Pole to Pole with Will Smith (2026) – The Ultimate Global Adventure Begins | Release Date, Episodes, Story & What You Need to Know

“From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step.” — Will Smith

National Geographic’s most ambitious expedition ever is finally here.

After five years of filming, 7 continents, and 100 days of grueling physical and emotional challenges, Pole to Pole with Will Smith is ready to take audiences on the ride of a lifetime.

Premiering January 14, 2026 on National Geographic and Disney+, this seven-part epic blends adventure, science, danger, and humanity in a way that only Nat Geo — and Will Smith — can deliver.

Before you dive in, here’s the ultimate guide with everything you must know.

Pole to Pole with Will Smith, the National Geographic docuseries premiering January 14, 2026, follows Will Smith across all seven continents — from Antarctica to the Arctic — on a 100-day expedition featuring anacondas, tarantulas, polar dives, and groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Here’s the full breakdown of episodes, story, cast, and production.

🌍 What Is Pole to Pole with Will Smith?

It’s not just a travel documentary.

It’s not just a celebrity adventure.

And it’s definitely not a typical Nat Geo expedition.

Pole to Pole with Will Smith is a cinematic deep dive into the extremes of our planet and the extremes of human resilience — starring a man willing to push himself farther than ever before.

This series follows Will from:

• ❄️ The icefields of Antarctica

• 🌳 The jungles of the Amazon

• 🏔 The Himalayas’ highest villages

• 🏜 The scorching Kalahari Desert

• 🌊 The sinking islands of the Pacific

• 🧊 The Arctic ice shelves

Alongside world-class scientists, explorers, environmental researchers, and Indigenous communities, Will uncovers how Earth’s harshest environments shape humanity — and what they reveal about our future.

🎒 Why Will Smith Took This Journey

Inspired by a mentor who challenged him to explore the deeper meaning of life, Will commits to a 100-day odyssey packed with impossible tasks:

• Skiing across Antarctica

• Catching a giant anaconda

• Milking a tarantula for venom

• Trekking Himalayan mountains

• Joining the San people on a desert hunt

• Diving beneath the Arctic ice

• Helping record a vanishing language

• Investigating world-changing scientific research

Some moments nearly broke him.

Some moments changed him.

And all of it pushes the audience closer to understanding the fragility — and strength — of our world.

🧭 Episode Guide — Every Location, Every Challenge

Here’s the full breakdown of the seven-episode adventure:

❄️ EPISODE 1 — The South Pole

Premieres January 14

Temperatures drop below –100°F.Winds cut like knives.

And Will must ski across a frozen desert with the help of polar athlete Richard Parks.

Inside one of Earth’s most isolated research stations, he witnesses scientists drilling deep into ancient ice — holding secrets that could reshape the future of climate science.

🕷 EPISODE 2 — The Amazon: Deadly Creatures

Premieres January 14

Will confronts one of his lifelong fears: spiders.

Alongside professor Bryan Fry, he descends into the “Womb of the Earth” — a cave system filled with venomous species. There, he helps extract tarantula venom that may one day save millions.

🐍 EPISODE 3 — The Amazon: Dark Waters

Premieres January 14

Guided by Waorani leader Penti Baihua, Will comes face-to-face with the planet’s largest snake: a 17-foot giant green anaconda.

One scale from the snake reveals the health of the entire ecosystem — a crucial piece of data for Indigenous communities and scientists.

🏔 EPISODE 4 — The Himalayas

Premieres January 28

On a spiritual journey through Bhutan, Will treks to one of the world’s happiest villages.

There, philosopher Dacher Keltner helps him confront personal struggles, purpose, and what happiness truly means.

🌊 EPISODE 5 — The Pacific Islands

Premieres February 4

Will joins linguists and marine ecologists on an island threatened by rising seas.A language spoken by only five people may disappear forever — unless Will helps preserve it.

This becomes one of the most emotional and personal chapters of his journey.

🏜 EPISODE 6 — The Kalahari Desert

Premieres February 11

To understand humanity’s earliest survival skills, Will joins the San people on a remote desert hunt.

No modern gear.

No shortcuts.Only instinct, endurance, and ancient knowledge.

🧊 EPISODE 7 — The North Pole

Premieres February 18

The final — and deadliest — mission.

A snowstorm, equipment failure, melting ice, and the pressure of obtaining world-first scientific samples push Will to his limits. Here, he learns what heroism truly means.

🎬 Who Produced Pole to Pole with Will Smith?

This project comes from an elite powerhouse of creative teams:

• Westbrook Studios (Will Smith)

• Nutopia (creators of One Strange Rock, Welcome to Earth)

• Protozoa Pictures (Darren Aronofsky)

• National Geographic

Executive Producers include: Will Smith, Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Terence Carter, Miguel Melendez, Jane Root, and more.

This is Will’s third Nat Geo adventure, following:

✔ One Strange Rock

✔ Welcome to Earth

But Pole to Pole is by far the biggest and most dangerous undertaking.

💬 Why This Series Matters

This isn’t just about seeing Will Smith panic at a tarantula or rappel into icy oceans.

It’s about:

• Climate changes reshaping entire continents

• Cultures at risk of disappearing

• Scientific breakthroughs happening in real time

• Indigenous knowledge that has protected ecosystems for generations

• The resilience of communities thriving in impossible environments

It’s entertainment with purpose — a reminder of what’s at stake on Earth.

🌡️ Why Pole to Pole Will Be One of 2026’s Biggest Releases

• ✦ Massive star power (Will Smith + Nat Geo = guaranteed attention)

• ✦ Visually breathtaking environments

• ✦ Real danger, real stakes — not scripted

• ✦ Infection of curiosity, heart, and human connection

• ✦ Perfect for fans of Welcome to Earth, Our Planet, One Strange Rock

This isn’t just a docuseries. It’s a global event.

📅 Pole to Pole with Will Smith — Release Details

• Release Date: January 14, 2026

• Streaming: National Geographic & Disney+

• Episodes: 7

• Genres: Adventure, Science, Exploration, Documentary

🎤 Conclusion — A Journey Only Will Smith Could Take

From freezing darkness to Amazonian danger to the spiritual light of the Himalayas, Pole to Pole with Will Smith is a rare kind of documentary: one that changes both the viewer AND the host.

Across seven continents, Will uncovers the Earth’s harshest truths — and its most hopeful ones.

He left home looking for answers.

He returns with a reminder:

The world is still full of wonder — and worth fighting for.