Molly Yeh Joins Holiday Baking Championship Season 13
Food Network's Season 13 premieres with Molly Yeh replacing Nancy Fuller as the third judge alongside Jesse Palmer, Duff Goldman, and Kardea Brown.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baking
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Food Network premieres Season 13 of Holiday Baking Championship on November 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET, with Molly Yeh taking the third judge seat previously held by Nancy Fuller. Jesse Palmer, Duff Goldman, and Kardea Brown return as the remaining judges.
Why it matters
The judging panel change is the season's most notable shift for viewers following the long-running holiday baking competition. Neither Food Network nor Nancy Fuller has publicly explained the casting decision.
Season 13 premieres November 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on Food Network with three judges: Jesse Palmer, Duff Goldman, and Kardea Brown, plus Molly Yeh as the newly added third judge. Food Network announced the lineup on Instagram on November 1, 2026, but no reason for the change has been provided.
The players
Molly Yeh
Molly Yeh is a food writer, cookbook author, and Food Network personality known for her Midwest-inspired recipes and her show Girl Meets Farm.
Nancy Fuller
Nancy Fuller is a baker and television personality who served as a judge on Holiday Baking Championship before her departure from the panel.
Food Network
Food Network is a U.S. cable television channel focused on cooking and culinary programming, and it broadcasts Holiday Baking Championship.
The details
Food Network announced the Season 13 judging lineup on Instagram on November 1, 2026, naming Molly Yeh as the replacement for Nancy Fuller. Fuller said on Instagram in August 2026 that she had been renovating her kitchen, but she and the network have not addressed the judging change directly.
Timeline
August 2026: Nancy Fuller posts on Instagram about renovating her kitchen.
November 1, 2026: Food Network announces the Season 13 judges on Instagram.
November 2, 2026, 8 p.m. ET: Season 13 premieres on Food Network.
Season Trajectory
Holiday Baking Championship has built its identity on a consistent judging panel across seasons, so Season 13's replacement of Nancy Fuller with Molly Yeh marks a visible departure from that continuity. The change alters the show's on-screen dynamic as it enters its thirteenth season on Food Network.
Viewers who follow the show can tune in on November 2, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on Food Network to see the new judging lineup. Those who want to watch live should check their cable or streaming provider for Food Network availability before the premiere.
The takeaway
Changes to a long-running judging panel can reshape a show's tone even when the format stays the same, so viewers who value continuity may want to watch the first episodes with fresh expectations. Season 13 gives a clear point to compare the new dynamic against earlier seasons.
Further reading
Explore more in Baking to see how holiday competition shows shape home baking trends.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Good Housekeeping.
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