New Christmas Movies 2026: Netflix, Hallmark and Theater Dates
Every new 2026 holiday movie we could confirm, with dates and platforms across Netflix, Hallmark, Lifetime, Great American Family, Prime Video and theaters.
The 2026 holiday movie season brings five new Netflix originals between November 4 and December 2, more than 30 new Hallmark Channel premieres through December 20, weekly Lifetime and Great American Family premieres, and a handful of theatrical releases led by Violent Night 2 on December 4. Below is the full schedule with dates and platforms, a family-friendly shortlist, and what is in theaters for the holidays.
Updated October 2026. Release dates come from network and studio announcements as reported by TVLine, What’s on Netflix and studio release calendars, and can change. Check the platform before you plan a movie night.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix’s new holiday originals: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (Nov 4), Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas (Nov 11), The Christmas Switch (Nov 12), Guarding Stars (Nov 18) and In a Holidaze (Dec 2).
- Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas premieres run through December 20, mostly Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
- In theaters: The Cat in the Hat (Nov 6), Disney’s animated Hexed (Thanksgiving weekend), Violent Night 2 (Dec 4, rated R) and The Angry Birds Movie 3 (Dec 23).
- Greta Gerwig’s Narnia is no longer a Thanksgiving 2026 release; it moved to February 2027.
- Best bets for families with young kids: Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday (Netflix, Dec 9 in the US), The Angry Birds Movie 3, and Hallmark’s TV-G style romances.
Quick Answer: 2026 Holiday Movie Calendar at a Glance
| Date | Title | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 1 | A Danish Christmas | Hallmark Channel |
| Nov 4 | A Dog’s Perfect Christmas | Netflix |
| Nov 6 | The Cat in the Hat (animated, not Christmas-themed) | Theaters |
| Nov 7 | Karen Kingsbury’s The Christmas Ring | Great American Family |
| Nov 11 | Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas | Netflix |
| Nov 12 | The Christmas Switch (Swedish) | Netflix |
| Nov 18 | Guarding Stars | Netflix |
| Nov 23 | Clashing Through the Snow | Prime Video |
| Thanksgiving weekend | Hexed (Disney animation) | Theaters |
| Nov 28 | Christmas Everyday: Married and Bright | Lifetime |
| Dec 2 | In a Holidaze | Netflix |
| Dec 4 | Violent Night 2 (R) | Theaters |
| Dec 5 | A Grand Biltmore Christmas | Hallmark Channel |
| Dec 9 | Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday | Netflix (US) |
| Dec 20 | Save the Date for Christmas | Hallmark Channel |
| Dec 23 | The Angry Birds Movie 3 (not Christmas-themed) | Theaters |
New Netflix Christmas Movies 2026
Netflix has five new holiday films and a family special this year, according to What’s on Netflix’s 2026 holiday lineup (last updated October 15, 2026).
| Title | Release date | Type | Key cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Dog’s Perfect Christmas | Wed, Nov 4 | Holiday drama | Dennis Quaid, Milo Ventimiglia, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas Haden Church (voice) |
| Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas | Wed, Nov 11 | Music-driven holiday drama | Tank, Fantasia Barrino, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans |
| The Christmas Switch | Thu, Nov 12 | Romantic comedy (Sweden) | Felice Jankell, Happy Jankell |
| Guarding Stars | Wed, Nov 18 | Holiday romantic comedy | Leighton Meester, Jared Padalecki, Andie MacDowell |
| In a Holidaze | Wed, Dec 2 | Time-loop holiday rom-com | Maddie Ziegler, Graham Phillips, Rob Lowe, Patton Oswalt |
| Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday | Wed, Dec 9 (US) | Family competition special | Guests include Aidy Bryant and Justin Willman |
Holiday titles arriving on Netflix in the US
Netflix is also adding licensed favorites, scheduled for November 1, 2026 in the US (licensed dates can vary by region and change):
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024), rated PG, a strong family pick.
- Christmas with the Coopers (2015), PG-13 ensemble comedy.
- Mistletoe Murders, seasons 1 and 2, a TV-PG holiday mystery series.
Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas 2026
Hallmark’s season started October 16, so a dozen films have already premiered. Remaining premieres, per TVLine’s 2026 holiday TV movie schedule (updated October 28), air at 8 p.m. ET unless noted. Hallmark’s own Countdown to Christmas page lists encores and streaming on Hallmark+.
