PBS Digital Studios and PBS Nature Order 10-Episode Third Season of Atlas Obscura’s Webby Award-Winning Series Untold Earth

New York, NY – PBS Digital Studios and Nature have ordered a 10-episode third season of Untold Earth, the documentary series produced in collaboration with Atlas Obscura. The new season debuts in January 2027 on PBS Terra, PBS Digital Studios’ Science and Nature channel on YouTube.

The order follows a blockbuster season two that sharply expanded the series’ reach, with episodes averaging over 1.5 million views. Untold Earth also had its strongest awards year to date, winning both a Webby Award and a Webby People’s Voice Award in Video & Film, Series & Channels: Science & Education. The series was previously a finalist for the Jackson Wild Media Awards. The wins came during a banner year for its partners: PBS was named Webby Media Company of the Year, with seven Webby Awards and 10 People’s Voice Awards across its productions.

“At Atlas Obscura, we aim to shine a light on the most fascinating places in the world and lift the voices of the people who know them best,” said Doug Baldinger, Chief Strategy Officer at Atlas Obscura and Executive Producer of Untold Earth. “We’re beyond thrilled to continue making this show, which allows us to do exactly that, with our incredible partners at PBS Digital Studios and NATURE.” 

“Science and nature are so important to us at PBS,” said Maribel Lopez, Sr. Director and Head of PBS Digital Studios. “The kinds of stories that Untold Earth has been able to tell are not just powerful and important, but told beautifully and in such an engaging way. It’s been a joy to watch audiences respond to this series. I’m so excited to continue this journey with our partners at PBS NATURE and Atlas Obscura.”

“We’re always looking for new ways to connect people with the wonder of the natural world,” said Danielle Broza, Digital Lead, PBS NATURE, “And Untold Earth does that by taking viewers to extraordinary places and elevating the voices of the experts, communities, and storytellers who understand them best. We’re delighted to continue building this series with Atlas Obscura and PBS Digital Studios, two partners who share our belief that curiosity is a powerful gateway into caring about our world.”

Produced in partnership since 2023, Untold Earth unpacks the science and stories behind the planet’s strangest natural wonders — from the redwoods of Northern California and the hot springs of Yellowstone to the shifting dune lakes of Lençóis Maranhenses. Each episode reaches the people who know these places best, from research scientists to the communities living alongside them. Season three premieres January 2027 on PBS Terra, with episodes also available at pbs.org/nature and atlasobscura.com.

About Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura is the leading community-focused travel platform inspiring wonder and curiosity about the world’s most remarkable places. Through its award-winning content, unique experiences, and community-driven platform featuring more than 30,000 wondrous places, Atlas Obscura serves millions of passionate travelers seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path discoveries. The company publishes bestselling books including the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders,” and operates digital products that help people find amazing things to do no matter where they are in the world. For more information about Atlas Obscura, visit www.atlasobscura.com.

About PBS Digital Studios
PBS Digital Studios produces original, digital programming designed to engage, enlighten, and entertain online audiences. The PBS Digital Studios network has more than 39 million subscribers on YouTube, generating an average of 50 million views each month. Since 2012, it has launched over 140 original series and has accumulated over six billion lifetime views on YouTube. Series include the Webby Award-winning BE SMART and SOUND FIELD, as well as popular series such as WEATHERED, EONS, MONSTRUM and SPACE TIME. For more information on PBS Digital Studios, visit PBS.org. 

About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 36 million adults on linear primetime television, 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 56 million viewers on YouTube, and 10 million followers on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children ages 2 to 8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV—including a PBS KIDS channel—and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on X.

About NATURE
Since 1982, Nature has pioneered a television genre that is now widely emulated in the broadcast industry, bringing the natural world to millions of viewers. The series has won more than 800 honors from the television industry, the international wildlife film communities and environmental organizations, including 21 Emmys and three Peabodys. Nature is available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. Classic episodes are available on various FAST channel platforms and on PBS Passport. Nature is a production of The WNET Group.