Expedition X Season 12 Drops Tonight! The Terrifying Caves of Nottingham Set to Shock the Team

After months of waiting, Expedition X is finally back.

Season 12 premieres tonight, August 19, 2026, on Discovery Channel, bringing Josh Gates, Phil Torres and Heather Amaro back for another round of investigations into some of the world's strangest mysteries.

But this season is starting somewhere particularly fascinating.

Nottingham, England.

The home of Robin Hood.

And beneath the historic city lies a network of underground caves with centuries of history, mystery and legend.

For the Expedition X team, the question is whether some of Nottingham's darkest stories may have left something behind.

Expedition X Season 12 Premieres Tonight

Discovery has confirmed that Expedition X Season 12 premieres on Wednesday, August 19, at 9 PM ET/PT.

The new season begins with a special two part investigation in Nottingham, where Phil Torres and Heather Amaro explore the darker side of the Robin Hood legend.

Josh Gates remains the host and executive producer of the series, while Torres and Amaro lead the field investigation.

The season premiere is not simply about Robin Hood himself.

The team is investigating whether centuries of violence and bloodshed in the region could be connected to reports of paranormal activity.

Why Nottingham Is the Perfect Location

Nottingham is famous around the world because of the legend of Robin Hood.

But beneath the familiar story of the outlaw and Sherwood Forest lies another side of the city.

Nottingham contains an extensive network of man made caves and underground spaces that have been used for different purposes throughout history.

These locations provide exactly the type of environment Expedition X specializes in.

Dark underground passages.

Medieval history.

Stories of violence.

Unexplained reports.

And centuries of legends.

The team will investigate several locations connected to Nottingham's darker history, including underground caves and medieval dungeons.

What Will Phil Torres and Heather Amaro Investigate?

The two investigators will examine reports involving mysterious figures, ghostly apparitions and unexplained phenomena.

Their investigation will take them beyond the caves.

The two part premiere also includes Newstead Abbey and the depths of Sherwood Forest, locations that are deeply connected to the history and folklore surrounding Nottingham.

The central question is particularly intriguing.

Are the strange reports simply the result of centuries of folklore and storytelling?

Or could some of the experiences reported by visitors have a more unusual explanation?

That is what the team hopes to investigate.

The Caves Could Be the Most Intriguing Part

The underground caves may be the biggest attraction for paranormal fans.

Nottingham's underground spaces provide a very different environment from the forests, abandoned buildings and historic sites that Expedition X has investigated in previous seasons.

The caves are dark, enclosed and deeply connected to the city's history.

For investigators, that creates an interesting challenge.

Sounds can behave differently underground.

Visibility is extremely limited.

Old structures can produce unusual noises.

And centuries of human activity can leave behind countless unexplained stories.

That means the team will have to separate genuine unexplained events from ordinary environmental effects.

Robin Hood Takes a Darker Turn

Most people know Robin Hood as the legendary outlaw who stole from the rich and helped the poor.

But historians have long debated how much of the traditional Robin Hood story is based on a real historical figure.

Expedition X is approaching the legend from a different direction.

Instead of simply asking whether Robin Hood existed, the team is exploring whether Nottingham's long history of violence and conflict could have contributed to reports of paranormal activity in the area.

That gives the Season 12 premiere a very different tone.

It is not simply a search for Robin Hood.

It is an investigation into the darker history surrounding one of Britain's most famous legends.

What Happens in Sherwood Forest?

The investigation eventually moves into Sherwood Forest.

The forest is one of the most recognizable locations associated with Robin Hood and has become inseparable from the legend.

But for Expedition X, the focus is on reports of mysterious activity rather than simply the historical story.

The team will investigate reports of strange figures and unexplained phenomena while attempting to determine whether there is a natural explanation for what people have experienced.

According to Discovery's season description, the investigation ultimately asks whether the legends surrounding Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest are rooted in history, folklore or something more sinister.

Season 12 Is Bigger Than Nottingham

The Nottingham investigation is only the beginning.

Later in Season 12, Expedition X will travel to Navajo Nation territory to investigate reports connected to the legendary Skinwalker.

The team will also travel to Guam, where they will investigate reports of aggressive paranormal activity around historic World War II battlefields.

There will also be a special investigation connected to America's 250th anniversary.

For that mission, Heather and Phil reunite with Jack Osbourne to investigate reports of Revolutionary War spirits around the Brandywine River.

So the Nottingham premiere is effectively the opening chapter of a much larger season.

Josh Gates Is Still at the Center

Although Phil Torres and Heather Amaro are leading the Nottingham field investigation, Josh Gates remains central to Expedition X.

Gates introduced the series as a paranormal focused spinoff of Expedition Unknown, and the show has developed its own identity over the years.

The current format allows Gates to remain connected to the investigation while Torres and Amaro handle much of the fieldwork.

That combination has become one of the defining features of the series.

Why Fans Are Excited About Season 12

Season 11 already delivered several memorable investigations, including Vulture City, the mysterious Klickitat ape cat and the legend of Blackbeard's ghost.

Now Season 12 is moving into another completely different environment.

Instead of focusing primarily on a cryptid, the premiere combines British history, folklore, underground caves and paranormal reports.

That combination could make Nottingham one of the most atmospheric investigations Expedition X has ever attempted.

When and Where Can You Watch?

The Season 12 premiere airs tonight, August 19, 2026, at 9 PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel.

New episodes are scheduled for Wednesdays.

According to current streaming information, episodes are also expected to become available through Discovery's streaming platforms after their television broadcast.

Final Thoughts

Expedition X Season 12 is arriving with a mystery that feels almost perfectly designed for the series.

A legendary outlaw.

A historic English city.

Ancient underground caves.

Medieval history.

Sherwood Forest.

And reports of unexplained activity.

Tonight, Phil Torres and Heather Amaro enter Nottingham to find out whether the city's darkest stories are simply legends passed down through generations or whether something stranger may still be hiding beneath the surface.

Whatever the team discovers, one thing is certain.

Expedition X is going underground again.

And this time, the mystery begins in the legendary home of Robin Hood.