Broadcast networks are rolling out festive holiday specials for the 2026 season, bringing Snoop Dogg’s Christmas shindig, the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, and traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations to viewers across ABC, CBS, and NBC.
The Holiday Schedule at a Glance
- ABC kicks off December with Dancing with the Holidays on December 1 and wraps up the year with Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
- NBC anchors its early December slate with the 93rd annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center and Christmas with Snoop on December 2.
Broadcasters Deck the Halls
ABC starts its festive rollout with Dancing with the Holidays on December 1 at 8/7c, transforming the ballroom into a winter wonderland with 12 all-new routines, TV Insider reported. That same night, the network airs the 17th annual CMA Country Christmas filmed live in Nashville, featuring performances from Lady A, Trisha Yearwood, Jordan Davis, and Debbie Winans.
Fans of holiday movie debates can catch Die Hard on December 6 at 8:02/7:02c, settling once and for all that Hans Gruber’s fall from Nakatomi Plaza makes it an authentic Christmas feature.
Elizabeth Banks hosts a festive edition of Press Your Luck on December 10, while the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2026 brings Olivia Rodrigo, Hilary Duff, the Jonas Brothers, and Charlie Puth to the screen on December 17.
The network continues its holiday movie blocks with The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: The Santa Clause on December 23 and The Wonderful World of Disney Presents: Home Alone on December 24. Christmas morning brings the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade at 10:00 a.m. EST from Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Tree Lightings and Snoop Dogg
NBC gets an early start on December 2 at 7/6c with the 93rd annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center live broadcast. Immediately following the tree lighting at 10/9c, the network premieres Christmas with Snoop, a holiday party hosted by Snoop Dogg featuring Gwen Stefani, Martha Stewart, Jamie Foxx, Kristin Chenoweth, and Wayne Brady.
Moving into the new year, NBC broadcasts the 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda from Pasadena on January 1 at 11 a.m. EST.
CBS fills its December calendar with animated specials like Reindeer in Here on December 5, alongside a primetime shift for The Price Is Right at Night: Live Holiday Special on December 13. On December 26, the network broadcasts the 29th Annual Family Film & TV Awards followed by Voices of Hope, a Tabernacle Choir centennial celebration featuring Donny Osmond, David Foster, and Katharine McPhee, hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner.
| Network | Special | Date | Time (ET/PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Dancing with the Holidays | December 1 | 8/7c |
| NBC | Christmas in Rockefeller Center | December 2 | 7/6c |
| CBS | Reindeer in Here | December 5 | 8/7c |
| ABC | iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2026 | December 17 | 8/7c |
| FOX | NFL Christmas Special: LA vs. Seattle | December 25 | 8:15/7:15c |
Ringing in 2027
As the holiday season draws to a close, broadcast networks prepare extensive year-end programming. Robin Roberts anchors the two-hour primetime special The Year: 2026 on ABC on December 30 at 9/8c, reviewing the headlines and pop-culture moments that defined the year.
For New Year’s Eve, Ryan Seacrest returns to Times Square for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2027, airing live on December 31 at 8/7c. Rita Ora joins Seacrest in New York, Julianne Hough and Rob Gronkowski host from Las Vegas, and Druski oversees festivities in Chicago.
In a first for the franchise, the special will simulcast live on both ABC and Disney+. Simultaneously, CBS counters with New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, featuring live country performances from HARDY, Little Big Town, and The Red Clay Strays.
