Season 12 Premieres Tuesdays, January 6 - April 14, 2026, 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET.
Trace the turbulent and contradictory history of New Orleans through the family stories of two men.
Discover the family histories of two African-American politicians from different generations and opposite backgrounds.
Unearth missing links in the family histories of media legend Barbara Walters and educational superstar Geoffrey Canada.
Find out what actors Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have in common.
Through the histories of clergy of three different faiths, unearth a story about the spiritual foundations of this country.
Delve into the deep American roots and meet Jewish ancestors of Robert Downey, Jr. and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Learn from what part of Africa the ancestors of Samuel L. Jackson, Condoleezza Rice and Ruth Simmons come.
Catch a glimpse of three distinct yet oddly overlapping experiences of families leaving their homes and becoming American.
Hear the stories of free black ancestors of John Legend, Wanda Sykes, Margarett Cooper and Dr. Gates.
See how the American experience has been shaped by people who were in the New World long before the Mayflower.
Join Gates to uncover the paternal ancestry of Stephen King, Gloria Reuben and Courtney B. Vance.
Examine the ancestral origins of athletes Derek Jeter, Billie Jean King and Rebecca Lobo.
Learn how the lives of forebears of Ken Burns, Anderson Cooper and Anna Deavere Smith intersected.
Learn how the ancestors of Ben Affleck, Khandi Alexander and Ben Jealous fought for freedom.
Meet three chefs, Tom Colicchio, Ming Tsai and Aaron Sanchez, who cook the food of their ancestors.
Trace the roots of Nas, Angela Bassett and Valerie Jarrett into the heart of slavery.
Examine the Jewish heritage of Alan Dershowitz, Carole King and Tony Kushner.
Explore the British influence in the lives of Deepak Chopra, Sally Field and Sting.
Trace the histories of three quintessential voices: Tina Fey, David Sedaris and George Stephanopoulos.
See how DNA analysis challenges guests’ ideas about their family’s history and their own identities.
Discover the mysteries behind the family stories of Donna Brazile, Ty Burrell and Kara Walker.
Explore the shared Irish ancestry of three powerful social commentators of our times.
Learn how the ancestors of Maya Rudolph, Shonda Rhimes and Keenen Ivory Wayans struggled for freedom.
Uncover a history of tragedies and triumphs in the families of three of America’s funniest men.
Discover the risk-taking ancestors of Richard Branson, Maya Lin and Frank Gehry.
Uncover how military service binds the families of Patricia Arquette, Julianne Moore and John McCain.
Uncover family mysteries about two legends of hip hop through the use of DNA technology.
Discover the pioneering family histories of Neil Patrick Harris, Gloria Steinem and Sandra Cisneros.
Discover the preserved family traditions of Julianna Marguiles, Azar Nafisi and Lidia Bastianich.
Learn how tragic deaths have shaped the families of Hollywood legends Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow.
Comedic performers Amy Schumer, Aziz Ansari and Maya Rudolph learn their family histories.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Andy Samberg and George R. R. Martin answer some family mysteries.
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. brings Felicity Huffman and Michael K. Williams their family histories.
Journalists Christiane Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling learn their fascinating family histories.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the family history of Kal Penn, Sheryl Sandberg and Marisa Tomei.
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family history of S. Epatha Merkerson and Michael Strahan.
The family histories of politicians Tulsi Gabbard, Marco Rubio and Paul Ryan.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and the histories of comedians Seth Meyers, Tig Notaro and Sarah Silverman.
Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the stories of Laura Linney, Michael Moore and Chloë Sevigny.
Marina Abramović, Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Kehinde Wiley learn their family histories.
Actors Isabella Rossellini, Anjelica Huston and Mia Farrow learn about their famous forebears.
Explore the humble roots of comedic actors Melissa McCarthy and Eric Stonestreet.
Explore the family secrets of journalist Gayle King, director Jordan Peele and comedian Issa Rae.
Follow Sterling K. Brown, Sasheer Zamata and Jon Batiste as they learn about unknown ancestors.
Explore the immigrant roots of Nancy Pelosi, Norah O’Donnell and Zac Posen.
Learn more about the unexpected family trees of entertainer Queen Latifah and actor Jeffrey Wright.
Explore the Jewish heritages of actor Jeff Goldblum, radio host Terry Gross and comedian Marc Maron.
Discover the surprising family histories of actors Sigourney Weaver, Justina Machado and Amy Ryan.
