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Hallmark Launches 2026 Christmas in July Lineup With Four New Movies
When the July heat rolls in, Hallmark Channel turns back the clock to December. The network has announced its 2026 “Christmas in July” event, a slate of four original holiday movies that will debut each Saturday night in July. The first film, Christmas Under Construction, hits the airwaves on July 4 at 8 p.m. ET, followed by O Little Christmas Market on July 11, Snowbound for the Holidays on July 18, and Love Under the Mistletoe on July 25.
The lineup showcases a roster of familiar Hallmark faces. Daniel Lissing, best known for When Calls the Heart, stars in Christmas Under Construction alongside Jessica Lowndes. The story follows a reality‑show renovation host who transforms a cabin into a Christmas haven and discovers romance with the owner, Cooper. O Little Christmas Market pairs Katherine Barrell and Stephen Huszar in a tale about an artist who fights to keep a small town’s Christmas market alive while cultivating a relationship with a local architect tied to a development deal. Marcus Rosner, who played a lead in Sullivan’s Crossing, appears in Snowbound for the Holidays with Vanessa Lengies. The narrative centers on a hotel manager, Cassidy, who evaluates a ski lodge and must decide between work, love, and holiday magic after falling for the lodge’s owner, Trey. The final film, Love Under the Mistletoe, features Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman as a former high‑school crush who partners on a charity fundraiser and encounters unexpected romance under mistletoe.
The event will air on Hallmark Channel’s linear network. Viewers without cable can stream the Saturday premieres live through services such as YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Sling. After the live airing, each film becomes available on Hallmark+ the following day. Hallmark+ offers a free trial; thereafter, a subscription costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year and can be accessed via the Hallmark+ website or its mobile app.
Hallmark Channel, a subsidiary of Hallmark Media, has built its brand around family‑friendly programming, especially made‑for‑TV movies that focus on romance and holiday themes. The network first introduced its “Countdown to Christmas” programming block in 2009, a period that now draws the highest viewership for the channel. In 2014, the original film Christmas Under Wraps set a record with 5.8 million viewers, the highest premiere rating in the channel’s history.
Hallmark+ launched in September 2024 as a streaming platform that carries Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, original series, and other family‑friendly content. The service is part of Hallmark Media’s strategy to expand its reach beyond traditional cable, especially as the network’s linear audience has declined from a peak of 90 million households in 2015 to about 70 million households in 2023.
The Christmas in July event is a seasonal extension of Hallmark’s holiday programming, offering viewers a chance to enjoy Christmas themes during the summer months. The event has become a staple of the network’s calendar, and the 2026 lineup continues the tradition of pairing familiar actors with light‑hearted, feel‑good stories.
For fans of Hallmark’s signature style, the 2026 Christmas in July lineup provides four new holiday films that combine romance, community, and seasonal charm. Viewers can watch the movies on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. ET, stream them live through various providers, or catch them on Hallmark+ the next day.
The event underscores Hallmark Channel’s ongoing commitment to delivering holiday content that appeals to families and viewers who enjoy predictable, uplifting narratives. As the network prepares for the upcoming holiday season, the July premieres serve as an early preview of the themes and storytelling Hallmark will continue to emphasize in its 2026 programming slate.
The lineup showcases a roster of familiar Hallmark faces. Daniel Lissing, best known for When Calls the Heart, stars in Christmas Under Construction alongside Jessica Lowndes. The story follows a reality‑show renovation host who transforms a cabin into a Christmas haven and discovers romance with the owner, Cooper. O Little Christmas Market pairs Katherine Barrell and Stephen Huszar in a tale about an artist who fights to keep a small town’s Christmas market alive while cultivating a relationship with a local architect tied to a development deal. Marcus Rosner, who played a lead in Sullivan’s Crossing, appears in Snowbound for the Holidays with Vanessa Lengies. The narrative centers on a hotel manager, Cassidy, who evaluates a ski lodge and must decide between work, love, and holiday magic after falling for the lodge’s owner, Trey. The final film, Love Under the Mistletoe, features Jen Lilley and Nick Bateman as a former high‑school crush who partners on a charity fundraiser and encounters unexpected romance under mistletoe.
The event will air on Hallmark Channel’s linear network. Viewers without cable can stream the Saturday premieres live through services such as YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Sling. After the live airing, each film becomes available on Hallmark+ the following day. Hallmark+ offers a free trial; thereafter, a subscription costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year and can be accessed via the Hallmark+ website or its mobile app.
Hallmark Channel, a subsidiary of Hallmark Media, has built its brand around family‑friendly programming, especially made‑for‑TV movies that focus on romance and holiday themes. The network first introduced its “Countdown to Christmas” programming block in 2009, a period that now draws the highest viewership for the channel. In 2014, the original film Christmas Under Wraps set a record with 5.8 million viewers, the highest premiere rating in the channel’s history.
Hallmark+ launched in September 2024 as a streaming platform that carries Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, original series, and other family‑friendly content. The service is part of Hallmark Media’s strategy to expand its reach beyond traditional cable, especially as the network’s linear audience has declined from a peak of 90 million households in 2015 to about 70 million households in 2023.
The Christmas in July event is a seasonal extension of Hallmark’s holiday programming, offering viewers a chance to enjoy Christmas themes during the summer months. The event has become a staple of the network’s calendar, and the 2026 lineup continues the tradition of pairing familiar actors with light‑hearted, feel‑good stories.
For fans of Hallmark’s signature style, the 2026 Christmas in July lineup provides four new holiday films that combine romance, community, and seasonal charm. Viewers can watch the movies on Saturday nights at 8 p.m. ET, stream them live through various providers, or catch them on Hallmark+ the next day.
The event underscores Hallmark Channel’s ongoing commitment to delivering holiday content that appeals to families and viewers who enjoy predictable, uplifting narratives. As the network prepares for the upcoming holiday season, the July premieres serve as an early preview of the themes and storytelling Hallmark will continue to emphasize in its 2026 programming slate.
