The icon. The legend. The Sponge. See the most iconic episodes from the world's most iconic Sponge. It's SpongeBob SquarePants' Best of the Bottom, starting Monday 13th July 2026 as part of SpongeBob Day, only on Nickelodeon UK & Ireland!
From Virgin Media's The Edit:
SpongeBob's birthday celebration
Celebrate SpongeBob's Birthday with Nickelodeon's top 50 episodes
It's SpongeBob's birthday! Tune in to Nickelodeon (CH 712) for a week of iconic SpongeBob SquarePants episodes plus a special Top 50 countdown
Grab your spatula, stock up on Krabby Patties and get those bubbles blowing, because Bikini Bottom's most beloved resident is getting ready to celebrate another birthday – and you're invited!
From Monday 13 July, Nickelodeon is throwing a week-long birthday celebration filled with laughs, nostalgia and plenty of nautical nonsense all week long.
Whether you've been watching since SpongeBob first arrived under the sea or you're introducing a new generation to his wonderfully wacky world, you can catch all the fun on Nickelodeon (CH 712) and join the birthday bash.
So gather the family, settle into your comfiest spot on the sofa and prepare for a week filled with jellyfishing, bubble-blowing and plenty of laughs.
When is SpongeBob's birthday?
Officially, SpongeBob SquarePants celebrates his birthday on 14 July, but Nickelodeon isn't waiting until the big day to drop anchor.
From Monday 13 July, the channel is diving headfirst into a week-long celebration dedicated to Bikini Bottom's most famous resident, serving up a supersized helping of classic episodes, fan favourites and plenty of nautical nonsense.
Leading the birthday celebrateing is the Top 50 SpongeBob SquarePants Countdown, a kelp-tivating celebration of the episodes that have made generations of fans laugh, quote and endlessly debate which adventure deserves the top spot. From Krusty Krab calamities and jellyfishing escapades to boating school blunders, the countdown is packed with the moments that turned a cheerful yellow sponge into a global TV icon.
It's all part of a sponge-tacular channel takeover that will see Nickelodeon transformed into Bikini Bottom HQ for a whole week. In other words, if you've ever wanted an excuse to shell-ebrate with SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward and the gang, this is it.
Celebrate with the top 50 most iconic episodes
Trying to narrow down SpongeBob's greatest adventures to just 50 episodes is no small fish. After all, we're talking about more than 25 years of laughs, memes, catchphrases and unforgettable moments.
The Top 50 SpongeBob SquarePants Countdown celebrates the episodes that helped define the series and turn SpongeBob and his friends into the iconic Bikini Bottom residents we all know and love.
Expect beloved classics such as Band Geeks, featuring Squidward's legendary halftime performance of Sweet Victory, Pizza Delivery, which turned a simple delivery run into one of SpongeBob and Squidward's greatest adventures, and Chocolate with Nuts, the fan-favourite episode that proved selling chocolate door-to-door can be harder than it looks.
You can also look forward to memorable episodes like Graveyard Shift, home of the infamous Hash-Slinging Slasher, Rock Bottom, where SpongeBob gets stranded in Bikini Bottom's strangest neighbourhood, and Krusty Krab Training Video, a brilliantly absurd parody of corporate training videos that remains a fan favourite to this day.
Whether you're revisiting old favourites or casting your net into Bikini Bottom for the first time, the countdown is a treasure chest of SpongeBob's finest moments.
And who knows? You might finally discover whether your favourite episode is the big kahuna or just a little fish in a big pond. With so many iconic adventures making the list, one thing's for shore: there'll be plenty to keep fans hooked.
How to watch SpongeBob's birthday celebration on Virgin TV
Nickelodeon's week-long SpongeBob birthday celebration starts on Monday 13 July, with the Top 50 SpongeBob SquarePants Countdown and a sea-load of classic episodes airing throughout the week on Nickelodeon (CH 712).
Missed an episode, or fancy watching your favourites more than once? The full birthday collection is available on demand via the Virgin TV Go app, so you can dip in and out whenever suits you.
Nickelodeon is included with the Virgin TV Kid’s Pick add-on and all of our Max Volt bundles. If you don't have it yet, this is a great week to make sure you're set up. Head over to your My Virgin Media account to find out more and upgrade your package.
As SpongeBob might put it: "I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!" So mark your calendars, grab the Krabby Patties and join the fun all week long on Nickelodeon.
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Originally published: July 01, 2026.