Follow the families of pioneering scientists Francis Collins, Shirley Ann Jackson and Harold Varmus.
Trace the unexpected histories of Ava DuVernay, S. Epatha Merkeson and Questlove’s ancestors.
Discover the Italian roots of talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel, Marisa Tomei and John Turturro.
Uncover the outlaw roots of actor Laura Linney and journalists Lisa Ling and Soledad O’Brien.
Meet the fashionable ancestors of Diane Von Furstenberg, Narciso Rodriguez and RuPaul Charles.
Follow actor Tea Leoni and radio host Joe Madison as they discover previously unknown ancestors.
Learn about the military roots of Julianne Moore, Bill Hader and Kehinde Wiley.
Meet the globetrotting ancestors of Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o and Lidia Bastianich.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discovers the privileged lineages of Glenn Close and John Waters.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces Andy Cohen and Nina Totenberg to their survivor ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Irish roots of actor Jane Lynch and comedian Jim Gaffigan.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals the immigrant roots of actors Tony Shalhoub and Christopher Meloni.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Pharrell Williams and Kasi Lemmons discover their enslaved ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the backgrounds of country music icons Clint Black and Rosanne Cash.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestors of actor John Lithgow and journalist Maria Hinojosa.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. examines the family trees of journalists Gretchen Carlson and Don Lemon.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. investigates the family histories of Audra McDonald and Mandy Patinkin.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. provides comedians Lewis Black and Roy Wood, Jr. with their family trees.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniels solve family mysteries.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. retraces the ancestral journeys of David Chang and Raúl Esparza.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. welcomes Brittany Packnett Cunningham and Anita Hill, two guests who made profound sacrifices for social justice.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. works with Pamela Adlon and Kathryn Hahn, two guests with family trees obscured by scandals.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and guests Mario Lopez and Melissa Villaseñor look at their Mexican-American heritage.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. sits down with Terry Crews and Tony Danza.
Henry Louis, Jr. helps John Leguizamo and Lena Waithe retrace the paths of their ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. accompanies Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nathan Lane.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. guides Regina King and Damon Lindelof through their family trees.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. journeys with Erin Burnett, Amy Carlson and André Leon Talley.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Julia Roberts and Edward Norton discover their connections to history.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. takes Claire Danes and Jeff Daniels through scenes from America’s past.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps comedians Carol Burnett and Niecy Nash solve deep family mysteries.
Henry Louis Gates helps Cyndi Lauper, Jamie Chung and Danny Trejo uncover their families’ lost stories.
Henry Louis Gates traces the family trees of actors Brian Cox and Viola Davis.
Henry Louis Gates uses DNA to solve mysteries for actor Joe Manganiello and football star Tony Gonzalez.
Henry Louis Gates traces the roots of David Duchovny and Richard Kind to Jewish communities in Europe.
Henry Louis Gates reveals the unexpected roots of activist Angela Y. Davis and statesman Jeh Johnson.
Henry Louis Gates introduces trail-blazing journalists Jim Acosta and Van Jones to their ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates uncovers the lost roots of actors Billy Crudup and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of singers Alanis Morissette and Ciara.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets Valerie Bertinelli & Brendan Fraser who learn their roots.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. introduces LeVar Burton & Wes Studi to families they’ve never known.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. helps Sammy Hagar & Ed O’Neill discover deep family secrets.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the roots of comedians Bob Odenkirk & Iliza Shlesinger.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the roots of journalist Sunny Hostin and actor Jesse Williams.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shares ancestry with actor Danielle Brooks & singer Dionne Warwick.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the family trees of comedian Tracy Morgan and actor Anthony Ramos.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. uncovers the surprising roots of Michael Douglas and Lena Dunham.
After a nationwide search, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. solves deep mysteries for three everyday Americans.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. connects Lea Salonga & Amanda Seyfried to their dramatic ancestors.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the Italian roots of Joy Behar & Michael Imperioli.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals inspiring ancestors of novelist Amy Tan & poet Rita Dove.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the ancestry of actor Sharon Stone & model Chrissy Teigen.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the ancestry of notable chefs José Andrés & Sean Sherman.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. meets musician Rubén Blades & journalist Natalie Morales.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of married actors Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. traces the family trees of actors Debra Messing & Melanie Lynskey.
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. maps the roots of actor Sheryl Lee Ralph & historian Lonnie Bunch.
Family mysteries are solved for actor Laurence Fishburne & scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
