The holiday season is billed as the most wonderful time of the year for a reason, and the TV landscape is doing its part with a festive and exciting lineup of Christmas TV and streaming highlights this year.
From the major TV networks to cable to streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus and more, there’s a sleigh full of new Christmas TV shows, movies and specials to enjoy. Too many for any one person to probably be able to watch between now and Christmas day (though if you want to try, go for it). If you need some help in whittling down the choices of things to watch this Christmas, allow me to give you a hand with my own personal picks for the best new holiday-themed programming to watch this year.
(Organizing them by network and streaming platform for your ease).
ABC
The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular
December 1, 8 pm ET/PT
Returning for its ninth year, making it a holiday TV tradition, is The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular, showing how some of the most magical places on Earth celebrate the holiday. The special will feature musical performances from Disney World in Florida, Disneyland in California and Disney Resort & Spa in Hawai’i. Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro host, while Kristen Bell will serve as a narrator for the special.
CMA Country Christmas
December 3, 8 pm ET/PT
Another annual holiday treat on ABC brings a country kick to festivities, as the 15th annual CMA Country Christmas special will see many of the biggest stars in country music perform holiday classics. Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood host, while the list of performers include King + Country with Carrie León, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde & Brittney Spencer, Jon Pardi and CeCe Winans.
Abbott Elementary Christmas episodes
Abbott Elementary season 4 returns after its mini break for not one but two Christmas-theme episodes, giving fans of the acclaimed sitcom a full hour of festivities. The first episode sees Barbara doing everything she can to make Abbott’s first-ever holiday show a success, while Jacob’s brother also visits for the holiday. The second holiday episode sees Melissa host the Schemmenti family Christmas Eve dinner and Janine and Gregory receiving an unexpected guest.
The Great Christmas Light Fight season 12
December 5, 8 pm ET/PT
Fans of big holiday decorations are not going to want to miss The Great Christmas Light Fight, where families across the US show off their impressive holiday set up with the hope of winning $50,000. This isn’t a one-off, as The Great Christmas Light Fight will air for multiple weeks on ABC, so you can enjoy it all throughout December.
iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024
December 18, 8 pm ET/PT
Many of the biggest musicians of the year are going to headline the annual iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024, which is going to air exclusively on ABC (then stream on-demand on Hulu starting December 19). This year’s lineup includes Katy Perry, SZA, Tate McRae, Jack Harlow, twenty one pilots, Teddy Swims, Meghan Trainor, Camila Cabello, Kane Brown, Jason Derulo, Benson Boone, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey and NCT Dream.
CBS
Matlock Christmas episode
December 5, 9 pm ET/PT
One of the most popular new shows of the year, Matlock is getting into the Christmas spirit with a holiday-set episode that includes the law firm’s Christmas party, but where Olympia is set to learn a big secret. This is just one of many holiday-theme episodes from CBS’s primetime lineup: Elsbeth season 2 (December 5), The Equalizer season 5 (December 8), NCIS season 22 (December 16) and NCIS: Origins (December 16) will also have episodes set during and centered around the holiday.
Ghosts Christmas episodes
December 19, 8 pm ET/PT
Ghosts season 4 is another CBS show with a special Christmas episode this year, but considering the half-hour comedy is going to get a full hour for its Christmas episode, I thought it was worth its specific shout out. This two-part episode is going to see Sam and Jay welcome Jay’s hard-to-impressed family (Bernard White, Sakina Jaffrey and Punam Patel) for a holiday stay at Woodstone.
Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas
December 19, 9 pm ET/PT
Comedian Nate Bargatze has seen his star rise in large part to his great recent stints a host on Saturday Night Live, but now he is headlining his own Christmas variety show, which will feature stand-up, pre-tapped comedy shorts, sketches and musical performances that will put a spotlight on Bargatze’s home of Nashville.
National Christmas Tree Lighting
December 20, 8 pm ET/PT
The National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., is a popular stop for those in our nation’s capital during the holiday season. But if you’re not able to visit yourself then you can still the tree and take part in some awesome festivities with the broadcast of the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, which includes musical performances from Adam Blackstone, Muni Long, Stephen Sanchez, Trombone Shorty, James Taylor, The War And Treaty and Trisha Yearwood, with the special hosted by Mickey Guyton.
Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays
December 20, 9 pm ET/PT
Follow up the National Christmas Tree Lighting with some more holiday tunes by incredible performers with Josh Groban’s holiday special. In addition to Groban, James Bay, Jennifer Hudson, Tori Kelly and The War And Treaty. The special is also going to see the creation of a new family, as a live adoption will take place as part of the special.
The Price Is Right at Night Holiday Heroes
December 24, 8 pm ET/PT
Celebrate Christmas Eve with one of America’s favorite game shows, The Price Is Right, as it airs a primetime holiday special that sees first responders, police officers, firefighters and members of the military serving as the contestants.
NBC
Christmas in Rockefeller Center
December 4, 8 pm ET/PT
They say there are few things like Christmas in New York, well you can get a chance to see for yourself as this annual NBC special will showcase the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. An incredible lineup of performers are going to help celebrate the event, including Backstreet Boys, Dan + Shay, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Hudson, Coco Jones, Little Big Town, RAYE, Thalia and the Radio City Rockettes, while Kelly Clarkson hosts the broadcast.
Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular
December 4, 10 pm ET/PT
Jimmy Fallon is releasing his very own holiday album this year, and this TV special is going to feature many of the performers from the album, which includes Meghan Trainor, Cara Delevingne, Dolly Parton, J.B. Smoove, Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, LL COOL J, The Roots, “Weird Al” Yankovic and more.
