Hallmark Channel’s highly anticipated Countdown to Christmas is returning for 2025, promising a heartwarming season with 24 brand-new movies and four exciting holiday series. This comprehensive guide provides everything fans need to know, from streaming options without cable to the full premiere schedule, ensuring no moment of holiday magic is missed.
The Enduring Magic of Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas
The holiday season officially begins for millions of fans when the Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas block lights up their screens. From the last weekend in October until January 1st, Hallmark Channel transforms into a festive wonderland, offering a cherished mix of holiday movies, specials, and original programming. This annual tradition has become a beloved part of many families’ holiday celebrations, known for its heartwarming romances and festive cheer.
A Rich History of Holiday Cheer
While the first holiday original movie aired on the channel in 2000, the official Countdown to Christmas event didn’t begin until 2009. Over the years, Hallmark has expanded its holiday programming, offering fans more ways to enjoy the festive spirit throughout the year. Since 2012, the network has hosted a popular “Christmas in July” event, re-airing previous holiday favorites. In 2019, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the event, Hallmark introduced “Christmas Fridays,” airing selected movies year-round, a tradition that continued into 2023.
What’s New for Countdown to Christmas 2025?
For 2025, Hallmark is delivering a generous helping of new content for its dedicated viewers. The Countdown to Christmas series officially kicks off on October 17th and will run through December 21, 2025. This year’s lineup includes:
- A total of 24 brand-new Christmas movies, featuring many fan-favorite actors.
- An expansion into holiday series, with four new original series premieres.
- The exciting return of Finding Mr. Christmas! for its second season, promising more festive competition and fun.
How to Watch Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas Without Cable
For those who have cut the cord but don’t want to miss a single moment of holiday magic, there are several convenient ways to watch Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas. The Hallmark Channel continues to be the primary broadcast home for these festive features. While older movies may appear on various platforms, watching new premieres as they air requires specific streaming solutions.
- Live Streaming Services: Services like Frndly TV offer live access to the Hallmark Channel, alongside other family-friendly networks. Plans typically start at an affordable monthly rate, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional cable.
- Hallmark’s Dedicated Streaming Service: For guaranteed access to all new movies as they premiere, Hallmark+ is the network’s official streaming platform. Available through dedicated apps and other streaming service providers, it allows viewers to catch holiday blockbusters right when they debut on cable TV.
- Older Movie Collections: If you’re looking to revisit past holiday favorites, various streaming platforms offer selections of older Hallmark Christmas movies:
- Pluto TV and The Roku Channel often provide free live-streaming channels dedicated to Hallmark holiday content, as well as on-demand options.
- Netflix features a limited “Hallmark Channel collection,” perfect for those with an existing subscription.
- Important Update: Please note that Hallmark movies are no longer available to stream on Peacock in 2025, a change that impacts how cord-cutters access the content this holiday season.
Full Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2025 Movie Schedule
All new movies for the 2025 Countdown to Christmas are set to premiere at 8 p.m. ET/PT unless otherwise specified. Get your festive snacks ready and mark your calendars!
- Saturday, October 18: A Royal Montana Christmas — Starring Fiona Gubelmann and Warren Christie
- Sunday, October 19: A Christmas Angel Match — Starring Meghan Ory and Benjamin Ayres
- Saturday, October 25: Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! — Starring Robert Buckley, Kimberley Sustad
- Sunday, October 26: Cherry Lane Movies (Hallmark Channel Debut):
- 4 p.m. ET/PT: Season’s Greeting from Cherry Lane
- 6 p.m. ET/PT: Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane
- 8 p.m. ET/PT: Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane
- Saturday, November 1: Christmas On Duty — Starring Janel Parrish and Parker Young
- Sunday, November 2: A Newport Christmas — Starring Ginna Claire Mason and Wes Brown
- Saturday, November 8: Christmas Above the Clouds — Starring Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes
- Sunday, November 9: A Keller Christmas Vacation — Starring Jonathan Bennett, Brandon Routh and Eden Sher
- Saturday, November 15: Three Wisest Men — Starring Paul Campbell, Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker and Margaret Colin
- Sunday, November 16: Tidings for the Season — Starring Tamera Mowry-Housley, B.J. Britt, Elijah-Justus Lewis
- Saturday, November 22: Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story — Starring Holland Roden, Matthew Daddario and featuring cameos from Buffalo Bills players
- Sunday, November 23: Melt My Heart This Christmas — Starring Laura Vandervoort and Stephen Huszar
- Thursday, November 27: We Met in December — Starring Autumn Reeser and Niall Matter
- Friday, November 28:
- 6 p.m. ET/PT: The Snow Must Go On — Starring Heather Hemmens and Corey Cott
- 8 p.m. ET/PT: The More the Merrier — Starring Rachel Boston and Brendan Penny
- Saturday, November 29:
- 6 p.m. ET/PT: An Alpine Holiday — Starring Ashley Williams, Laci Mailey and Julien Samani
- 8 p.m. ET/PT: A Grand Ole Opry Christmas — Starring Nikki DeLoach, Kristoffer Polaha, James Denton, Sharon Lawrence, featuring Grand Ole Opry cameos
- Sunday, November 30:
- 6 p.m. ET/PT: The Christmas Cup — Starring Rhiannon Fish and Ben Rosenbaum
- 8 p.m. ET/PT: Christmas at the Catnip Café — Starring Erin Cahill and Paul Campbell
- Saturday, December 6: She’s Making a List — Starring Lacey Chabert and Andrew Walker
- Sunday, December 7: Single on the 25th — Starring Lyndsy Fonseca and Daniel Lissing
- Saturday, December 13: A Suite Holiday Romance — Starring Jessy Schram and Dominic Sherwood
- Sunday, December 14: Oy to the World! — Starring Brooke D’Orsay and Jake Epstein
- Saturday, December 20: A Make or Break Holiday — Starring Hunter King and Evan Roderick
- Sunday, December 21: The Christmas Baby — Starring Ali Liebert, Katherine Barrell and Barbara Niven
Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2025 Series Schedule
In addition to the movies, 2025 brings an exciting expansion into holiday-themed series, offering ongoing storylines and beloved characters throughout the season. All times listed are Eastern.
- Mistletoe Murders — Season 1 & 2
- Premieres Friday, October 17 at 8 p.m. (two episodes weekly through October 31). Starring Sarah Drew and Peter Mooney.
- Season 2 Premieres Friday, November 7 at 8 p.m. (two episodes weekly through November 21). Starring Sarah Drew and Peter Mooney.
- Finding Mr. Christmas — Season 2
- Premieres Monday, October 27 at 8 p.m. (episodes weekly through December 15). Hosted by Jonathan Bennett, with Lead Judge Melissa Peterman.
- Baked With Love: Holiday
- Premieres Monday, October 27 at 9 p.m. (episodes weekly through December 15). Hosted by Tamera Mowry-Housley, with Guest Judges Chef Anna Haugh and Vaughn Vreeland.
- Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas
- Premieres Friday, December 5 at 8 p.m. (two episodes weekly through December 19). Starring Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, Toby Sandeman, Nathaniel Parker, Jane Seymour, Lucy Eaton, and Mary McDonnell.
