Get Into the Festive Spirit! 20 Christmas TV Shows and Specials to Watch Over the Holidays

You'll want to bring out the hot cocoa while watching these must-watch festive entities

Kelsie Gibson, Paris C.

13 December 2024 at 10:43 am·6-min read

Shane Harvey/Hallmark Media Dennis Haysbert as Robert Lewin and Loretta Devine as Linda Lewin in an episode of 'Holidazed' — Shane Harvey/Hallmark Media
Dennis Haysbert as Robert Lewin and Loretta Devine as Linda Lewin in an episode of 'Holidazed'

It’s time to get in the Christmas spirit and what better way than tuning into some holiday favorites?

Though plenty of new movies are coming out this holiday season, there are also plenty of merry TV shows streaming online for the perfect holiday binge.

Netflix’s short-lived series Dash & Lily will leave you with all the warm and fuzzy feelings, while Disney+’s The Santa Clauses packs in the holiday magic in not one but two festive seasons.

Plus, there are plenty of holiday specials to keep you entertained, from childhood favorites like A Charlie Brown Christmas to musical-packed numbers like High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special.

Read ahead for 21 of the best TV shows and specials to stream this holiday season.

Finding Mr. Christmas

Festive challenges test the talents of 10 hopeful men vying to become Hallmark's next leading man on this holiday reality TV show hosted by Mean Girls alum Jonathan Bennett.

Watch Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+

Holidazed

Six families of different cultures and generations share the same cul-de-sac while coming together for the holiday season on this eight-episode limited series featuring Ser'Darius Blain, Erin Cahill and Ian Harding.

Watch Holidazed on Hallmark+

The Santa Clauses

James Clark/Disney From left: Matilda Lawler, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Austin Kane, Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell in an episode of 'The Santa Clauses' — James Clark/Disney
From left: Matilda Lawler, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, Austin Kane, Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell in an episode of 'The Santa Clauses'

Set almost 30 years after the 1994 original Santa Clause film, the series follows Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) as he decides to retire and tries to find a suitable replacement to pass on the red Santa Claus coat to.

Watch The Santa Clauses on Disney+

Dash & Lily

Based on the young adult novel Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, the rom-com follows two very different teenagers (Austin Abrams and Midori Francis) living in New York City who form a deep connection over a series of messages in a red notebook.

Watch Dash & Lily on Netflix

Merry Happy Whatever

Starring Dennis Quaid, Bridgit Mendler and Ashley Tisdale, the series follows a dad and his family as they try to deal with the stress of the holidays.

Watch Merry Happy Whatever on Netflix

Christmas Flow

The French series follows a journalist and a rapper who form an unlikely romance over the holiday season.

Watch Christmas Flow on Netflix

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Courtesy Everett Collection From left: Shermy, Sally Brown (front), Violet Gray, Charlie Brown, Lucy van Pelt, Linus van Pelt, Patty, Schroeder, Frieda, Pig-Pen and Snoopy in 1965's 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' — Courtesy Everett Collection
From left: Shermy, Sally Brown (front), Violet Gray, Charlie Brown, Lucy van Pelt, Linus van Pelt, Patty, Schroeder, Frieda, Pig-Pen and Snoopy in 1965's 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'

Based on the comic strip Peanuts, the 1965 animated television special centers on Charlie Brown as he tries to lift his spirits over the holiday season.

Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on Apple TV+

A Garfield Christmas

Based on the Garfield comic strip, the animated television special focuses on the titular orange cat as he spends the holidays on a farm and learns the true meaning of Christmas.

Watch A Garfield Christmas on Peacock

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas

Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett In front: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse; in back, from left: Pluto, Morty Mouse, Goofy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Daisy Duck and Donald Duck in 1999's 'Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas' — Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett
In front: Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse; in back, from left: Pluto, Morty Mouse, Goofy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Daisy Duck and Donald Duck in 1999's 'Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas'

The 1999 animated special includes three features and has cameos from many different Disney characters throughout. Plus, there’s a 2004 sequel titled Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas (also on Disney+) for an extra dose of holiday Disney magic.

Watch Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas on Disney+

Nailed It! Holiday!

Can’t get enough of cooking shows? Check out the Nailed It! holiday special as home bakers attempt to recreate edible holiday masterpieces.

Watch Nailed It! Holiday! on Netflix

Sugar Rush Christmas

Courtesy of Netflix From left: Guest judge Chris Bosh, judges Adriano Zumbo and Candace Nelson, host Hunter March and contestant Anna in episode 4 of 'Sugar Rush Christmas' — Courtesy of Netflix
From left: Guest judge Chris Bosh, judges Adriano Zumbo and Candace Nelson, host Hunter March and contestant Anna in episode 4 of 'Sugar Rush Christmas'

A Christmas spin on the baking series Sugar Rush, bakers get competitive as they create some delicious holiday treats.

Watch Sugar Rush Christmas on Netflix

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays

Courtesy of Netflix From left: Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas in an episode of 'Great British Baking Show: Holidays' — Courtesy of Netflix
From left: Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas in an episode of 'Great British Baking Show: Holidays'

Competitors from past seasons of The Great British Baking Show reunite for this holiday special featuring judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. (For serious laughs, watch the season 3 episode of the holiday special that features the Derry Girls cast.)

Watch The Great British Baking Show: Holidays on Netflix

Christmas Cookie Challenge

Get some Christmas cookie inspiration when you tune into Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge, which features various bakers showing off their holiday decorating skills.

Watch Christmas Cookie Challenge on Max

Holiday Baking Championship

In this holiday cooking special, bakers compete for a chance to win $50,000 by making all kinds of delicious treats, from cookies to pie.

Watch Holiday Baking Championship on Max

High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special

Disney+/Nick Sokoloff Front, from left: Joshua Bassett, Julia Lester and Olivia Rodrigo in 2020's 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special' — Disney+/Nick Sokoloff
Front, from left: Joshua Bassett, Julia Lester and Olivia Rodrigo in 2020's 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special'

The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is all in this together to perform a collection of Christmas and Hanukkah songs in this Disney+ special.

Watch High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special on Disney+

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

Disney+ From left: Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in 2022's 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special' — Disney+
From left: Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer and Chris Pratt as Star-Lord in 2022's 'The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special'

Taking place before the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), this holiday special sees the Guardians head to Earth as they try to find the perfect Christmas present for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt). (A family-friendly fave of our critic as well!)

Watch The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special on Disney+

Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special

The Queen of Christmas puts on a magical show in this Apple TV+ special, which features her classic hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

Watch Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special on Apple TV+

A Very Murray Christmas

In this holiday variety show, Bill Murray gets a little help from his A-list friends, including Miley Cyrus and George Clooney.

Watch A Very Murray Christmas on Netflix

The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show

Kacey Musgraves performs hits from her holiday album A Very Kacey Christmas and more with a little help from some musical guests, including Leon Bridges and Troye Sivan.

Watch The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show on Amazon Prime Video

My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood brings her debut Christmas album, My Gift, to life in this holiday special featuring her family and celebrity friends, including John Legend.

Watch My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood on Max

Read the original article on People

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