The short answer
Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 run from Friday, October 16 to Sunday, December 20 on Hallmark Channel, with 34 new original movies in the 17th annual Countdown to Christmas. New films premiere on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Central), and each one streams on Hallmark+ the next day.
- Still to come: 22 premieres between November 13 and December 20
- Thanksgiving weekend: seven new movies from Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29, including 6 p.m. double features
- Big one: Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, Saturday, November 28 at 8/7c
- Last premiere: Save the Date for Christmas, Sunday, December 20
- Without cable: Hallmark+ for next-day streaming, or Philo for the live channel
34
New Countdown to Christmas movies
22
Premieres left after November 10
8/7c
Usual premiere time
Dec 20
Final new movie
In this article
Hallmark Channel is the US cable network owned by Hallmark Media, the entertainment arm of the greeting-card company, and its Countdown to Christmas is the yearly run of new made-for-TV holiday movies that fans plan their weekends around. Hallmark+, the company’s streaming service and membership program, carries each new movie the day after it airs. So this page gives you the full 2026 premiere list, the times, and the cheapest legal ways to watch if you have cut the cord.
The dates below match Hallmark Channel’s 2026 preview page, which lists every premiere, and the full schedules TVLine and Fantasy Land News published from Hallmark’s announcement. In addition, Hallmark confirms the 34-movie count and the Disney World premiere date on its own corporate news page.
Hallmark Christmas Movies 2026: Full Countdown to Christmas Schedule
The Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 schedule has 34 premieres over ten weekends, and 22 of them are still ahead as of November 10. First, here is everything left to watch, in airing order, with the lead stars. Then, further down, you will find the 12 movies that have already aired, which you can catch up on through Hallmark+.
Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 still to come
| Date (2026) | Time (ET) | Movie | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Nov 13 | 8 p.m. | My Christmas Cowboy | Amy Acker, Luke Macfarlane, Sara Canning |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 8 p.m. | The Nights Before Christmas | Tyler Hynes, Laci J Mailey |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 8 p.m. | Mistletoe and Mimosas | Tamera Mowry-Housley, Kristoffer Polaha, Jennifer Robertson |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 8 p.m. | Our Holiday Playbook | Taylor Cole, Charles Michael Davis |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 8 p.m. | Christmas in Blue Dog Valley | Erin Cahill, Andrew Walker |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 8 p.m. | Double Booked for the Holidays | Rachael Leigh Cook, Owain Yeoman, Stephen Hagan |
| Thu, Nov 26 | 8 p.m. | Christmas Delivered | Autumn Reeser, Wes Brown |
| Fri, Nov 27 | 6 p.m. | The Christmas Eve Feast | Daniella Monet, Kevin McGarry |
| Fri, Nov 27 | 8 p.m. | Return to Santa | Paul Campbell, Rachel Boston |
| Sat, Nov 28 | 6 p.m. | The Most Wonderful Secret | Tammin Sursok, Peter Porte |
| Sat, Nov 28 | 8 p.m. | Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True | Lacey Chabert, Travis Van Winkle, Richard Kind, Christy Carlson Romano |
| Sun, Nov 29 | 6 p.m. | Eight Nights for Love | Hunter King, Dan Jeannotte |
| Sun, Nov 29 | 8 p.m. | Miles to Christmas | Ashley Williams, Steve Lund, Alison Sweeney |
| Fri, Dec 4 | 8 p.m. | The Snowflake Effect | Heather Hemmens, Mark Ghanimé |
| Sat, Dec 5 | 8 p.m. | A Grand Biltmore Christmas | Holland Roden, Niall Matter, Andie MacDowell, Jonathan Frakes |
| Sun, Dec 6 | 8 p.m. | An Angel in My Stocking | Fiona Gubelmann, Marco Grazzini, Nancy Robertson |
| Fri, Dec 11 | 8 p.m. | Christmas in Canterbury | Jessy Schram, Will Kemp |
| Sat, Dec 12 | 8 p.m. | Snow Globe Town | Kimberley Sustad, Scott Michael Foster |
| Sun, Dec 13 | 8 p.m. | Noelle Nomads | Torrey DeVitto, Benjamin Ayres |
| Fri, Dec 18 | 8 p.m. | Hearts All Aglow | Mishael Morgan, B.J. Britt, Holly Robinson Peete |
| Sat, Dec 19 | 8 p.m. | Barking All the Way | Ian Harding, Tori Anderson |
| Sun, Dec 20 | 8 p.m. | Save the Date for Christmas | Jonathan Bennett, Italia Ricci |
Pro tip. If you only have one free evening a weekend, Saturday is usually the safest bet, because Hallmark puts its franchise and tentpole movies there: the Bears sequel in October, the Disney World movie on November 28 and the Biltmore sequel on December 5.
