Hallmark Countdown to Christmas Begins Early with Festive Cheer

It might still be pumpkin spice season, but Hallmark Channel’s already dusting off the ornaments for its 16th annual Countdown to Christmas event. This year, they’re going all in—bigger, louder, and, honestly, a bit more ambitious than ever.

For the first time, Hallmark’s lineup isn’t just movies. They’re adding both scripted and unscripted holiday series to the mix. With nearly 80 hours of new content spread across ten weeks, it’s a lot of snow-kissed romance, cozy mysteries, and those feel-good family moments you either love or love to roll your eyes at.

Familiar faces are back—Mae Whitman, Lacey Chabert, Jonathan Bennett, Tamera Mowry-Housley—plus the network’s partnership with the Buffalo Bills adds a bit of sports energy to the festivities. Whether you’re a Hallmark devotee or just in it for the background cheer, this season’s looking like an all-out celebration of love, laughter, and a little holiday magic.

The Countdown Begins: Hallmark’s Biggest Holiday Event Yet

Starting Friday, October 17, Hallmark Channel flips into a nonstop winter wonderland. Over the next ten weeks, there’ll be 24 original movie premieres and a handful of new series capturing the heart and humor of the holidays.

Each movie drops at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT), with new series episodes on Fridays and Mondays, streaming the next day on Hallmark+. It’s their boldest holiday lineup so far, mixing up the usual cozy stories with some new twists and formats.

From Murder Mysteries to Royal Romances

Leading things off is Mistletoe Murders, a holiday crime series starring Sarah Drew and Peter Mooney. Emily Lane, a Christmas shop owner, gets tangled up in a string of local murders—partnering with Detective Sam Wilner for some snowy sleuthing.

It’s a whodunit with a Hallmark vibe: cozy sweaters, small-town gossip, and, of course, mistletoe. Two episodes air weekly through October 31, which feels like a pretty strong start to the season.

Then there’s A Royal Montana Christmas, serving up the classic fairy-tale romance. Fiona Gubelmann plays Princess Victoria of Zelarnia, ducking her royal duties for a holiday at a Montana ranch.

She meets Huntley Blaylock (Warren Christie), who has no clue she’s royalty. It’s all secret identities, snowy scenery, and that classic Hallmark happily ever after.

New Faces, New Stories, Same Hallmark Magic

Hallmark’s 2024 lineup isn’t just recycling old formulas. They’re bringing in new storylines that stretch what a holiday movie can be.

A Christmas Angel Match pairs Meghan Ory and Benjamin Ayres as celestial matchmakers, their clashing styles and chemistry lighting up their mission. And Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! gives Robert Buckley and Kimberley Sustad a hometown reunion packed with redemption, romance, and a dose of small-town nostalgia.

Reality Meets Holiday Cheer

For the first time, Hallmark’s dabbling in reality-style shows. Finding Mr. Christmas and Baked With Love: Holiday bring a little competition into the holiday lineup.

Jonathan Bennett and Tamera Mowry-Housley host, respectively. In Finding Mr. Christmas, ten aspiring actors tackle festive challenges—think gingerbread houses and skiing—for a shot at starring in a Hallmark movie.

Baked With Love: Holiday pits ten pairs of home bakers against each other for $50,000 and a chance to see their recipe on screen. It’s drama, laughter, and a lot of sugar—what more could you want?

Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Football

One of the most buzzed-about premieres is Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story. Holland Roden and Matthew Daddario star as neighbors whose lifelong friendship—and Buffalo Bills fandom—leads them on a heartwarming journey to unravel a decades-old mystery.

The film features cameos from Bills icons like Sean McDermott, Damar Hamlin, Thurman Thomas, and Jim Kelly. It’s a win for both sports and holiday movie fans.

Time Travel, Family Bonds, and Festive Surprises

Hallmark’s tossing a little fantasy into the mix, too. A Newport Christmas jumps from 1905 to 2025, with a young socialite wishing for a new life and landing in modern-day Rhode Island.

The Three Wisest Men brings Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, and Andrew Walker back for the third round of the beloved franchise. Family and faith are front and center, with a reminder that Christmas magic shows up in the most unexpected ways.

Heartwarming Tales for Every Taste

From snowy romances to family drama, there’s a little something for everyone. A few highlights:

• Christmas Above the Clouds – Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes star in a modern spin on A Christmas Carol. A workaholic CEO faces her past, present, and future during a holiday trip to Australia.
• A Keller Christmas Vacation – Jonathan Bennett and Brandon Routh take a family river cruise through Europe’s Christmas markets. It’s about love, laughter, and sibling bonds.
• Tidings for the Season – Tamera Mowry-Housley plays a newscaster whose reporting leads him to love and some life-changing choices.
• Melt My Heart This Christmas – A glassblower’s secret identity threatens her new romance in this artistic, emotional story.

Series to Binge and Stories to Savor

Beyond the movies, Hallmark’s rolling out Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas, a romantic series with Mae Whitman, Jane Seymour, and Mary McDonnell. It’s based on Jenni Bayliss’s novel and follows a London designer as she navigates love, family, and self-discovery during the holidays.

Episodes air weekly through December 19, so you’ll have plenty to binge with a mug of cocoa. Other standouts: She’s Making a List, with Lacey Chabert and Andrew Walker as they tackle Santa’s workforce and corporate consulting, and Single on the 25th, a pretty honest look at finding love when you’re not even looking.

There’s also Oy to the World!, a Hanukkah-meets-Christmas story about two rival choir directors learning to celebrate together. Hallmark’s clearly aiming to include all kinds of holiday traditions this time around.

Why This Year Feels Different

Sixteen years in, Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas isn’t just TV—it’s become a seasonal ritual for a lot of people. What stands out this year is the network’s willingness to shake things up without losing its heart.

With competition shows, crossovers, sports tie-ins, and stories that feel more diverse and authentic, Hallmark’s tapping into what audiences really want: connection, a bit of sparkle, and maybe even a surprise or two. Honestly, isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

The Magic Continues

With premieres running through mid-December, there’s plenty to look forward to. Each new movie pops up on Hallmark+ the very next day, so you won’t miss a thing.

Some folks are all about the cozy mysteries in Mistletoe Murders. Others crave the dreamy escape of A Royal Montana Christmas or the wild, sugary mess that is Baked With Love: Holiday.

This year’s Countdown to Christmas has a little something for every mood. Honestly, it’s kind of impossible not to find a favorite—especially with a mug of cocoa in hand.

So, pull on those fuzzy socks. Pour some hot chocolate (don’t skimp on the marshmallows), and just settle in.

Here, snow always falls at the perfect moment. Love never gets lost, and every ending sparkles like a Christmas tree that’s just a little too bright.

Hallmark’s 2024 holiday lineup is more than TV. It’s a whole vibe—one that just feels right this time of year.