Tom Hanks has spent a significant part of his career acting and making projects about World War II. Be it his phenomenal performance in Saving Private Ryan or working as an executive producer for Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Masters of the Air, the Oscar-winning actor is once again dabbling with the global order-changing event, but this time more intimately than ever before.
The actor will be narrating a new documentary series called World War II with Tom Hanks. An extraordinary documentary series that promises to reexamine the defining conflict of the 20th century, it is a momentous occasion for the actor. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming docuseries!
When Will World War II with Tom Hanks Release?
Winston Churchill still from the documentary | Credits: HISTORY Channel
The series is positioned as the definitive television event of the year, perfectly timed to release on Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 25, 2026.
Following its high-profile American holiday debut, the documentary is scheduled for a staggered international rollout across 200 distinct global territories and will be translated into more than 40 languages.
It will premiere in the UK, Asia, and Africa on May 26. For other regions, check your local listings for an exact release date.
World War II with Tom Hanks: Episode Guide
Tom Hanks in the docuseries | Credits: HISTORY Channel
The ambitious docuseries is structured chronologically, with each episode addressing a critical turning point of the Second World War. The docuseries will premiere with three episodes, with new episodes rolling out weekly.
Here is the episode release schedule for World War II with Tom Hanks (via TV Insider):
Episode 1: The Beginning – May 25
Episode 2: Blitz – May 25
Episode 3: Barbarossa – May 25
Episode 4: Pearl Harbor – June 1
Episode 5: The War at Sea – June 1
Episode 6: Guadalcanal (TBA)
Episode 7: Darkness Falls (TBA)
Episode 8: Operation Torch (TBA)
Episode 9: Secrets and Lies (TBA)
Episode 10: Stalingrad (TBA)
Episode 11: Italy (TBA)
Episode 12: Battle for the Skies (TBA)
Episode 13: Overlord (TBA)
Episode 14: Long Road to Tokyo (TBA)
Episode 15: Home Front (TBA)
Episode 16: Resistance (TBA)
Episode 17: No Surrender (TBA)
Episode 18: Last Days of the Reich (TBA)
Episode 19: Endgame (TBA)
Episode 20: Fall Out (TBA)
The release dates of the subsequent episodes have not been announced yet, but they will keep rolling out every Monday through June and July.
What is World War II with Tom Hanks About?
World War II with Tom Hanks is an upcoming HISTORY Channel docuseries developed in collaboration with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Described as a landmark documentary, it will reexamine the war through the lens of a new century.
Unlike other documentaries that wrap up the chapter within a few hours, this one will be spread across 20 episodes, each an hour long. The docuseries will trace the full arc of the war, from the first hint of a conflict to its background, main events, and eventual conclusion and aftermath. Each episode will be dedicated to a new aspect of the war, shaped by Hanks’s narration and historians.
Hence, one-of-a-kind, it will weave together rare and restored historical footage, with personal letters, diary entries, interviews with veterans, and deep-dive military and historical analysis. The series is part of the HISTORY Honors 250 campaign, which is a year-long campaign celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The series is executive produced by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Jon Meacham, with production by Nutopia and A+E Factual Studios Group, in association with Playtone and Motion Entertainment (a WPP Media company) (via A+E News).
Where to Stream World War II with Tom Hanks?
A still from the docuseries | Credits: HISTORY Channel
The docuseries will premiere live on The HISTORY Channel with three back-to-back episodes at 8 PM ET/PT. For streaming, fans can stream it live or on demand through digital streaming platforms that carry the HISTORY Channel, such as Philo, DIRECTV, and Sling.
New episodes will also be available for streaming on the HISTORY Channel app and the official website, History.com, the next day.
United StatesThe HISTORY Channel EDT: 8:00 PMPDT: 8:00 PMCDT: 7:00 PMMDT: 8:00 PMAKDT: 8:00 PMHST: 8:00 PMUnited KingdomSky HISTORY 9:00 PMAsia The HISTORY Channel Asia 8:00 PMAfricaCAT on DStv 9:00 PM
For other territories, check out your local TV listings and HISTORY Channel for exact details.
When does World War II with Tom Hanks premiere?
The 20-part documentary series premieres in the United States on Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day).
What channel will the WWII docuseries air on?
In the United States, the series will air live on The HISTORY Channel.
How can I stream the docuseries without cable?
If you don’t have traditional cable, you can stream the episodes the next day via the HISTORY Channel App or History.com, or through subscription platforms like Philo, Sling TV, etc.
Is World War II with Tom Hanks releasing internationally?
Yes. Following its U.S. debut, the series will have a staggered global rollout across 200 territories and will be translated into more than 40 languages. The release details for all regions have not been revealed yet.
What makes this documentary different from other World War II series?
Rather than focusing solely on macro-political strategies and troop movements, World War II with Tom Hanks shifts the spotlight to the human element. It utilizes personal letters, diary entries, and rare, newly restored, and colorized archival footage to tell the deeply personal, ground-level stories of those who lived through the conflict.
What do you think about the upcoming docuseries? Let us know in the comments below.
World War II with Tom Hanks will premiere on The HISTORY Channel on May 25, 2026.
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