A Motown Christmas
December 11, 9 pm ET/PT
The legends of Motown team up with some of today’s biggest artists to perform both holiday favorites and classics from the iconic era of music. Motown icons Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the Temptations are set to appear, along with contemporary artists Ashanti, Andra Day, BeBe Winans, Halle Bailey, Jamie Foxx, JoJo, Jordin Sparks, mgk, October London and Pentatonix. There will also be a special performance from Broadway’s MJ the Musical.
A Saturday Night Live Christmas
December 18, 9 pm ET/PT
Saturday Night Live has featured countless great Christmas and holiday-theme sketches over the years (off the top of my head Adam Sandler’s The Chanukah Song, a Debbie Downer Christmas and the Homegoods Christmas ad), well you can watch many of those as part of this SNL holiday special. You can also find whatever holiday-theme SNL sketch you want streaming on Peacock.
BET Plus
Brewster’s Millions: Christmas
December 5
BET Plus has gotten into the holiday spirit in recent years, releasing many original Christmas movies for its streaming service. The big highlight this year though is a sequel to the popular Richard Pryor movie Brewster’s Millions. This new story sees Morgan Brewseter (China Anne McClain) try to ensure she inherits for uncle’s fortune before Christmas, but in the process she discovers love, faith and family.
Disney Plus
The Simpsons holiday episode
December 17
An exclusive double episode of The Simpsons is set to stream on Disney Plus this year. Titled “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” the special sees the residents of Springfield search for Christmas cheer.
Hallmark
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story
November 30, 8 pm ET/PT
Hallmark has been in Christmas mode for a while now, but if you opted to hold off on the holiday celebration until recently you’re in luck, because perhaps their biggest movie of the season premieres on November 30: Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. With the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs becoming a cultural phenomenon beyond the world of sports (thanks to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce), this story focuses on a Chiefs’ superfan hoping her family can the “Fan of the Year” contest, in the process getting to know the team’s director of fan engagement. In addition to stars Hunter King and Tyler Hynes, the movie features Ed Begley Jr. and Donna Kelce. Keep up with all of this year's Hallmark Christmas movies here.
Hulu
Family Guy holiday special
November 25
Family Guy hasn’t aired any new episodes on Fox since last spring, but it is delivering its second holiday-themed special in 2024 exclusively on Hulu (following their previously released Halloween episode). This episode, titled “Gift of the White Guy,” sees Peter need to recover Lois’ Christmas brooch after using it in a White Elephant gift exchange; meanwhile, Stewie finds out he’s on Santa’ naughty list.
Nutcrackers
November 29
Nutcrackers is Hulu's new offering to the Christmas movie genre this year. Ben Stiller stars as the big city uncle of a group of children who recently lost their parents, looking after them on their rural farm as the holidays approach. Antics and heart-pulling emotions are a given.
Lifetime
A Very Merry Beauty Salon
December 7, 8 pm ET/PT
Fans of the 90s TV show Sister, Sister are going to want to tune in for A Very Merry Beauty Salon, as Tia Mowry reteams with her co-star from the sitcom RonReaco Lee for this Lifetime holiday movie. Mowry stars as Sienna, who sees sparks when she meets Lawrence, whose wine company is sponsoring Atlanta’s Tinsel Ball where Sienna is going to be honored.
The Holiday Junkie
December 14, 8 pm ET/PT
Jennifer Love Hewitt brings the star power to another Lifetime entry, The Holiday Junkie. Hewitt stars as the owner of a decorating company who must get through her first Christmas following the passing of her mother.
Netflix
That Christmas
December 4
Richard Curtis has already given us a Christmas favorite in Love, Actually, but now he has written an animated Christmas movie that hopes to join the ranks of Christmas classics. That Christmas features a voice cast of Bill Nighy, Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker, Rhys Darby, Lolly Adefope and more, the movie tells how a snowstorm changes the Christmas plans of a UK seaside town, including Santa’s.
A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter
December 6, 9 pm ET/PT
Music sensation Sabrina Carpenter is getting into the Christmas spirit with her own holiday special that will stream live on Netflix (hopefully with better results than the Jake Paul/Mike Tyson fight). In addition to Carpenter performing some of her hit songs and holiday favorites, the special will include comedic cameos and performances from fellow music stars like Chappell Roan, Tyla, Shania Twain, Kali Uchis, Nico Hiraga, Quinta Brunson, Cara Delevingne, Kyle Mooney, Megan Stalter, Sean Astin, Owen Thiele and Jillian Bell.
The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
December 9
The latest season of The Great British Baking Show may be ending, but fans of the comfort watch are soon going to be able to stream the show’s annual holiday special, which will see celebrities try their hand in the iconic white tent and have their various confections judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. If you don’t want to wait until December 9, an all new edition of The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday is currently streaming on The Roku Channel.
Carry-On
December 13
Most of the Christmas content is, as per usual, family-centric or romantic storylines of finding someone to spend the holidays with. But Carry-On is giving us some action as a Christmas gift this year. Taron Egerton stars as a TSA Agent who becomes a pawn in a sinister traveler’s (Jason Bateman) attempt to get a bomb through security and onto a Christmas Day flight. Could this be Die Hard for a new generation?
NFL Christmas Day games
December 25, 1 pm ET & 4:30 pm ET
Christmas Day NFL games have become an annual tradition, apparently now even when Christmas falls on a Wednesday, a day usually professional football avoids. But that’s not the only thing new, as Netflix is going to be the exclusive home for these games (unless you are in one of the teams’ local markets), marking the platform’s first time streaming NFL games. But beyond all of that, the actual matchups are familiar favorites for NFL fans, with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs playing Russell Wilson, TJ Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens going up against CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans.
