Hallmark Channel is rolling out a massive holiday slate for its 17th annual Countdown to Christmas. The network has announced 34 original movies premiering over ten weeks, plus a new season of the fan-favorite series “Mistletoe Murders.”
The lineup features a roster of familiar faces, including Lori Loughlin, Janel Parrish, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Rachael Leigh Cook, Daniella Monet, Lacey Chabert, Christy Carlson Romano, Richard Kind, Andie MacDowell, Ian Harding, Jonathan Bennett and more. The event kicks off Oct. 16, with all movies premiering at 8 p.m. ET unless otherwise noted.
The Opening Weekend
The first three movies set the tone for what’s to come. “Tis the Season for Setups” stars Amanda Schull, Victor Webster and Barbara Niven. The plot involves a single mom and party planner who hires herself to organize a holiday party at a ski resort, only to butt heads with the lodge owner’s son and find herself setting up her own parents along the way.
“Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story” is a Chicago-set rom-com starring Lyndsy Fonseca as a freelance reporter who lands a profile of a lifelong Bears fan named Darlene Donnelly, played by Marsha Mason. Darlene is about to attend her 500th game, and Fonseca gets schooled in football by Darlene’s handsome grandson Matt, played by Robert Buckley. The film also packs in cameos from Chicago Bears players, coaches and alumni, including quarterback Caleb Williams, tight end Colston Loveland, tight end Cole Kmet and legendary figures like Mike Singletary, Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Dan Hampton.
The third weekend opener, “Mr. & Mrs. Christmas,” stars Brendan Penny and Pascale Hutton. It follows Taylor Lewis, a single dad and holiday display expert who moves to a small town with his kids just before Christmas. He partners with Sophie Shaw, a practical accountant, to revive the town’s Christmas Market. Sparks fly as they navigate the season together.
A Look at the Full Slate
Here’s how the schedule breaks down:
| Date | Movie |
|---|---|
| Oct. 16 | “Tis the Season for Setups” |
| Oct. 17 | “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story” |
| Oct. 18 | “Mr. & Mrs. Christmas” |
| Oct. 23 | “Winter Wonderlanes” |
What the Network Says
Michelle Vicary, head of programming at Hallmark Media, reflected on the evolution of the event in a statement. “As we celebrated Hallmark Channel’s 25th birthday last month I can’t help but reflect on the way Countdown to Christmas has evolved since its first year,” she said. “We’ve progressed from a schedule of daily Christmas movie marathons and four original movies to our robust 24/7 holiday programming across 10 weeks, featuring 34 original movie premieres and one original series with our hit ‘Mistletoe Murders,’ now it its third season. We have our wonderful fans to thank for this longevity and are so grateful to them for joining us on this journey.”
The statement frames the growth as a tribute to viewers, who have kept the event alive for nearly two decades.
A Catalog of Familiar Faces
The cast list reads like a who’s who of Hallmark veterans. Tamera Mowry-Housley appears in “Holiday Touchdown,” alongside Marilu Henner, Jake Connelly and Dyon “Mojo” Brooks. Lacey Chabert and Christy Carlson Romano are also attached to the lineup.
The schedule also includes “The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday,” hosted by Bennett and Melissa Peterman on Dec. 5 at 10 p.m. ET. The special gives fans an exclusive look at what’s coming to Hallmark in the new year.
A Question of Quality
Thirty-four movies across ten weeks is a lot of content. Whether the quality holds up across that run is another matter entirely.
The sheer scale of the rollout suggests the network is expanding what it offers. Fans have kept the event going for 17 years, and Hallmark appears willing to add more original movies to the calendar.
Whether that’s a winning strategy depends on how the movies actually land. The proof will come when the first premiere airs Oct. 16.
For now, the numbers speak for themselves. Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas 2026 arrives with a full cast of beloved performers ready to fill the screen with festive magic.
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