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The CW Announces Holiday Programming Lineup

The network will broadcast a variety of classic specials, musical tributes, and two major college football bowl games.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Television

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The CW announced its holiday lineup featuring musical specials, variety programs, and two college football bowl games starting November 22. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you still look forward to watching traditional holiday specials on network television each year?

The CW has revealed its holiday schedule, featuring a collection of classic specials, new holiday programs, and musical tributes. The lineup includes the return of fan-favorite holiday classics and the broadcast of two college football bowl games from San Diego.

Why it matters

The network aims to capture holiday viewers by blending traditional animated and live-action specials with sports and music programming throughout the season.

The programming schedule features the 13th edition of the Poinsettia Bowl and the 47th iteration of the Holiday Bowl. These sporting events are joined by a mix of new specials and classic films running from late November through December.

The players

The CW

The CW is a national television network that offers a diverse range of entertainment, including scripted dramas, unscripted series, and sports programming.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is an iconic American singer, songwriter, and actress who is frequently celebrated in holiday-themed television programming.

The Tabernacle Choir

The Tabernacle Choir is a world-renowned musical ensemble featured in the new special The Light of Christmas With the Tabernacle Choir.

The details

The schedule begins Nov. 22 with Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, complemented by music tributes like Dolly Parton: Here I Am. Viewers will also see new specials such as World's Funniest Moments: Christmas and Masters of Illusion: Christmas Magic, alongside returning favorites like A Very Brady Christmas.

Timeline

  1. Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors premieres Nov. 22, 2026.

  2. The Wizard of Oz airs Nov. 25, 2026, and Dec. 20, 2026.

  3. The 13th Poinsettia Bowl takes place Dec. 23, 2026.

  4. The 47th Annual Holiday Bowl is scheduled for Dec. 28, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

The CW's schedule follows the long-standing industry pattern of mixing legacy television specials with live sports to maintain audience engagement during the holiday window. This approach reinforces the traditional broadcast network seasonal holiday showcase as a primary strategy for retaining viewers.

Viewers can catch these holiday specials and bowl games across the network's national broadcast reach in Eastern and Pacific time zones. The inclusion of live sports provides a specific viewing window for those following the college football postseason schedule.

The takeaway

Networks utilize recurring holiday programming to stabilize viewership during the end-of-year period. Strategically pairing nostalgic content with high-profile bowl games helps maintain a broad audience appeal throughout the season.

Further reading

For more on upcoming shows and broadcast updates, visit the Television section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by TV News Check.

Live Poll

Do you still look forward to watching traditional holiday specials on network television each year?