSCI), Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach
July 25, 2026 | 10 AM–3 PM
✅ FREE!
CSULB’s renowned Shark Lab opens its doors for an afternoon of hands-on science and live animal encounters.
Families can tour the shark research facilities, interact with live marine animals, participate in shark-themed crafts, and get a Q&A session with Dr. Chris Lowe, the Shark Lab’s director and one of California’s leading shark researchers.
Learn about the latest shark science and technology from the graduate students doing the research firsthand. Admission is completely free and open to the public.
Spot a Shark Shack at Your Local SoCal Beach This Summer
Various Southern California Beach Locations
June 10–August 15, 2026
✅ FREE!
The CSULB Shark Lab is hitting the sand this summer, setting up Shark Shacks at beaches up and down the Southern California coast every week.
Keep an eye out for the tent near your local pier and stop by for free educational activities, shark safety info, and a chance to talk to real shark researchers.
Locations include Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Redondo, Seal Beach, Crystal Cove, San Onofre, and more. Check the schedule online for exact dates and locations near you.
Come Face-to-Fin with 11 Shark Species at SeaWorld San Diego’s Shark Encounter
SeaWorld, San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego just unveiled a completely reimagined Shark Encounter, and it’s one of the most immersive shark experiences in the country.
The exhibit takes you from a coastal beach scene through an underwater tunnel where sharks glide right overhead, featuring 11 species including sand tiger sharks, blacktip reef sharks, and the endangered Australian leopard shark.
Want to go deeper? The add-on Shark Up-Close Encounter ($49.99) puts you behind the scenes with an aquarist for a chance to actually feed the sharks.
Experience the Blockbuster Behind the Bite at the Academy Museum’s Jaws: The Exhibition
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles
Through July 26, 2026
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, this landmark exhibition at the Academy Museum is the largest ever mounted for the Oscar-winning film.
Explore original props, behind-the-scenes artifacts, immersive recreations, and interactive moments — including a Dolly Zoom experience where you can recreate the film’s iconic shot yourself.
The exhibition is included with general museum admission, and kids 17 and under get in free. Act fast — the exhibition closes July 26, 2026.
Voyage Through Jaws on a Kid-Friendly Interactive Gallery Tour
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles
Every Sunday in June & July
The Academy Museum offers a special Kids Voyage Through Jaws interactive tour designed specifically for younger visitors exploring the Jaws: The Exhibition galleries.
Led by experienced museum educators, the curated walkthrough makes the film’s production history and cinematic legacy accessible and exciting for kids.
It’s free with general museum admission, and children 17 and under are always free at the Academy Museum.
Feed Sharks & Walk Among the Rays at Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
Join an Aquarium educator and animal care staff for a private encounter at the touch pools of Shark Lagoon before the Aquarium opens to the public. The encounter includes stepping into and standing in a shallow pool of water with the sharks and rays swimming around.
Tune In: Discovery’s Shark Week 2026
Some of these local events and exhibits are happening in the spirit of the big week itself — Discovery’s Shark Week! This year’s lineup runs July 26–August 1, 2026, with 20 action-packed shows. Expect breaching great whites, deep-sea mysteries, record-breaking dives, and some unexpected celebrity shark fans.
Watch Live: Shark Webcams from Aquariums Across the Country
Can’t make it out this week? Bring the sharks to your living room. These live webcams from top aquariums around the country give families an up-close look at real sharks swimming in real time!
🦈 Aquarium of the Pacific — Shark Lagoon Webcam (Long Beach, CA)
Watch some of the largest sharks in the Aquarium’s collection glide through the big tank at Shark Lagoon. The exhibit is home to blacktip reef sharks, sand tiger sharks, zebra sharks, and reticulate whiptail rays.
🦈 Georgia Aquarium — Ocean Voyager Webcam (Atlanta, GA)
One of the largest single aquatic exhibits in the world, Ocean Voyager was purpose-built to house whale sharks — the biggest fish on the planet. The habitat features manta rays, goliath grouper, trevally jacks, stingrays, and several shark species.
🦈 Monterey Bay Aquarium — Shark Cam (Monterey, CA)
Sevengill sharks, leopard sharks, spiny dogfish, and the rare Pacific angel shark all inhabit the 90-foot hourglass-shaped Monterey Bay Habitats exhibit. Keep an eye out for big skates, bat rays, sturgeon, giant sea bass, and flatfish nestled into the sandy seafloor.
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
