Hallmark Sets Oct. 16-18 Start for 2026 Countdown to Christmas
Hallmark has locked in three straight nights to open its 2026 Christmas season. The first new films arrive on 16, 17 and 18 October. The dates lead the Countdown to Christmas 2026 schedule, meaning Hallmark Channel's annual run of holiday films, as listed by Variety.
The run starts on Friday, Oct. 16 with "'Tis the Season for Setups." It stars Amanda Schull, Victor Webster and Barbara Niven. The story follows party planner Lexi and ski instructor Ridge as they join forces to set up their parents, June and Dan. It is a classic Hallmark set-up. Two children. Two parents. One Christmas plan.
Night two goes big on football. "Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story" premieres on Saturday, Oct. 17. It stars Lyndsy Fonseca as reporter Avery Clark and Robert Buckley as Matt, with Marsha Mason as superfan Darlene Donnelly. Barbara Alyn Woods and Khary Payton also appear in the cast.
That Bears film brings real Chicago muscle with it. Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is set for a cameo. So are players Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Legends Mike Singletary, Charles "Peanut" Tillman and Dan Hampton round out the football guest list. Expect Soldier Field energy with a romance at the centre.
The opening weekend closes on Sunday, Oct. 18 with "Mr. & Mrs. Christmas." It stars Brendan Penny and Pascale Hutton, a pairing familiar to Hallmark viewers. Hallmark lists all three titles as part of its Countdown to Christmas 2026 line-up of all-new premieres.
For fans, this means the diary can start now. Three nights. Three new stories. No wait until December. Hallmark Channel says viewers can watch Countdown to Christmas 2026 movies and all-new premieres around the clock, according to Hallmark Channel. Sister network Hallmark Mystery is also set to carry holiday programming 24/7.
Hallmark Channel set premiere dates for three new holiday movies earlier this month, with the full schedule to follow. For now, Oct. 16 to 18 is the official starting whistle. Mark the weekend. Stock the hot chocolate.
