Expedition Files and Expedition Unknown Return This November With Back-to-Back Premieres

Discovery Channel is taking viewers on two globe-trotting adventures this fall.
The network has announced that new seasons of Expedition Unknown and Expedition Files will premiere back-to-back in November 2025, promising jaw-dropping discoveries, historical mysteries, and daring expeditions across the globe.

Premiere Dates & Schedule

• Expedition Unknown – Season 16 premieres Wednesday, November 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
• Expedition Files – Season 3 follows at 10 p.m. ET/PT, immediately after

Together, the two hit series form Discovery’s ultimate Wednesday night lineup — blending real-world exploration, cutting-edge investigation, and legendary storytelling.

Josh Gates Returns to the Great Pyramid

Season 16 of Expedition Unknown kicks off with an unforgettable journey to Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza.
Host Josh Gates returns for his most ambitious season yet, uncovering the truth behind one of history’s greatest engineering marvels.

“This season, I’m taking viewers on the kinds of adventures I dreamt about as a kid,” said Gates.

“I never imagined I’d actually get to seek out the real Spanish treasure that inspired The Goonies or crawl through pitch-black tunnels under the Great Pyramid of Giza. I’m even hunting for a gold rush fortune with Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel. These are the kinds of stories that remind us the world is still full of wonder.”

What to Expect in Expedition Unknown Season 16

According to Discovery, Gates will lead viewers through an extraordinary season of global adventures, high-stakes experiments, and groundbreaking discoveries.

“With exclusive access to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Gates unravels long-held conspiracy theories about how this marvel of engineering was truly built,” Discovery teased.
“Using first-of-its-kind 3D scans of a mysterious tunnel system, Gates executes a daring experiment to replicate the Pyramid’s construction, uncovering a labyrinth of secrets buried deep beneath the stone.”

Beyond Egypt, Gates’ travels this season include:

• Chasing a multimillion-dollar treasure from an infamous stagecoach heist with Gold Rush’s Parker Schnabel
• Scouring the Oregon coast on a real-life Goonies quest marking the film’s 40th anniversary
• Diving into the icy Baltic Sea in search of a lost Nazi submarine
• Braving crocodile-infested waters in Nicaragua to locate Cornelius Vanderbilt’s lost steamship

Expedition Files Season 3: New Theories, New Mysteries

Immediately following Expedition Unknown, Expedition Files returns for a gripping third season — diving into the mysteries that continue to shape history.

The season premiere reexamines the disappearance of Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa, introducing explosive new evidence that could rewrite what we thought we knew.

“Gates reveals fresh evidence and striking new revelations that could rewrite history as we know it,” the network said.
“He also reveals an extraordinary artifact that may finally end the age-old hunt for the Holy Grail and sets sail to unravel the disappearance of German inventor Rudolph Diesel, the man whose engines changed the world.”

Upcoming Episodes Tease Legendary Investigations

Future episodes of Expedition Files will tackle some of the most captivating mysteries in history, including:

• A chilling new theory behind the Salem Witch Trials
• High-tech analysis of the most famous Bigfoot footage ever captured
• A shocking twist in the death of Cleopatra
• The missing Amber Room of Russia, long hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World

An Unmissable Double Feature for Discovery Fans

With Expedition Unknown and Expedition Files airing back-to-back, Discovery is setting the stage for its most ambitious lineup of real-world exploration yet.
From ancient pyramids to modern legends, from lost treasures to long-forgotten truths — Josh Gates continues to remind us that adventure is alive and well.

Expedition Unknown – Season 16
📍 Premieres Wednesday, November 5 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Expedition Files – Season 3
📍 Premieres Wednesday, November 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Only on Discovery Channel