When and where to watch in India, episode details and what to expect – Firstpost

Pole to Pole With Will Smith, National Geographic’s ambitious new global docuseries, is set to premiere in India this January, taking viewers on a journey across the planet’s most extreme environments alongside the Hollywood star.

When and Where to Watch

**Premiere date:** Friday, 16 January 2026

**Time:** 9.30 pm IST

**Channel:** National Geographic

**Episodes:** Seven-part docuseries, airing every Friday.

The series will air weekly on National Geographic Channel in India.

What Is Pole to Pole With Will Smith About?

Filmed over five years, Pole to Pole With
Will Smith follows the actor across all seven continents, from Antarctica’s icefields to the Amazon rainforest, the Himalayas, African deserts, Pacific islands and the Arctic Circle.

Inspired by his late mentor to explore life’s biggest questions, Smith undertakes a series of physically and mentally demanding challenges over 100 days. These include skiing to the South Pole, catching a giant anaconda, milking a venomous tarantula, climbing mountains and diving beneath Arctic ice, all while working alongside scientists, explorers and local experts.

The series blends cinematic storytelling with environmental science, focusing on world-first discoveries and human connections, from the Waorani community in the Amazon to the San people of the Kalahari.

Episode Guide

**Episode 1: ‘The South Pole’**  
_Premieres Friday, 16 January at 9.30 pm_  
Smith travels to the South Pole, facing temperatures below minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit as he skis across vast icefields and attempts a dangerous ice climb with polar athlete Richard Parks.

**Episode 2: ‘The Amazon: Deadly Creatures’**  
_Premieres Friday, 23 January at 9.30 pm_  
Despite a lifelong fear of spiders, Smith descends deep into Ecuador’s cave systems, where a giant tarantula’s venom could hold medical significance.


    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
      
      
      
      
    
      
      
      
      
      
      
        
      
      
      
    
      
      
      
      
    
      
      
    
      
        
          
          
          
          
            
          
               
          
          
               
        
      
    
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
    
    
      

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**Episode 3: ‘The Amazon: Dark Waters’**  
_Premieres Friday, 30 January at 9.30 pm_  
Smith joins scientists and the Waorani community in the search for the giant green anaconda, collecting a single scale that reveals vital data about the ecosystem.

Subsequent episodes explore remote regions across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and the Arctic.

What Will Smith Said About the Series

Reflecting on the experience, Smith said the journey pushed him beyond anything he had attempted before, adding that the beauty and resilience of people living in extreme environments left a lasting impact on him.

“This journey was unlike anything I’ve ever done – at times I feared I might not make it home! It’s an exploration not just of the planet’s edges, but of some of the most extraordinary people living there,” said Smith. “From the coldest ice to the deepest jungles, the beauty of our world inspired my every step with awe and hope.”

Why This Series Stands Out

With its scale, access and emphasis on scientific discovery, Pole to Pole With Will Smith is positioned as one of National Geographic’s most ambitious productions, combining exploration, environmental storytelling and personal reflection in equal measure.