Hallmark announces 'The Hallmark Christmas Experience'

Hometown holiday Christmas special as only Hallmark can bring you
√ Hosted By Benjamin Ayres, featuring special musical performances from Brad Paisley & Mickey Guyton; must-see 2026 ‘Countdown to Christmas’ movie announcement from Lacey Chabert; Exclusive Hallmark sneak peeks & grand tree-lighting celebration with special appearances from beloved stars including Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, Kimberley Sustad, B.J. Britt

Hallmark Media Press Release & Graphic

Hallmark Media announced “The Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday Christmas Special,” premiering Saturday, Dec. 6 (10 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel and streaming next day on Hallmark+. Benjamin Ayres (“The Santa Class”) will host from the Christmas Experience at Crown Center in Kansas City, the home of Hallmark’s headquarters.

To help superfans get in the holiday spirit, the tree-lighting countdown will feature special musical performances from Brad Paisley – who partnered with Hallmark Channel to write and record music for “A Grand Ole Opry Christmas” as well as the “Countdown to Christmas” anthem – and Mickey Guyton.

Spotlighting a grand tree-lighting celebration only Hallmark could deliver, the special will premiere with exclusive first look teases and must-see programming announcements, featuring beloved Hallmark stars including Andrew Walker (“Three Wiser Men and a Boy”), Tyler Hynes (“Christmas Above the Clouds”), Kimberley Sustad (“Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper”), B.J. Britt (“The Holiday Stocking”) and many more.

For the first time, Lacey Chabert (“Haul Out the Halloween”) will share an exclusive announcement about her 2026 “Countdown to Christmas” movie.

"Christmas is a special time of year for all of us at Hallmark, and we can’t wait to celebrate with an all-new holiday special hosted at Hallmark’s global headquarters and the home of the Hallmark Christmas Experience,” said Darren Abbott, chief brand officer, Hallmark. “Fan-favorite actors, special musical performances, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks will make this a special event you won’t want to miss."

The “Hallmark Christmas Experience: A Hometown Holiday” is a Big Fish Entertainment production. Lucilla D'Agostino, Jordana Starr, Kimberly Goodman and Ronald Hysten are executive producers.

More about Hallmark Christmas Experience: For four weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the Hallmark Christmas Experience allows fans to step into the world of a Hallmark Christmas with activities like create and learn workshops with Hallmark artists, photo opportunities with Hallmark stars, signature dining experiences, and much more. What’s more, “Countdown to Christmas” enthusiasts can get a sneak peek behind the curtain and catch their beloved Hallmark actors in “Stars on Stage” productions, including lighthearted games and competitions, insightful panel discussions, and heartwarming movie screenings.

Tickets are available now at experiencehallmarkchristmas.com.