Already aired: October 16 to November 8
These 12 movies have already premiered, so you can stream them on Hallmark+ or watch for encore airings on Hallmark Channel. Also, check the Hallmark Channel guide for encore airings before you pay for anything.
| Premiered | Movie | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 16 | ‘Tis the Season for Setups | Amanda Schull, Victor Webster, Barbara Niven |
| Sat, Oct 17 | Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story | Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, Marsha Mason |
| Sun, Oct 18 | Mr. & Mrs. Christmas | Brendan Penny, Pascale Hutton |
| Fri, Oct 23 | Winter Wonderlanes | Ashley Newbrough, Franco Lo Presti |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Forgotten Holiday | Janel Parrish, Daniel Lissing |
| Sun, Oct 25 | What If Christmas | Lori Loughlin, Tom Cavanagh |
| Fri, Oct 30 | Who’s Coming for Christmas? | Rhiannon Fish, Jake Foy, Mila Morgan |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Adopting St. Nick | Amy Groening, Michael Rady |
| Sun, Nov 1 | A Danish Christmas | Emilie Ullerup, Corey Sevier |
| Fri, Nov 6 | Merry Memories | Lindura, Brendan Morgan |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Holiday Unplugged | Nikki DeLoach, Juan Pablo Di Pace |
| Sun, Nov 8 | A Season of Promises | Brooke D’Orsay, Ali Liebert, James Denton |
When do Hallmark Christmas movies start and end in 2026?
Hallmark Christmas movies started on Friday, October 16, 2026, with ‘Tis the Season for Setups, and the last new movie, Save the Date for Christmas, premieres on Sunday, December 20. That gives the 17th Countdown to Christmas ten weekends of premieres.
Moreover, 34 movies is a big jump. Hallmark’s corporate site calls it “an all-new lineup of 34 original movie premieres every weekend,” while Fantasy Land News reports that this is ten more than in 2025. As a result, there is a new film almost every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night between mid-October and the week before Christmas.
After December 20, however, no new Countdown to Christmas premieres are scheduled. So if you fall behind, plan to catch up on Hallmark+ or through encore airings in your local guide.
What time do new Hallmark movies come on?
New Hallmark Christmas movies premiere at 8 p.m. Eastern, which Hallmark writes as “8/7c,” meaning 7 p.m. Central. The only exceptions in 2026 are the Thanksgiving-weekend early movies on November 27, 28 and 29, which start at 6 p.m. ET, two hours before the main premiere.
Meanwhile, if you live on the West Coast, check your local guide. Fantasy Land News lists premieres as 8 p.m. ET/PT, which suggests a separate Pacific feed, but satellite and streaming lineups can differ by provider.
| Time zone | Regular premiere | Thanksgiving early movie |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 8 p.m. | 6 p.m. |
| Central | 7 p.m. | 5 p.m. |
| Mountain and Pacific | Check your local listing | Check your local listing |
Which Hallmark movies premiere over Thanksgiving weekend?
Seven new Hallmark movies premiere from Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, through Sunday, November 29, 2026. Hallmark stacks the long weekend with double features on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so it is the busiest stretch of the whole Countdown to Christmas.
- Thursday, Nov 26, 8 p.m.: Christmas Delivered, with Autumn Reeser and Wes Brown
- Friday, Nov 27: The Christmas Eve Feast at 6 p.m., then Return to Santa at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov 28: The Most Wonderful Secret at 6 p.m., then Holiday Ever After at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov 29: Eight Nights for Love at 6 p.m., then Miles to Christmas at 8 p.m.
