Holiday TV Guide 2025: Top Christmas Movies and Thanksgiving Specials!

Disney-owned Freeform will once again host an array of Christmas movies starting December 1, with The Santa Clause and Home Alone series marking the start of this festive marathon. These films will be shown multiple times throughout December along with Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Love Actually is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on December 2, while Frozen and Frozen 2 will also be featured, encouraging viewers to enjoy some cozy winter fun.

Catch the animated favorites How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Frosty the Snowman back-to-back on NBC starting at 8 p.m. on December 4, with additional showings on Christmas Day and December 9. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer joins the lineup on December 5 from 8 to 9:15 p.m., with a repeat broadcast on December 11. The timeless It’s A Wonderful Life will grace screens on Christmas Eve from 8 to 11 p.m.

Tune in for Christmas in Rockefeller Center hosted by Reba McEntire, airing December 3 from 8 to 10 p.m., with a simultaneous broadcast on Peacock.

Enjoy a collection of Christmas-themed sketches from Saturday Night Live on December 18 from 9 to 11 p.m., with a rerun on December 22.

Back That Year Up, featuring Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson, will air on Peacock on December 23. This special follows their comedic coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics and will feature a hilarious recap of the year’s events with guest appearances by celebrities like Seth Meyers and Jon Hamm.

The special, directed by Leslie Hall, is also produced by Kenan Thompson and Kevin Hart, with additional executive producers including Bryan Smiley and David Nickoll, who also serves as the showrunner.

NBC will broadcast the Christmas Eve mass led by Pope Leo, starting at 11:30 p.m. on December 24.

ABC kicks off its holiday programming on the last day of November, featuring half-hour classics such as Disney’s Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol, Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town. The Santa Clause will air at 8:30 a.m. on December 7, followed by Home Alone on Christmas Eve.

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest will celebrate the arrival of 2026 starting at 8 p.m. ET on December 31 from New York. This edition introduces a live countdown from Chicago, marking a first in the event’s history.

This year’s lineup features an array of artists including Mariah Carey, Pitbull, and many others, making it the most star-studded event in its over 50-year history.

The iconic Rose Parade will be broadcast on January 1 at 11 a.m. ET, with a two-hour event featuring colorful floats and performances, also available on Peacock.

Don’t miss the 2025 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, airing at 8 p.m. on December 17 on ABC, featuring top musical performances to ring in the festive spirit.

Kevin Costner narrates a special focusing on the story of Mary and Joseph on their journey to the birth of Jesus, airing at 8 p.m. on December 9.

The 16th annual CMA Country Christmas event, recorded live in Nashville, will air at 9 p.m. on December 2 on ABC. Hosted by Lauren Daigle and Jordan Davis, the show will feature performances by notable country artists including Lady A and Little Big Town.

Dancing with the Stars embraces the holiday season with a special episode featuring festive dances on December 2 at 8 p.m., also available for streaming on Disney+.