Naked & Afraid Introduces a New Spinoff on Discovery’s Latest Lineup

EXCLUSIVE: The Discovery Channel has unveiled its plans for 2026, which include a new spinoff of the popular series Naked and Afraid.

The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network has approved several new shows, including an investigation into the infamous Alcatraz prison escape and a series featuring TikTok star Michael McWhorter.

The highlight of the announcement is Naked and Afraid: Global Showdown (working title), the eighth spinoff of the long-running franchise that debuted in 2013.

This new series will showcase survivalists from various countries, including Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and the United States, as they participate in a 40-day primitive bushcraft competition. Each contestant will be paired with a partner, with their survival skills, resilience, and teamwork put to the test as they compete for national pride and the largest cash prize in the franchise’s history.

Scheduled to premiere on May 17, the show is produced by Lionsgate Alternative Television and coincides with Season 19 of the original series currently airing on Discovery.

In addition to the flagship show, Discovery has introduced six other spinoffs, including Naked and Afraid XL, Naked and Afraid: Alone, Naked and Afraid: Solo, Naked and Afraid of Love, Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, and Naked and Afraid: Castaways.

Another significant series, Escape From Alcatraz (working title), will follow true-crime podcasters as they investigate the notorious 1962 prison escape. They aim to unearth new evidence suggesting that brothers John and Clarence Anglin may have survived the escape and lived in hiding, with fresh DNA evidence potentially exposing a long-standing government cover-up.

John and Clarence Anglin famously escaped from Alcatraz in 1962 using a makeshift raft and were never found, with the FBI closing their case in 1979. Rumors have persisted that the brothers could have made it to Brazil.

Produced by Leepson Bounds Entertainment, Kontent Farm, and Strong Island Films, this series is slated to premiere later this year.

Additionally, the channel will debut How To Catch A Dirtbag (working title), an investigative series hosted by McWhorter, also known as Tizzy Ent, who boasts nearly 8 million followers on TikTok. The show will explore individuals who believe they can evade consequences for their public misdeeds.

This series is also set to premiere later this year and is produced by Jupiter Entertainment.

Furthermore, a new storm-chasing series, In The Eye of The Storm: Chasers (working title), will follow certified weather spotters and storm chasers as they navigate America’s tornado alley, capturing the extreme power of nature while also helping to warn those in danger. Premiering on May 17, it is produced by Arrow Media.

These new shows will join titles like Conspiracies and Coverups, hosted by former CIA covert agent Andrew Bustamante, which is set to launch on April 1, as well as Jeff Dunham’s The Cars That Drove Us, debuting on March 31.

Joseph Boyle, Head of Content at Discovery Channel, stated, “Each of these new series reflects bold and original storytelling, anchored on larger-than-life characters and a deep sense of curiosity. Our goal is to deliver a broad slate of stories that transport viewers and feel authentically Discovery.”