Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2026: Full Schedule, Premiere Dates and Movie Lineup
Updated: August 6, 2026: Hallmark has confirmed the Countdown to Christmas 2026 start date plus ten movies. We update this page every time new titles are announced, so bookmark it.
Countdown to Christmas 2026 officially kicks off Saturday, October 17, and Hallmark has already revealed ten movies from its 17th annual holiday event.
We’re tracking every single one:titles, premiere dates, casts, plots and where to watch. We’ll be updating this page the moment Hallmark announces anything new. The full schedule typically drops in mid-September, so check back often.
If you’re looking for the full Hallmark Channel Christmas schedule, upcoming premieres, or which stars are returning this season, you’re in the right place.
When Does Countdown to Christmas 2026 Start?
The first official announcement for the 2026 Countdown to Christmas season is the premiere of Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story premiering on Saturday, October 17, 2026
This is the 17th annual Countdown to Christmas, and it’s a little unusual for such a tentpole movie to be given the lead off spot. That being said, there are several movies that Hallmark is hoping will bring big numbers and they seem to be spread out throughout the season.
Last year for comparison: Countdown to Christmas 2025 started Friday, October 17 with the Hallmark Channel debut of Mistletoe Murders, with the first original movie premiering Saturday, October 18.
What about Friday, October 16? Hallmark hasn’t announced anything for that night, but based on how last season was structured, we’d bet on Mistletoe Murders season 3 opening the weekend. There’s also unconfirmed chatter that season 3 could run eight episodes instead of six. Neither a premiere date nor an episode count has been announced, so treat this as our educated guess rather than news. We’ll update the moment Hallmark confirms.
Free Printable Countdown to Christmas 2026 Schedule coming soon!
Where Can I Watch Countdown to Christmas 2026 Movies?
- Hallmark Channel (cable): all new premieres air here first
- Hallmark+ streaming: every premiere streams the next day
- Without cable: services like Frndly TV and YouTube TV carry Hallmark Channel
- Not on Peacock: Peacock’s Hallmark deal ended in 2024
Countdown to Christmas 2026 Movies with Confirmed Premiere Dates
All premieres air at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel and stream next day on Hallmark+ unless noted.
Saturday, October 17 – Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story
Stars: Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, Marsha Mason, Barbara Alyn Woods, Khary Payton
The third film in Hallmark’s NFL franchise heads to Chicago, and it’s opening the entire season. Fonseca and Buckley lead, with four-time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason and a One Tree Hill reunion courtesy of Buckley and Barbara Alyn Woods.
The Bears cameo list is stacked: Head Coach Ben Johnson, tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, legends Mike Singletary, Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Dan Hampton, Connie Payton and Staley Da Bear. Tamera Mowry-Housley and Marilu Henner also appear.
Filmed entirely in and around Chicago. Skydance Sports executive produces.
Saturday, November 28 – Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True
Stars: Lacey Chabert, Travis Van Winkle, Richard Kind, Christy Carlson Romano, Bryce Durfee, Taegen Burns, Asher Alexander, with a Patrick Renna cameo
The first-ever collaboration between Hallmark Media and Walt Disney World Resort, landing on Thanksgiving weekend. Lacey Chabert at the Most Magical Place on Earth is exactly the kind of event movie Hallmark builds a season around. Casting Christy Carlson Romano is a full-circle Disney moment for anyone who grew up on Kim Possible.
Saturday, December 5 – A Grand Biltmore Christmas
Stars: Holland Roden, Niall Matter, Jonathan Frakes
The sequel to 2023’s A Biltmore Christmas. Roden and Matter play acquaintances in the Gilded Age who become something more in the present day, in a new time-crossing romance set at Biltmore Estate. Jonathan Frakes reprises his role from the original. Andie McDowell joins the cast.
Roden is coming off Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.
Countdown to Christmas 2026 Movies Announced Without Dates
The Nights Before Christmas
Laci J. Mailey and Tyler Hynes
Marty gets stuck in a time loop and must win Chloe’s heart to break free.
Christmas Delivered
Autumn Reeser and Wes Brown
A stressed woman visiting her grandmother teams up with a local Christmas tree farmer trying to launch a tree delivery app.
My Christmas Cowboy
Amy Acker and Luke Macfarlane
Christmas in Blue Dog Valley
Erin Cahill and Andrew Walker, based on the novel by Annie England Noblin
Single at the Wedding (working title)
Jonathan Bennett, Italia Ricci and Graham Parkhurst
Two perennially single friends try to survive a last-minute Christmas wedding without getting matchmade by their families. Production wrapped in July.
Mistletoe and Mimosas (working title)
Tamera Mowry-Housley and Kristoffer Polaha
Claire inherits her uncle’s Christmas-themed bar, The Tipsy Reindeer, and faces off against a rival club owner in a 12 Days of Christmas-inspired competition.
Untitled Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams movie
Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams and Steve Lund
The pair reunite as co-stars and executive producers after the Barcelona movies, in a multi-state Christmas Eve road trip.
Ten down, and if last year is any guide, a lot more coming. Hallmark premiered 24 original movies during Countdown to Christmas 2025, and the full schedule typically arrives in mid-September.
What We’re Still Waiting For
Hallmark has confirmed ten Countdown to Christmas movies. For scale, the network premiered 24 original movies during Countdown to Christmas 2025.
Still to come:
- The full lineup announcement, which historically drops mid-September
- Premiere dates for the seven undated movies above
- The Countdown to Christmas 2026 preview trailer
- Reality and scripted series slate
- The Hallmark Channel Christmas Cruise lineup
- Whatever gets announced at D23 on August 16, where Hallmark and Disney have a panel scheduled
We’ll add each one here as it lands.
Countdown to Christmas 2026 FAQ
When does Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2026 start? Countdown to Christmas 2026 begins Saturday, October 17, 2026 with the premiere of Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
How many new Hallmark Christmas movies are there in 2026? Hallmark hasn’t announced the full count yet. Ten movies have been confirmed so far. For reference, Countdown to Christmas 2025 featured 24 original movies plus several new series.
What is the first Hallmark Christmas movie of 2026? Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, premiering Saturday, October 17.
When will Hallmark announce the full 2026 Christmas movie lineup? Hallmark typically releases the complete Countdown to Christmas schedule in mid-September. We’ll update this page the day it’s announced.
Is Lacey Chabert in a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2026? Yes. Lacey Chabert stars in Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, premiering Saturday, November 28. This is the first-ever collaboration between Hallmark Media and Walt Disney World Resort.
Is there a sequel to A Biltmore Christmas? Yes. A Grand Biltmore Christmas premieres Saturday, December 5, with Jonathan Frakes reprising his role from the 2023 original.
What channel is Countdown to Christmas on? All movies premiere on Hallmark Channel, with next-day streaming on Hallmark+.
What time do Hallmark Christmas movies air? Most premieres air at 8:00 pm ET/PT, with some special movies debuting at 6:00 pm ET/PT.
Can I watch Hallmark Christmas movies without cable? Yes! Frndly TV and YouTube TV both carry Hallmark Channel, and every movie streams next day on Hallmark+.
Are Countdown to Christmas movies on Peacock in 2026? No. Peacock’s streaming deal with Hallmark ended in 2024.
Will Girls Gone Hallmark review these movies? Yes! We review every Countdown to Christmas movie on the Girls Gone Hallmark podcast.
More Hallmark Talk? Join Our Girls Gone Hallmark Facebook Group
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