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 1 | A Danish Christmas |
| Fri, Nov 6 | Merry Memories |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Holiday Unplugged |
| Sun, Nov 8 | A Season of Promises |
| Fri, Nov 13 | My Christmas Cowboy |
| Sat, Nov 14 | The Nights Before Christmas |
| Sun, Nov 15 | Mistletoe and Mimosas |
| Fri, Nov 20 | Our Holiday Playbook |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Christmas in Blue Dog Valley |
| Sun, Nov 22 | Double Booked for the Holidays |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Christmas Delivered |
| Fri, Nov 27 | The Christmas Eve Feast (6 p.m.); Return to Santa (8 p.m.) |
| Sat, Nov 28 | The Most Wonderful Secret (6 p.m.); Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True (8 p.m.) |
| Sun, Nov 29 | Eight Nights for Love (6 p.m.); Miles to Christmas (8 p.m.) |
| Fri, Dec 4 | The Snowflake Effect |
| Sat, Dec 5 | A Grand Biltmore Christmas |
| Sun, Dec 6 | An Angel in My Stocking |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Christmas in Canterbury |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Snow Globe Town |
| Sun, Dec 13 | Noelle Nomads |
| Fri, Dec 18 | Hearts All Aglow |
| Sat, Dec 19 | Barking All the Way |
| Sun, Dec 20 | Save the Date for Christmas |
Earlier premieres you can catch in encores or on streaming include ‘Tis the Season for Setups, Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, Mr. & Mrs. Christmas, Winter Wonderlanes, What If Christmas and Adopting St. Nick.
Lifetime and Great American Family Christmas Movies 2026
Hallmark is not the only cable home for new holiday films. Lifetime leans toward romantic dramas and family reunions, while Great American Family focuses on faith-and-family stories. Both air new titles most weekends from late November.
Lifetime
Lifetime’s new premieres start on Thanksgiving weekend, per TVLine. Times are 8 p.m. ET unless noted.
- Sat, Nov 28: Christmas Everyday: Married and Bright (8 p.m.); Checking Inn for Christmas (10 p.m.)
- Sun, Nov 29: A Firefighter’s Christmas Calendar
- Sat, Dec 5: Christmas from the Heart (8 p.m.); The Toymaker’s Christmas Romance (10 p.m.)
- Sun, Dec 6: Mending Hearts for Christmas
- Sat, Dec 12: Mistletoe in Mexico (8 p.m.); An Inseparable Christmas (10 p.m.)
- Sun, Dec 13: A Second Chance Christmas Letter
- Sat, Dec 19: Love on the Christmas List
- Sun, Dec 20: Christmas at Mistletoe Hall
Great American Family
Great American Family began its season in October. Remaining premieres listed by TVLine:
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 7 | Karen Kingsbury’s The Christmas Ring |
| Sun, Nov 8 | An Ozark Mountain Christmas |
| Sat, Nov 14 | The Christmas Yes List |
| Sun, Nov 15 | Christmas at Moose Lake |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Three Generations, One Christmas |
| Sun, Nov 22 | Letters This Christmas |
| Fri, Nov 27 | A Sweet Christmas Anniversary |
| Sat, Nov 28 | A Christmas Rescue |
| Sun, Nov 29 | The Greatest Christmas Gift |
| Sat, Dec 5 | The Christmas Ornament Library |
| Sun, Dec 6 | Christmas by the Spoonful |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Making Christmas Bright |
| Sun, Dec 13 | A Very Evergreen Christmas |
| Sat, Dec 19 | Christmas Wrapped in Love |
Other Streaming Services
- Prime Video: Clashing Through the Snow premieres November 23.
- Disney+, Apple TV, Hulu, Peacock, Paramount+ and HBO Max: at the time of writing we could not confirm dated new holiday movie premieres for these services. Holiday specials are often announced in November, so check each app’s “coming soon” section.
