Hallmark Christmas Experience 2026: Everything You Need to Know
Good news, Hallmark fans. The Hallmark Christmas Experience is back for its third year in Kansas City, and it is bigger than ever. Here is everything you need to know so you can start planning your trip.
When Does It Start?
The 2026 Hallmark Christmas Experience runs every weekend from Thanksgiving through Christmas, November 27 through December 20. Tickets go on pre-sale May 14 and the general public on-sale kicks off May 18 at 10am Central. You’ll want to act fast because early bird pricing only runs through June 15. Head to ExperienceHallmarkChristmas.com to get your tickets.
Where Is It?
The experience is held at Hallmark’s headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri at the Crown Center complex. The celebrity panels and workshops take place inside the Westin Crown Center. We recommend staying on-site at the Westin if you can swing it. Trust us on that one. We stayed there during the 2024 experience and it made such a difference.
Who Is Going to Be at the Hallmark Christmas Experience 2026?
This is the part you really came for. Here is the full star lineup by weekend:
Weekend One, November 27-29: Jonathan Bennett (Host), Andrew Walker, B.J. Britt, Brooke D’Orsay, Erin Cahill, Hunter King, Lacey Chabert, Melissa Peterman, Nikki DeLoach, Scott Michael Foster, Taylor Cole, and Tyler Hynes
Weekend Two, December 4-6: Jonathan Bennett (Host), Alison Sweeney, Brendan Penny, Emilie Ullerup, Heather Hemmens, Holland Roden, Kristoffer Polaha, Niall Matter, Nikki DeLoach, Rachel Boston, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Tyler Hynes, and Wes Brown
Weekend Three, December 11-13: Jonathan Bennett (Host), Benjamin Ayres, Ben Rosenbaum, Bethany Joy Lenz, Chris McNally, Erin Krakow, Jack Wagner, Jill Hennessy, Kavan Smith, Kevin McGarry, Lachlan Quarmby, Lori Loughlin, Pascale Hutton, and Viv Leacock
Weekend Four, December 18-20: Jonathan Bennett (Host), Ashley Williams, Autumn Reeser, Catherine Bell, Holly Robinson Peete, James Denton, Kimberley Sustad, Lyndsy Fonseca, Paul Campbell, Robert Buckley, Victor Webster, and Will Kemp
Lineups are subject to change.
What Ticket Packages Are Available?
There are three ticket packages this year. The two returning options are Be Merry and Find Magic. Both include more offerings in 2026 than in past years.
Brand new for year three is Make Memories, the most immersive package yet. If you want the full VIP experience, this one is for you. Make Memories includes:
- Access to all Stars on Stage shows and the Saturday Night Showcase with designated seating
- An exclusive Meet and Greet Breakfast with Hallmark Stars
- A dedicated on-site service desk
- Access to the Make Memories lounge
- An exclusive inside look at Hallmark, described as a rare and intimate opportunity to discover the stories, history, and creativity behind the brand
Ticket prices haven’t been announced yet, but if past years are any guide, packages will sell out fast once star lineups spread on social media. Don’t wait.
What Will I Do There?
Glad you asked. There is truly something for everyone. Returning favorites include Stars on Stage panels, Saturday Showcases, crafting workshops with Hallmark artists and writers, and Signature Dining Experiences. New this year are events that give fans a peek behind the scenes at upcoming Countdown to Christmas premieres including Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True and A Grand Biltmore Christmas, as well as fan-favorite series When Calls the Heart and Hope Valley: 1874.
And even if you are not purchasing a ticket package, Crown Center Square itself is open to the public. The giant Mayor’s Christmas Tree and surrounding buildings get lit up with nightly light shows, there are live musical performances, and a Christmas market with local and regional vendors. There is also a Hallmark Card sending station, festive food and drinks, and event-exclusive merchandise. When we attended in 2024, those nightly tree lighting shows were honestly one of our favorite surprises of the whole trip.
Bottom Line
The Hallmark Christmas Experience is one of those events that delivers exactly what it promises. It feels like stepping inside a Hallmark movie, and the fact that it keeps getting bigger and better year after year says everything. Pick your weekend based on which stars you most want to see, book your hotel at the Westin Crown Center, and grab your tickets the minute they go on sale May 14.