Here is a simple rule for families: if relatives arrive Thursday and leave Sunday, plan on the Saturday double feature. That way, you get the year’s biggest movie at 8 p.m., plus a lighter warm-up at 6 p.m. Then, Sunday gives you a quieter double feature before the work week starts again.
Which Hallmark movies are the biggest this year?
The three biggest Hallmark Christmas movies of 2026 are the tentpoles tied to famous brands: Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, and A Grand Biltmore Christmas. Each one is a sequel or partnership that Hallmark built events and fan stops around, according to Fantasy Land News.
Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True
This is the one to circle. Lacey Chabert and Travis Van Winkle lead a story filmed at Walt Disney World Resort, and Hallmark lists the premiere for Saturday, November 28 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel, with an extended cut streaming the next day on Hallmark+.
- Also starring: Richard Kind, Christy Carlson Romano, Bryce Durfee, Taegen Burns and Asher Alexander, with a Patrick Renna cameo, per Hallmark
- Best for: Disney fans and anyone who follows Lacey Chabert’s holiday movies
A Grand Biltmore Christmas
The Biltmore sequel returns to the Asheville, North Carolina estate on Saturday, December 5 at 8 p.m. ET. Holland Roden and Niall Matter lead, while Andie MacDowell and Jonathan Frakes join a large supporting cast.
- Best for: viewers who liked the first Biltmore movie or want a lavish period-style setting
Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story
The latest Holiday Touchdown movie, Hallmark’s NFL romance franchise, aired on opening weekend, Saturday, October 17, with Lyndsy Fonseca and Robert Buckley. So if you missed it, Hallmark+ is the easiest way to catch up before the Thanksgiving rush.
- Best for: football households and Chicago fans
How can you watch Hallmark Christmas movies without cable?
The cheapest way to watch Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 without cable is Hallmark+, which adds each new movie the day after it airs. However, if you want premieres live on the night, you need a live TV service that carries Hallmark Channel, such as Philo.
| Option | Price | Live premieres? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hallmark+ (direct) | $8.99 a month or $79.99 a year | No, next day | Fans happy to watch a day late |
| Philo Essential | $25 a month, 7-day free trial | Yes, Hallmark Channel is in its live lineup | Watching at 8 p.m. with other cable channels |
| Philo Hallmark+ add-on | $9 a month on top of a Philo plan | Adds ad-free Hallmark+ streaming | Philo users who want both in one app |
| Cable or satellite | Varies by provider | Yes | Homes that already pay for TV |
According to the Hallmark+ help center (updated September 17, 2026), a subscription costs $8.99 a month or $79.99 a year plus tax. In addition, Hallmark’s Hallmark+ benefits page says new movies from Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery arrive the next day. Also, the membership adds perks at Hallmark stores, which matters if you already buy cards and ornaments there.
Meanwhile, Philo’s pricing page lists its Essential plan at $25 a month with a 7-day free trial, and Philo’s channel page includes Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Mystery and Hallmark Family among its live channels. Philo also sells Hallmark+ as an ad-free add-on for $9 a month.
Watch out. Hallmark+ is a US-only service, and Hallmark’s own site says so when you visit from abroad. So if you travel outside the US in December, downloads and streaming may not work until you return.
Which option should you pick?
Use this decision rule. If you only want Hallmark movies and do not mind waiting a day, start a Hallmark+ trial on a premiere weekend and decide after seven days. On the other hand, if live-tweeting at 8 p.m. is half the fun, Philo makes more sense, because it also brings dozens of other cable channels. Finally, if you already pay for cable, you do not need either one.
For example, one month of Hallmark+ at $8.99 covers the busy stretch from Thanksgiving to the December 20 finale if you start in late November. By contrast, the annual plan at $79.99 works out to about $6.67 a month, which only pays off if you watch Hallmark all year (our arithmetic). If you are comparing services more broadly, see our streaming prices comparison.
What else is on Hallmark this holiday season?