Holiday Movies in Theaters, November-December 2026
This year’s big-screen holiday slate is light on actual Christmas stories, but there are several family outings.
| Date | Title | Studio | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 6 | The Cat in the Hat | Warner Bros. | Animated Dr. Seuss adaptation; check the rating for young kids |
| Thanksgiving weekend | Hexed | Walt Disney Animation Studios | Original animated film about a teen and his mom discovering magical powers |
| Dec 4 | Violent Night 2 | Universal | Adults only: the action sequel with David Harbour’s Santa is rated R |
| Dec 23 | The Angry Birds Movie 3 | Paramount | Animated family comedy for the school break |
Theaters tend to be busiest on Thanksgiving Friday and in the days just before and after Christmas, when most schools are on break. Buying tickets online a few days ahead lets you choose seats together, and weekday matinees are usually the cheapest and least crowded option for families with small children.
What is not coming: Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film was originally planned for a Thanksgiving 2026 IMAX run. It has since moved to February 2027 in theaters before streaming on Netflix.
Family-Friendly Picks for 2026
Ratings were not all published at the time of writing. Check the rating and a parent review before watching with young children.
For younger kids
- Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday (Netflix, Dec 9 US): a holiday making-and-baking competition special from the Gabby’s Dollhouse team, aimed at families.
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Netflix from Nov 1 US, PG): a warm, funny modern adaptation.
- The Angry Birds Movie 3 (theaters, Dec 23): bright animated comedy for a winter-break outing.
For tweens and the whole family
- A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (Netflix, Nov 4): a dog-centered holiday drama with a voice-actor narrator.
- Hexed (theaters, Thanksgiving weekend): Disney’s new original animated feature.
- Hallmark and Great American Family premieres: gentle romances and small-town stories; most carry TV-G or TV-PG ratings.
For grown-ups after bedtime
- Guarding Stars and In a Holidaze (Netflix rom-coms).
- Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas (Netflix drama with a gospel music cast).
- Violent Night 2 (theaters, R): strictly for adults who like their Santa with action.
How to Plan a Holiday Movie Night
- Pick by audience first, then by platform. A mixed-age group works best with PG titles.
- Check subscriptions. If you will only watch one platform’s holiday lineup, subscribe for a single month instead of a full year.
- Book theaters early for Thanksgiving weekend and the week of December 21, when kids are out of school.
- Use TV premieres as events. Hallmark’s Friday-to-Sunday 8 p.m. slots make an easy weekly tradition, and most titles repeat many times.
- Keep a backup list of classics in case a premiere date moves.
Classic backups worth keeping on the list
New releases are fun, but a premiere date can slip, a platform can go down on a busy night, or a new film can turn out to be a dud. Keep a short list of proven holiday classics ready, sorted by audience. Streaming availability for older films changes constantly, so search a free availability tool or your apps before the night instead of relying on last year’s home for a title.
| Audience | Classic picks |
|---|---|
| Preschool and early grades | A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), The Polar Express (2004) |
| Whole family | Elf (2003), The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), Klaus (2019), Home Alone (1990) |
| Grown-ups (check ratings; Love Actually is R) | It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Love Actually (2003), The Holiday (2006) |
Pairing one new premiere with one classic is an easy way to keep everyone happy: kids get the familiar favorite, adults get something they have not seen, and nobody spends 40 minutes scrolling menus. If you host a watch party, pick the film the day before and share the start time, so guests who stream at home can follow along.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new Christmas movies are on Netflix in 2026?
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas (Nov 4), Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas (Nov 11), The Christmas Switch (Nov 12), Guarding Stars (Nov 18) and In a Holidaze (Dec 2), plus a Gabby’s Dollhouse holiday special on Dec 9 in the US.
When does Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas end in 2026?
The last new premiere listed is Save the Date for Christmas on Sunday, December 20, at 8 p.m. ET. Encores run through the holidays.
Is there a new Christmas movie in theaters this year?
The main Christmas-themed theatrical release is Violent Night 2 on December 4, which is rated R. Family audiences have animated options like Hexed and The Angry Birds Movie 3, which are not Christmas stories.
Is the Narnia movie coming out at Thanksgiving 2026?
No. It moved to February 2027 in theaters, followed later by Netflix.
Are Hallmark Christmas movies OK for kids?
Most are rated TV-G or TV-PG and are gentle romances, so they suit families, though younger children may find them slow.
Can release dates change?
Yes. Streaming and theatrical dates sometimes shift, and licensed titles vary by region. Check the platform’s own listing a few days before.
Save This Schedule
Bookmark this page or screenshot the calendar table, and mark three or four must-watch dates now. Holiday schedules fill up fast, and a planned movie night is one of the easiest traditions to keep. Release dates can change, so double-check the app or theater listing the week of.
