If you’ve spent any time scrolling through cable channels or looking for something gritty to watch on a Wednesday night, you’ve probably run into the Landry family. They are the kings of the bayou, and honestly, their lives are a wild mix of high-stakes hunting and deep Cajun tradition. But with the way TV keeps shifting between cable and streaming, figuring out what channel is Swamp People on in 2026 can feel like trying to find a needle in a cypress swamp.
The short answer? It’s still a staple of The History Channel.
The 2026 Season Schedule
We are currently in the thick of Season 17. It kicked off on January 7, 2026, and it’s been a rollercoaster from the first episode. If you want to catch the action live, you need to tune into History on Wednesdays at 8/7c.
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This season is a bit different. Usually, the swampers are worried about heat and drought, but Season 17 has been dominated by massive flash floods coming down from the north. Watching Troy Landry and Pickle Wheat try to find submerged lines in "High and Dry" (the season premiere) was genuinely stressful. When the water rises like that, the gators move to places they shouldn't be, and the hunters have to basically relearn the terrain overnight.
What Channel is Swamp People on for Cord-Cutters?
If you’ve ditched traditional cable, you aren't out of luck. You’ve got a few solid options to keep up with the 30-day alligator season without a massive Comcast bill.
- Philo: This is often the cheapest way to get the History Channel live. It’s a skinny bundle, so it doesn't have sports, but it’s perfect if you just want your swamp fix.
- Hulu + Live TV: You get the live broadcast as it happens.
- Sling TV: You'll need the "Sling Blue" or "Sling Orange" package to get History.
- Frndly TV: Kinda the underdog of streaming services, but it carries History and is very budget-friendly.
For those who don't care about watching "live" and can wait a day, the History Channel app and website usually let you stream the new episodes the day after they air. Sometimes you need a provider login, but they often "unlock" older episodes for free viewing to get people hooked.
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Where to Watch the Spin-offs
The swamp universe is bigger than just the main show. Swamp People: Serpent Invasion has been a huge hit, following the crew as they head to the Florida Everglades to tackle the Burmese python problem. This show typically airs in a different time slot—often on Tuesdays or as a bridge between alligator seasons.
In 2026, the schedule has been a bit tighter. If you see Troy Landry on your screen and he’s holding a snake instead of a rifle, you’ve likely stumbled into a Serpent Invasion marathon. These episodes are also available on Hulu and Disney+ in certain regions due to the licensing deals History has in place.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Season 17
There’s been some drama behind the scenes that has fans more tuned in than usual. Troy Landry, the "King of the Swamp," has had a rough couple of years. Between a public battle with prostate cancer (which he’s been very open about) and some legal citations regarding alligator tags in 2024, people were worried he might not return for this season.
Seeing him back on the boat with Pickle Wheat has been a relief for the fanbase. Their dynamic is one of the best parts of the show. Pickle, who joined the cast a few seasons back, has really come into her own as a hunter. This season, they’ve been dealing with "drowned lines," which is a nightmare scenario where the water levels rise so fast that the gators—and the bait—are feet underwater, making them nearly impossible to catch.
Deep Dive into the Streaming Archives
If you’re looking to binge the old stuff—we’re talking way back to the early days with Junior and Willie Edwards—your best bet is Discovery+ or Hulu. While History is a separate network, they’ve shared a lot of their library with these platforms.
- Tubi: Surprisingly, you can often find older seasons here for free with ads.
- The Roku Channel: They have a dedicated "History" section that rotates episodes of Swamp People.
- Peacock: While not the primary home, they've been known to license seasons for short bursts.
Honestly, the landscape is a mess. One day a show is on one app, the next it's gone. But for the 2026 season, the "History" app remains the most reliable source for everything from the Atchafalaya Basin.
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Actionable Next Steps
If you want to make sure you don't miss an episode of the current season, do these three things:
- Set a Series Recording: If you have a DVR or a cloud-based streamer like YouTube TV, search for "Swamp People" and hit "Record All Episodes." This captures the new Wednesday night airings and the random weekend marathons.
- Check the History Channel Schedule: Use their official site once a week. They are notorious for shifting the start time by 3 or 4 minutes, and you don't want to miss the first catch because of a scheduling tweak.
- Download the App: Even if you don't have cable, the History app has "unlocked" content. It's the easiest way to see the "Most Harrowing Gator Hunts" specials they produce between seasons.
The 2026 season is proving to be one of the most difficult yet due to the weather. Whether you're watching on a big screen via cable or on your phone through Philo, just make sure you're ready for Wednesday nights. The bayou doesn't wait for anyone.