Hallmark Channel's 2026 Countdown To Christmas: What To Watch This Weekend

To some people, fall means kicking leaves, picking apples, getting lost in corn mazes, and adding pumpkin spice to everything in Starbucks except for the baristas themselves. For others, it means the holiday season is revving up — and the Hallmark Channel is more than ready. The 2026 version of the feelgood network's annual marathon of festive fare begins bright and early on October 16 and goes nonstop until December 20. Even then, Mrs. Claus can still stream her favorites any time she likes on Hallmark+ while Santa is off doing his rounds.

There's a reason Yuletide-themed offerings rank among the most popular Hallmark movies. While the network's output is heartwarming and just sentimental enough, the added charm and nostalgia of Christmas make the romances sweeter. We may not live in a town that loses its mind over the annual cookie-baking contest, or be acquainted with a hunky local tree salesman (preferably bearded), or even see snow fall every December like clockwork. But for 10 weeks out of the year, we know we can tune in whenever we need that fix of coziness. 

Watching Hallmark Christmas movies can even be good for your mental health; their predictable plots and happy endings provide calm and optimism in a world that often seems out of control. This year, fans can look forward to three new movies every weekend for the duration of the season, featuring long-time Hallmark leading ladies such as Ashley Williams, Alison Sweeney, Andie MacDowell, and Lyndsy Fonseca. In between, you'll find tons of classic favorites worth rewatching and re-rewatching. Here's the lineup for the first weekend; so get into your comfiest clothes, grab a mug of something hot, and get into the (very early) holiday spirit!

The first weekend kicks off with an all-new movie in the primetime slot featuring not one, but two couples: An older pair who need some new love in their lives, and their children, whose matchmaking efforts light a flame of their own. All times are in ET/PT.

🎄6:00 AM: "Once Upon a Holiday" 

🎄8:00 AM: "Christmas Under Wraps" 

🎄10:00 AM: "Five Star Christmas"

🎄12:00 PM: "Christmas Under the Stars" 

🎄2:00 PM: "The Christmas Secret"

🎄4:00 PM: "A Very Merry Mix-Up"

🎄6:00 PM: "A Christmas Cookie Catastrophe"

🌟8:00 PM: "'Tis the Season for Setups" (NEW MOVIE)

When organized caterer Lexi and chill snowboarder Ridge notice a spark between their single parents, they begrudgingly team up to set them up. Lexi and Ridge's attempt to pair up their parents brings them closer together, and their merry matchmaking ends in surprising results. Stars Amanda Schull, Victor Webster, and Barbara Niven.

🎄10:00 PM: "Mystery on Mistletoe Lane"

Following the success of their two other football-themed Christmas movies, Hallmark goes to the Windy City and their beloved Bears for their second new release on Day 2. 

🎄12:00 AM: "Miracle in Bethlehem, PA"

🎄2:00 AM: "Following Yonder Star" 

🎄4:00 AM: "Christmas Town"

🎄6:00 AM: "Where Are You, Christmas?"

🎄8:00 AM: "Next Stop, Christmas"

🎄10:00 AM: "'Twas the Date Before Christmas"

🎄12:00 PM: "Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!"

🎄2:00 PM: "Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story"

🎄4:00 PM: "Holiday Crashers"

🌟6:00 PM: "'Tis the Season for Setups" (NEW MOVIE)

🌟8:00 PM: "Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story" (NEW MOVIE)

Avery writes an article profiling a woman attending her 500th Bears game who only agrees to the story if her grandson serves as Avery's ambassador to Chicago for the holidays. As Avery follows Darlene's remarkable story through game-day traditions, festive Chicago adventures, and memories of a love story that began at a stadium, she starts to understand that football is about much more than what just happens on the field. Stars Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, and Marsha Mason.

🎄10:00 PM: "Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story"

Hallmark's third original feature, premiering Sunday, centers around a small town's annual Christmas market and the two people assigned to give it a boost: A seasonal display expert and an accountant eager for new responsibilities. Three guesses what happens to their partnership along the way!

🎄12:00 AM: "Christmas at the Catnip Café"

🎄2:00 AM: "Christmas Island"

🎄4:00 AM: "Christmas CEO"

🎄6:00 AM: "A Novel Noel"

🎄8:00 AM: "In Merry Measure"

🎄10:00 AM: "The Sweetest Christmas"

🎄12:00 PM: "Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas"

🎄2:00 PM: "A Little Christmas Charm"

🎄4:00 PM: "Pride, Prejudice, and Mistletoe"

🌟6:00 PM: "Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story" (NEW MOVIE)

🌟8:00 PM: "Mr. & Mrs. Christmas" (NEW MOVIE)

Single dad Taylor is inspired more than ever to give his two children the best Christmas in their new town. He leads the city's holiday event department, as new colleague Sophie supervises him. But when Taylor's well-intentioned efforts to help his teenage daughter backfire, he begins to realize that yuletide can't be forced; it has to be discovered. As Taylor and Sophie grow closer, they learn that embracing change may be the key to creating new traditions and new memories. Stars Brendan Penny and Pascale Hutton.

🎄10:00 PM: "The More the Merrier"