Besides the 34 movies, Hallmark has a mystery series, a TV special and a live fan event in the 2026 holiday lineup. Here is what to know, so you can fit them around the weekend premieres.
- Mistletoe Murders Season 3: the Sarah Drew mystery series returned on Thursday, November 5 at 8 p.m., per TVLine’s schedule
- The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday: a special hosted by Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman, Saturday, December 5 at 10 p.m. ET, right after the Biltmore movie
- Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City: Hallmark says the event returns to Crown Center for four weekends starting November 27
- Hallmark Mystery: the sister channel ran a Christmas Kisses marathon of older holiday movies on October 18, according to Entertainment Now
In other words, the new movies all live on Hallmark Channel this year, while Hallmark Mystery mostly fills its schedule with holiday encores. So if you search for “Hallmark Mystery Christmas movies 2026,” expect older favorites rather than premieres.
Common mistakes when following the Hallmark schedule
The most common mistake is trusting an old printable list. Many printable Hallmark schedules shared online are from 2025 or from Hallmark’s Christmas in July event, so check that the titles match the tables above before you plan a viewing party.
- Missing the 6 p.m. movies: Thanksgiving weekend has early premieres, and a DVR set for 8 p.m. will skip them.
- Paying for a year too soon: the monthly Hallmark+ plan is enough for the holiday rush, unless you watch year-round.
- Forgetting the trial date: if you start a free trial, set a reminder for day six, so you can cancel or keep it on purpose.
- Mixing up networks: Great American Family and Lifetime also air Christmas movies, but they are separate channels and are not part of Hallmark+.
Our verdict
Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 are the network’s biggest slate yet, with 34 premieres and 22 still to come after November 10. If you only plan one Hallmark night, make it Saturday, November 28, for the Disney World movie, with the Biltmore sequel on December 5 as a close second.
For cord-cutters, Hallmark+ at $8.99 a month is the best value, as long as you can wait a day. But if live premieres matter, Philo Essential at $25 a month is the simplest way to get Hallmark Channel at 8/7c. Either way, pair the new releases with a few classics from our list of the best Christmas movies of all time.
Frequently asked questions
When do Hallmark Christmas movies start in 2026?
Hallmark Christmas movies started on Friday, October 16, 2026, with the premiere of ‘Tis the Season for Setups on Hallmark Channel. The 17th annual Countdown to Christmas then adds new movies every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, plus extra premieres over Thanksgiving weekend, until the final premiere on Sunday, December 20.
How many Hallmark Christmas movies are there in 2026?
Hallmark has 34 new original Christmas movies in 2026, its largest Countdown to Christmas lineup so far. Hallmark confirms the 34 figure on its corporate news site, and Fantasy Land News reports it is ten more than in 2025. As of November 10, twelve have aired and 22 are still to come.
What time do Hallmark Christmas movies come on?
New Hallmark Christmas movies premiere at 8 p.m. Eastern, which is 7 p.m. Central, on Hallmark Channel. The exceptions are the Thanksgiving weekend early movies on November 27, 28 and 29, which start at 6 p.m. Eastern. West Coast viewers should check their local listing, because feeds can differ by provider.
How can I watch Hallmark Christmas movies without cable?
Hallmark+ streams each new Hallmark Christmas movie the day after it airs, for 8.99 dollars a month or 79.99 dollars a year, according to Hallmark. To watch premieres live, Philo Essential carries Hallmark Channel for 25 dollars a month with a 7-day trial. Prices were checked November 10, 2026 and can change.
When does the Hallmark Disney World Christmas movie premiere?
Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True premieres on Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. Central on Hallmark Channel, according to Hallmark. Lacey Chabert and Travis Van Winkle star, and Hallmark says an extended cut streams on Hallmark+ the next day, Sunday, November 29.
When do Hallmark Christmas movies end in 2026?
The last new Hallmark Christmas movie of 2026 is Save the Date for Christmas, starring Jonathan Bennett and Italia Ricci, on Sunday, December 20 at 8 p.m. Eastern. After that, you can catch up on any of the 34 movies on Hallmark+, which adds each one the day after it airs.
