Smithsonian TV Guide — Sunday TV Listings & Schedule

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for Sunday, 20 September 2026. 24 programmes listed , including 6 tonight. US listings updated daily — scroll down to tonight's highlights or use the day tabs above to browse the weekly schedule.

Early Morning

00:00 1h

Yellowstone Supervolcano

Documentary Special

The stunning beauty of Yellowstone National Park conceals the fact that it lies above a supervolcano that could erupt with the force of 1,000 nuclear bombs.
01:00 1h

Volcanoes: Dual Destruction

Nature Special

The scientific evidence concerning the volcanic eruptions of Fuego, in Guatemala, and Kilauea, in Hawaii, are examined to see why they were hard to predict.
02:00 1h

Make It Out Alive

S1 · E3 · Oklahoma Tornado Documentary

Oklahoma Tornado

Two families and a scientist recount the spring day in 1999 when a mile-wide monster tornado tore through 38 miles of urban landscape in Oklahoma.
03:00 1h

Ten Steps to Disaster

S2 · E5 · Mount St. Helens Documentary

Mount St. Helens

A team of experts are revisiting the Mount St. Helens disaster only to uncover ten failures, including ignored warnings, bad safety zones and poor rescue plans.
04:00 1h

Disasters at Sea

S2 · E1 · Storm Watch True

Storm Watch

After sailing into the eye of a hurricane, SS El Faro Containership is investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board.
05:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S3 · E9 · Runaway Train True

Runaway Train

A calculation error leaves the crew of a freight train unaware of its true weight and leads them to underestimate the amount of braking force it needs.

Morning

06:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E3 · Explosive Touchdown True

Explosive Touchdown

Investigators search the wreckage of an MD-90, which suffered a sudden explosion upon landing in Hualien, Taiwan, to uncover the cause of the tragedy.
07:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E73 · Coasts Travel

Coasts

An aerial tour of coastlines in America showcases the history of the country's borders.
08:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E41 · Utah Travel

Utah

From the air, the Beehive State has an otherworldly beauty, with exotic geologic formations and the blinding white of the Bonneville Salt Flats.
09:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E60 · On the Water Travel

On the Water

In a certain area of the San Francisco Bay lie hundreds of ships that were sunken on purpose because they were left behind by immigrants who were moving inland.
10:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E63 · Natural Wonders Travel

Natural Wonders

A collection of aerial views of America's natural wonders includes the story of the original debates over how the Grand Canyon was formed.
11:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E4 · Connecticut Travel

Connecticut

A tour of the historic state by air shows towns with colonial-era churches and meeting houses built around village greens as well as a 17th-century university.

Daytime

12:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E5 · Tennessee Travel

Tennessee

An aerial tour of the width of the state reveals mountains and rivers, Civil War battlefields, and the cities where country music and the blues were born.
13:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E7 · Arkansas Travel

Arkansas

From the air, the green forests and the spectacular terrain of the Ozark Mountains and the wide Arkansas and Mississippi rivers are impressive sights.
14:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E17 · North Carolina Travel

North Carolina

The Tar Heel State has mountains, a picturesque coastline and the U.S.' first gold mine, and it is famed as the site of the Wright Brothers' first flight.
15:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E20 · New Mexico Travel

New Mexico

From the air, the Land of Enchantment displays the Rio Grande Rift, dormant volcanoes and adobe villages, and the birthplace of atomic weapons.
16:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E43 · Wyoming Travel

Wyoming

The striking landscapes of Wyoming have witnessed much history, from the expeditions of mountain men such as Jim Bridger to women's rights pioneers.
17:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E65 · Trailblazers Travel

Trailblazers

A helicopter team travels from coast-to-coast seeking out landmarks that celebrate over two centuries of leaders who had a hand in shaping America's history.

Evening

18:00 1h

Aerial America

S1 · E39 · Idaho Travel

Idaho

The millions of acres of untamed land and great ancient stones of the state of Idaho are explored, featuring a look at the state's unique visual treasures.
19:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S20 · E7 · Atlantic Ditching True

Atlantic Ditching

When a helicopter carrying workers offshore ditches into the ocean, an investigation reveals a flaw in the chopper's design.
20:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S1 · E4 · Flying Blind True

Flying Blind

A 1996 Aeroperu flight headed for Chile turned back just after takeoff when the pilots realized all the aircraft's instruments were giving false readings.
21:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S19 · E4 · Borderline Tactics True

Borderline Tactics

At the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo, investigators search for an invisible culprit after a cargo plane crashes just a few thousand feet from the Cuban border.
22:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S16 · E9 · Seconds From Touchdown True

Seconds From Touchdown

Facing a cascade of failures and an engine fire, a turboprop is just seconds from the tarmac in Montreal when it flips over and crashes to the ground.
23:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S12 · E6 · Grand Canyon Disaster Documentary

Grand Canyon Disaster

In 1956 two commercial airliners are found in pieces on the floor of the Grand Canyon; the experts' conclusions change every air voyage that follows.