Food Network to deliver more than 50 hours of holiday programming, including new seasonal spin-off 'Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas'

Plus, don’t miss return of ‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,’ ‘Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown,’ ‘Holiday Baking Championship,’ all-new series ‘Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition,’ and special ‘World’s Sweetest Candy Shops’

Food Network Press Release

Food Network will deliver a joyful slate of fresh holiday programming launching in November with the debut of a new holiday themed spin-off of the network’s top-rated competition series – “Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas” – and daring new dessert showdown with a twist: “Sweet Empire.” The sparkling lineup also includes a new season of the wildly successful series “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” and returning fan-favorites “Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown” and “Holiday Baking Championship.”

The holiday cheer continues with “Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition,” special “World’s Sweetest Candy Shops,” and seasonal episodes of “The Kitchen.”

Last year, Food Network programming had more than 60 million total cross-platform viewers during the holiday period.

“This year, we have upped the ante on Food Network’s must-see, seasonal family-friendly programming with new series, new twists and new takes on this fan-favorite lineup,” said Betsy Ayala, head of content, food, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Along with returning favorites, fans will be dazzled by the holiday spin on ‘Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas,’ and the unique take on the dessert competition format with ‘Sweet Empire.’ With more than 50 hours of holiday programming, Food Network is truly the ultimate destination this holiday season.”

Judges Jozef Youssef and Carla Hall with hosts James and Oliver Phelps on Food Network's “Harry Potter Wizards of Baking Season 2.” (Food Network photo)

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The holidays begin with the return of “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” on Sunday, Nov. 2 (8 p.m. ET/PT), featuring even more spellbinding creations, enchanted elements and baking wizardry as a new field of competitors embark on the experience of a lifetime. Hosts James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George Weasley) bring their charm, humor and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and are joined by esteemed culinary judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef, who bring their discerning palates and high expectations to the table. Special guests Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Afshan Azad (Padma Patil) and Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan) help evaluate the competitors’ showpieces as they share their own stories from the films. Fans can follow #WizardsOfBaking on social to watch behind-the-scenes videos, tour the new sets, check out fun games with the hosts and judges, and hear from the Phelps and special guests as they return to Hogwarts once again. On FoodNetwork.com, fans can find out more about the competitors and magical recipes inspired by Harry Potter.

Then, on Sunday, Nov. 2 (10 p.m.), the special “World’s Sweetest Candy Shops” will give viewers a look behind the scenes at three of the world’s biggest sweet stores as they prepare for their busiest time of the year. The It'Sugar flagship store in New Jersey’s American Dream mall will battle its rival store in Times Square to see who will make the most sales during the holiday rush. Across the pond, Cadbury World in the U.K. will unveil an elaborate chocolate sculpture to celebrate its grand reopening following a massive renovation. In Sweden, Gottebiten, the world's largest candy store by floor area, will struggle to keep up with demand for its 700 varieties of pick 'n' mix sweets in a nation of candy-loving Swedes.

Next, “Holiday Baking Championship” will return Monday, Nov. 3 (8 p.m.), and for the first time ever, will split the 12 competing bakers into two teams of “Naughty vs. Nice” as host Jesse Palmer welcomes them to an adorable, immersive holiday village with a working coffee shop, general store and town hall. In this joyful world, the teams will take on tasks like “Snow Day Desserts,” “Chrismukkah Platters” and, of course, “Naughty Elf Desserts” – complete with advantages that lean either mischievous or merry. Judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller and Kardea Brown will bring tough love as they determine which amazing baker will earn the title of “Holiday Baking” champion and receive a feature in Food Network magazine and the grand prize of $25,000. Fans can follow #HolidayBakingChampionship across Food Network social platforms for exclusive content shot on set, including holiday hot takes with the judges, holiday “Two Truths and a Lie,” fun taste tests, and more.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8 p.m.), Guy Fieri will make the most wonderful time of the year even more wonderful, with a high-stakes holiday incarnation of the ultimate sudden-death culinary showdown, “Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas.” And because the holidays are a time for cooking with the ones you love, chefs will be invited to pair up in teams of two to compete for glory and goodwill. In every battle, teams will serve up a savory and a sweet dish based on the spin of the “Randomizer.” The chef teams will need to be in sync and on their game to earn the title, the belt, a $100,000 cash prize furnished by Carnival Cruise Lines, and their split of an additional $50,000 prize to give to a cause close to their hearts.

