Hallmark Unveils Three New Countdown to Christmas Movies

Hallmark Channel is making its 2026 Countdown to Christmas lineup even more irresistible. The network is celebrating its 25th anniversary and gearing up for the 17th annual edition of its beloved holiday movie event.

Hallmark Media just revealed three new original films packed with airport disasters, competitive Christmas bars, wedding chaos, longtime friendships, and, of course, plenty of romance. This batch brings together fan-favorite stars like Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams, Steve Lund, Tamera Mowry-Housley, Kristoffer Polaha, Jonathan Bennett, and Italia Ricci.

Honestly, it might be the most comfortingly festive season yet.

Three New Holiday Movies Are Headed to Hallmark Channel

The announcements dropped during some big Hallmark events in early August. There was a sold-out gathering at 92NY and a virtual Television Critics Association panel.

Hallmark Media President and Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott and Head of Programming Michelle Vicary shared new details that already have Christmas-movie fans plotting out their watch lists.

All three movies lean into the classic Hallmark ingredients: impossible travel plans, family pressure, spirited small-town competition, and characters discovering that love shows up when you least expect it. This year, several stars are also stepping into executive producer roles, which adds a nice personal touch to these projects.

Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams Reunite for a Christmas Road Trip

After starring in and executive producing the 2025 films To Barcelona, With Love and To Barcelona, Forever, Alison Sweeney and Ashley Williams are teaming up again for a new (still untitled) holiday adventure. This time, they’re trading European romance for a frantic, snowy multi-state dash toward Nashville on Christmas Eve.

Williams plays Cassidy, a practical Chicago lawyer whose carefully organized plans unravel when bad weather cancels her flight home. She’s determined to reach Nashville to be with her father, but things get complicated when she crosses paths with Jo, played by Sweeney.

Jo is outgoing, sunny, and relaxed—basically the opposite of Cassidy. Their mismatched travel partnership pretty much guarantees laughter, friction, and a few heartfelt breakthroughs.

When the pair needs a ride to another airport, Jo calls her truck-driver brother Chase (Steve Lund). What starts as a transportation emergency quickly turns into a holiday road trip full of detours and unexpected obstacles.

Cassidy and Chase start connecting along the way. Meanwhile, Cassidy and Jo gradually build a meaningful friendship that might be just as important as getting home on time.

• Stars: Alison Sweeney, Ashley Williams and Steve Lund
• Writer: Alejandro Alcoba
• Director: Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe
• Production: Filming begins in Vancouver during August

There’s also a cool behind-the-scenes angle. Hallmark Make Her Mark Women’s Directing Program participant Sarah Wilson Thacker will shadow Lowe during production, continuing the push for more directing opportunities for women in the industry.

Mistletoe, Mimosas and a Rivalry That Turns Romantic

Tamera Mowry-Housley and Kristoffer Polaha are starring together for the first time in Mistletoe and Mimosas (working title). Mowry-Housley is also executive producing, bringing her own creative spin to a story about a cherished Christmas bar, corporate competition, and undeniable chemistry.

Mowry-Housley plays Claire Bennett, a successful Manhattan business consultant who inherits her late Uncle Lou’s Christmas-themed upstate New York bar, The Tipsy Reindeer. The place means a lot to her, but she quickly discovers it’s deep in debt.

Her uncle’s generosity left the bar vulnerable, especially with a polished new competitor thriving nearby.

A Twelve-Day Battle for the Heart of a Christmas Bar

The competitor is Algorithm, an upscale club managed and partly owned by Zach (Polaha). Zach wants to buy The Tipsy Reindeer so Algorithm can expand, but Claire isn’t about to let her uncle’s legacy disappear into a corporate brand.

Instead of selling, she challenges Zach to a festive showdown inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas. If Claire wins, Zach will help her find the right buyer—someone who’ll respect Uncle Lou’s legacy. If Zach wins, Claire promises to seriously consider Algorithm’s offer.

So, a dozen holiday events means a dozen chances for these two rivals to realize their professional battle might be hiding something a lot more personal. As Christmas gets closer, attraction starts to complicate things.

Claire’s forced to rethink what she really wants from her life in the city. Zach, on the other hand, might have to decide if expansion is worth losing the warmth and history of a beloved local spot.

• Stars: Tamera Mowry-Housley and Kristoffer Polaha
• Writer: Russell Hainline
• Setting: Manhattan and upstate New York
• Production: Filming begins in Vancouver during August

Jonathan Bennett and Italia Ricci Take On Wedding Season

The third new film, Single at the Wedding, teams up Jonathan Bennett and Italia Ricci as friends who are completely worn out by romance, matchmaking relatives, and what feels like an endless parade of weddings. By the time Hallmark announced it, the film had already wrapped production—so it’s well on its way to joining the holiday lineup.

Ricci plays Susie, who’s basically given up on dating after a string of disappointments. Bennett is Alec, a lifelong romantic who hasn’t found the right partner either.

They’ve become each other’s reliable plus-one, which sounds sweet until they realize they’ve attended what feels like their twentieth wedding of the year.

Could the Two Most Single Guests Find Love Together?

Susie and Alec decide it’s time to stop going to weddings and chasing their dream partners. That plan lasts about a day.

Susie’s sister announces a last-minute Christmas wedding. Susie talks Alec into coming along for the festivities.

Their goal? Survive the week as the only single people in the room and dodge their families’ matchmaking attempts. But wedding duties, holiday traditions, and time with loved ones start to shift their perspectives on romance.

Susie wonders if she’s closed herself off to love a bit too much. Alec starts to realize the person he’s been waiting for might have been right beside him all along.

Why the 2026 Countdown to Christmas Lineup Is Already Promising

These three new movies show Hallmark leaning confidently into its strongest holiday storytelling lanes. Still, each project gets its own distinct hook.

The Sweeney and Williams film has the charm of a Christmas travel disaster. There’s also the warmth of female friendship, which, honestly, never gets old.

Mistletoe and Mimosas offers a festive small-business rivalry. It comes with a glamorous edge that feels just right for the holidays.

Single at the Wedding takes a familiar wedding-season dilemma and spins it into a Christmas love story. That twist feels fresh, even if the setup’s a bit classic.

With Hallmark celebrating a landmark anniversary, viewers can expect the network to make this year’s Countdown to Christmas particularly special. Whether people tune in for beloved stars, holiday décor, or those emotional family reunions, there’s something brewing this year.