ADVANCE May 2026

MAY’S BEST

ROAD TRIP IOWA

In season 3, Road Trip Iowa follows Highway 141, from western Iowa to the High Trestle Trail; explores surprising stops along the Avenue of the Saints; and travels Highway 60 to the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.” With Dutch traditions in Pella and Orange City, ziplining in Dubuque, dirt racing in Oskaloosa, and fossil hunting near Mason City, Iowa PBS is plotting a course to discover the best Iowa has to offer.

Season 3 of Road Trip Iowa premieres May 11 at 9 p.m.

LIFE ON EARTH: ATTENBOROUGH’S GREATEST ADVENTURE

In 1976 David Attenborough embarked on his most ambitious project ever—traveling to 40 countries to document over 600 species. No one had ever attempted a natural history series on this scale before, and his reputation was on the line. This is the story behind Life on Earth , TV’s first wildlife blockbuster.

Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure airs May 6 at 7 p.m.

SECRETS OF THE DEAD: CHINA’S BRONZE KINGDOM A mysterious ancient city lies hidden in the mountains of Sichuan—remnants of a kingdom consigned to oblivion for thousands of years, until the chance discovery of a jade artifact in the 1980s. More than 10,000 unusual items have been found at the site which experts believe may be as archaeologically important as the Terracotta Army of Xi’an. Could this be the capital of the ancient Shu kingdom? AMERICAN MASTERS: W.E.B. DU BOIS This new film charts W.E.B. Du Bois’s singular journey by exploring both his monumental achievements and his deeply personal struggles. From the loss of his infant son to his lifelong battles with systemic racism, Du Bois’s humanity shaped his activism, enabling him to transcend the social constraints of the early 20th century and elevate the lives of Black people worldwide. American Masters: W.E.B. Du Bois airs May 19 at 8 p.m.

Secrets of the Dead: China’s Bronze Kingdom airs May 27 at 9 p.m.

MAY 2026 | ADVANCE 3