Competing teams include Antonia Lofaso and Alex Guarnaschelli; Maneet Chauhan and Stephanie Izard; Mei Lin and Nini Nguyen; Jet Tila and Ashley Holt; Lee Anne Wong and Zac Young; Sara Bradley and Damaris Phillips; Britt Rescigno and Jonathon Sawyer; Michael Voltaggio and Bryan Voltaggio; Marcus Samuelsson and Rachel Sherriffe; Shirley Chung and Sherry Yard; Kevin Lee and Dale Talde; Aarón Sánchez and Amanda Freitag; Tobias Dorzon and Marcel Vigneron; Adam Sobel and Christian Petroni; Aarti Sequeira and Crista Luedtke; Graham Elliot and Giuseppe Tentori. Judges across the season are Michelle Bernstein, Scott Conant, Cat Cora, Susan Feniger, Gale Gand, Lorena Garcia, Judy Joo, Nancy Silverton, Curtis Stone, Jacques Torres, Christina Tosi, Ming Tsai and Geoffrey Zakarian. Floor reporters Tiffani Faison and Justin Warner will be joined by Hunter Fieri to provide insight into each team’s strategy. Follow #TournamentofChampions and #AllStarChristmas across Food Network social platforms to watch behind-the-scenes videos, including a tour of the set hosted by Guy, and check out a holiday Q&A with the all-star duos competing.

Making its wintry debut on Sunday, Nov. 9 (9 p.m.), is a new competition series, “Sweet Empire,” where 14 of the most competitive and talented sweets makers are invited to the Yuletide Lodge for a competition unlike any other. While the competitors enter as individuals, their goal will be to get on – and stay on – the strongest team by any means necessary because, in this game, the bakers must create incredible edible works of art to grow their teams and avoid elimination. In the end, teams will crumble until only the strongest will be left standing to become the “Sweet Empire.” Wells Adams will host, with Jacques Torres and Yolanda Gampp serving as judges in this holiday baking competition with an edge. Fans can follow #SweetEmpire across Food Network social platforms for exclusive content shot on set with host Wells, plus culinary demos from Yolanda and Jacques.

Bobby and Sophie Flay as seen on “Beat Bobby Flay Holiday Showdown.” (Food Network photo)

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'Tis the season for revenge when “Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown” premieres on Tuesday, Nov. 11 (8 p.m.). Last holiday season, Bobby didn't play nice and ended up with a clean sweep. This year, all his old friends and Food Network's favorite chefs will return to serve a helping of "Revengesgiving" with a heaping side of "holi-payback." The stakes will be higher than ever, as everyone is out to ruin Bobby's holiday season.

“Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown” competitors and guest hosts include Sunny Anderson, Gabe Bertaccini, Maneet Chauhan, Esther Choi, Kelsey Barnard Clark, Tiffani Faison, Sophie Flay, Amanda Freitag, Carla Hall, Eddie Jackson, Michael Jenkins, Carson Kressley, Mei Lin, Antonia Lofaso, Jeff Mauro, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Damaris Phillips, Aarti Sequeira, Jet Tila, Michael Voltaggio, Brooke Williamson, Geoffrey Zakarian, Claudette Zepeda and Andrew Zimmern. Follow #BeatBobbyFlay across Food Network social platforms for more on this star-studded holiday throwdown.

On Monday, Nov. 17 (9 p.m.), “Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition” will premiere on Food Network and Magnolia Network. Hosted by Oliver Hudson and executive produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines, top bakers will face off in the biggest little gingerbread competition ever imagined. Over a series of four challenges, teams will build incredible, edible worlds from scratch with lights, motion, and storybook-level detail in every miniature. Each week, Oliver guides the fun with warmth and humor, inviting viewers into a magical holiday world, where imagination has no limits. Judges for the series include acclaimed pastry chef Gale Gand and professor and architect Michael Ford, along with episodic guests, celebrity stylist Brad Goreski, chef Christina Tosi, actress D’arcy Carden and, for the finale, Joanna Gaines. Fans can follow #GingerbreadLand across social platforms for more on this all-new holiday competition.

All holiday series will stream next day on HBO Max and discovery+. And for more festive inspiration throughout the season, viewers can tune in to holiday themed episodes of “The Kitchen” during Food Network’s weekend daytime lineup. Plus, fans can learn more about all of the holiday competitors, read episode recaps, discover behind-the-scenes tidbits and take a deep dive into all of Food Network’s holiday offerings on www.FoodNetwork.com.