Every Shark Tank Version in the World (2026 Atlas)

Last updated July 8, 2026. This is a living page, refreshed as the franchise adds new international versions.

As of 2026, the show you know as Shark Tank exists in roughly 50 official versions around the world, and every one of them descends from a single Japanese program. In Britain and Canada it is called Dragons' Den. In Germany it is Die Hoehle der Loewen, The Lion's Den. In the United States, Australia, India and Mexico it is Shark Tank. Same format, same premise, different names and different investors in the chairs.

The idea is always the same. Founders walk into a room, pitch a panel of wealthy investors, and try to trade a slice of equity for a check. What changes from country to country is the branding, the personalities, and the size of the deals. Here is the full atlas of where the format lives, who runs it, and how the pieces fit together.

What was the first version of the show?

The format began in Japan in 2001 as Manee no Tora, which translates to Money Tigers or Tigers of Money. It aired on Nippon TV, and the wealthy investors on the panel were called tigers rather than sharks or dragons. Aspiring entrepreneurs presented their ideas to the tigers, who could fund them in exchange for equity, and founders who failed to close a deal were often praised for their courage. The original ran into the mid-2000s before ending.

The format is created and owned by Nippon TV and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Television. That single Japanese show is the common ancestor of every Dragons' Den and every Shark Tank on air today, which is why the two feel identical the moment you watch them side by side.

Is Dragons' Den the same show as Shark Tank?

Yes. They are the same licensed format under two different names. The first version outside Japan was Britain's Dragons' Den, which launched on the BBC in 2005 and named its investors dragons. When Israel adapted the format in 2006, its producers called the show HaKrishim, meaning The Sharks, the first version anywhere to use the shark label. The United States borrowed that idea in 2009 and branded its version Shark Tank.

So the naming split is mostly historical. Countries that took the format early, like Britain, Canada and Ireland, tend to keep the Dragons' Den name. Countries that adapted it after the American launch, like Australia, India and Mexico, usually run under the Shark Tank banner. Germany went its own way entirely with The Lion's Den.

Which countries have their own Shark Tank?

Local versions have been produced in more than 40 countries, plus a pan-Arab edition, and in some markets more than one version has aired over the years. These are the most notable adaptations, with the network, the years, and a signature investor for each.

Japan. Manee no Tora (Money Tigers), Nippon TV, launched 2001 and ended in the mid-2000s. The original format, now off the air.

United Kingdom. Dragons' Den, BBC, 2005 to present. Peter Jones has appeared in every series since it began.

Canada. Dragons' Den, CBC, 2006 to present. Arlene Dickinson is the long-running face of the panel, and the early cast included Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec.

United States. Shark Tank, ABC, 2009 to present. Mark Cuban was the best-known shark from Season 3 through Season 16.

Germany. Die Hoehle der Loewen (The Lion's Den), VOX, 2014 to present. Investors have included Frank Thelen, Carsten Maschmeyer and Judith Williams.

Australia. Shark Tank, Network 10, first aired in 2015, ran through 2018, then returned for new seasons in 2023 and 2024. The original panel featured Janine Allis of Boost Juice and Naomi Simson of RedBalloon.

Mexico. Shark Tank Mexico, Sony Channel Latin America, 2016 to present. Banker Carlos Bremer was a signature investor across the early seasons.

India. Shark Tank India, Sony Entertainment Television, 2021 to present. Anupam Mittal of Shaadi.com has sat on every season, alongside Aman Gupta of boAt and Namita Thapar.

Ireland. Dragons' Den, RTE One, 2009 to 2017, ended after eight series.

Which version is worth watching?

For English-language viewers, the American Shark Tank has produced the largest breakout companies, while Britain's Dragons' Den offers the same format with a more reserved, less theatrical style. Shark Tank India has become a genuine cultural event since 2021, drawing huge audiences and turning its investors into household names. If you want the closest relative to the United States show, our own coverage of Shark Tank Australia tracks every Network 10 deal in the same detail we bring to the American seasons.

The through line across all of them is remarkable. A pitch format invented for late-night Japanese television in 2001 has become one of the most successful entertainment exports in the world, teaching millions of people how a business gets valued, one 10-minute pitch at a time.

Common questions

How many countries has the format aired in? Local versions have been made in more than 40 countries, and the owners counted roughly 50 official adaptations as of early 2024, when Bangladesh became the 50th.

Who owns the Shark Tank format? It is created and owned by Nippon TV of Japan and distributed internationally by Sony Pictures Television.

Which country used the name Sharks first? Israel, whose 2006 version HaKrishim (The Sharks) predated the American Shark Tank by three years.

Why are the investors called different things? It comes down to which name each country adopted. Dragons in the United Kingdom and Canada, sharks in the United States and Australia, and lions in Germany, all pitching the same format.