National Geographic is heading to Iceland for a deeply personal look at memory, family, and a landscape undergoing profound change. Time and Water premieres July 31 at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic. In addition, the documentary begins streaming the next day on Disney+.
The film follows Icelandic poet and author Andri Snær Magnason. As the glaciers of his homeland continue to melt, he begins creating a time capsule to preserve this moment for future generations.
However, this is not simply a story about changing ice.
Preserving a Family’s Connection to Iceland
Magnason draws from his family archives, including photographs and films created by his grandparents. He also turns to traditional songs, Icelandic folktales, and memories connected to the land. As a result, his family’s history becomes intertwined with the larger story unfolding across Iceland.
The documentary explores what may be lost when a familiar landscape begins to disappear. At the same time, it asks how memories can carry that place forward.
When to Watch Time and Water
Time and Water premieres Friday, July 31, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic. The documentary will stream beginning Saturday, August 1, on Disney+.
With sweeping Icelandic scenery, generations of family memories, and a story built around preserving the present, Time and Water appears to be much more than a traditional nature documentary.
Instead, it is a reflection on home, the passage of time, and what we leave behind for those who come next.
