Hallmark is starting Christmas movie season while there is still Halloween candy to buy. Honestly? A little pumpkin on the porch and a little Christmas on the TV can coexist.
Countdown to Christmas 2026 begins Friday, October 16, on Hallmark Channel. The first premiere is ’Tis the Season for Setups at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central. Here are the first two weekends so you can pick what you actually want to watch.
Hallmark’s first Christmas movie weekend: October 16–18
All three of these are first premieres, not the repeat showings that also appear on Hallmark’s daily schedule. Hallmark lists each at 8/7c; check your own provider’s guide for your local airing.
| Premiere date | Movie | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, October 16 | ’Tis the Season for Setups | Amanda Schull, Victor Webster and Barbara Niven |
| Saturday, October 17 | Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story | Lyndsy Fonseca and Robert Buckley |
| Sunday, October 18 | Mr. & Mrs. Christmas | Brendan Penny and Pascale Hutton |
The Friday movie has a ski resort and two people trying to play matchmaker for their parents. I do love a setup where the people doing the meddling are about to have a problem of their own.
Saturday swaps the lodge for Chicago Bears fandom, while Sunday brings a Christmas market into the mix. That is a pretty good range for one couch-based weekend.
The October 23–25 premieres
If opening weekend is already spoken for, here is the next batch. These also premiere at 8/7c:
- October 23: Winter Wonderlanes
- October 24: Forgotten Holiday
- October 25: What If Christmas
You can see the later dates and individual movie details in Hallmark’s official 2026 preview. I would save the ones that sound fun before attempting to turn the entire season into homework.
Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+ are different ways to watch
The dates above are Hallmark Channel premieres. For the opening movie specifically, Hallmark’s official page also confirms next-day streaming on Hallmark+.
That is a separate streaming option, not a promise that the movie is free with every TV plan. Check your existing access before adding another subscription, and check each movie’s own listing if you plan to stream it.
Still firmly in Halloween mode? The Great Pumpkin has a free streaming weekend coming up, too. We can have both.
Schedule checked October 14, 2026, against Hallmark’s U.S. listings. This guide has been updated for the 2026 season.
