Netflix has practically finalized its Christmas release schedule for 2026. The platform quietly included four festive films in its autumn programming back in August, and in recent weeks, each has received a release date, exclusive images, and, in most cases, an official trailer.
On October 11, Netflix released a teaser featuring its four major English-language Christmas productions, with releases arriving on a weekly schedule throughout November, followed by a final title in December. This is in addition to a Swedish romantic comedy and a festive-themed family competition series.
Below is the full schedule confirmed by Netflix for this holiday season.
The full 2026 Netflix Christmas release schedule
These are all the dates confirmed so far:
- November 4: A Dog's Perfect Christmas
- November 11: Tyler Perry's The Gospel of Christmas
- November 12: The Christmas Switch
- November 18: Guarding Stars
- December 2: In a Holidaze
- December 9 (USA): Gabby's Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday
Netflix often expands these lists with new announcements and potential acquisitions in the following weeks, so the schedule could grow before Christmas.
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas kicks off the season on November 4
The first Christmas release is A Dog's Perfect Christmas, directed by Cathryn Michon from a script she co-wrote with W. Bruce Cameron, the bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose. The film is based on Cameron's 2020 novel of the same name.
The story is narrated by Winstead, a hound voiced by Thomas Haden Church. Two Christmases after losing his wife, grandfather Sander Goss (Dennis Quaid) has become grumpy and constantly clashes with his teenage granddaughter Ello (Brooke Lena Johnson). When Ello's mother falls ill and enters a medically induced coma, the family falls apart, and it is the arrival of a corgi puppy named Ruby that helps bring them back together.
The cast includes Milo Ventimiglia (This Is Us) as Hunter and Mary Steenburgen as Claire, who catches Sander's eye. The trailer, released on October 12, confirms that, unlike A Dog's Purpose, no dog dies in the plot, as the director herself has clarified.
Both A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey left the Netflix catalog in the United States at the end of September, so they will not be available as a prelude to the new release.
Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas arrives November 11
Tyler Perry's new Christmas production for Netflix now has a fixed date: November 11, right in the middle of the November release slate. The film follows Doing Life, released on October 2, and Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Again?, released in September.
Durrell "Tank" Babbs plays Isaac, a pastor who inherits his family's church in a troubled New York neighborhood, while Fantasia Barrino plays his wife, Rebecca. As Isaac faces doubts, temptations, and a dangerous adversary during the holidays, he must reclaim his faith to save his church, his family, and his community.
Music plays a central role: the producer is gospel icon Kirk Franklin, and the musical cast includes legends such as Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Shirley Caesar, CeCe Winans, and The Clark Sisters. Netflix has released exclusive images, although the full trailer has not yet been released.
The Christmas Switch, the Swedish bet for November 12
Not all of Netflix's Christmas movies this year come from Hollywood. The Christmas Switch, produced in Sweden under the working title Christmas in St. Anna, is an identity-swap romantic comedy starring real-life twin sisters: Felice Jankell and Happy Jankell.
The actresses play Mathilda and Freddie Stjärne, sisters with opposite personalities who are forced to swap lives in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Christian Fandango Sundgren (Barracuda Queens, A Nearly Normal Family) plays Oliver, Mathilda's apparent love interest, while Anastasios Soulis plays Jonas.
The film is adapted from Eleonor Sager's audiobook Christmas in St. Anna and marks the feature film directorial debut of actor Adam Pålsson, known for starring in Young Wallander. The trailer was released alongside the announcement of the release date.
Guarding Stars adapts the novel The Bodyguard
Guarding Stars arrives on November 18, based on Katherine Center's 2022 hit novel, The Bodyguard. Netflix chose to change the title for the adaptation to avoid confusion with the 1992 classic starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston.
Directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, who was also responsible for the hit Purple Hearts, the Christmas romantic comedy follows Hannah Brooks (Leighton Meester), an executive protection agent still recovering from a breakup and the death of her mother. She receives an unusual assignment: to protect Jack Stapleton (Jared Padalecki), Hollywood's most famous action star, who is being harassed by a stalker.
When Jack takes refuge at his family ranch during the holidays, he asks Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend so his sick mother doesn't discover the threat. As they fake a relationship during Christmas, real feelings emerge and hidden secrets come to light.
Compared to the original novel, the story changes its setting from Texas to a ranch in Montana, and the plot moves from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The supporting cast combines Andie MacDowell and Noah LaLonde with country singer Walker Hayes, pop star Ava Max, and WWE wrestler CM Punk, who plays Doghouse.
In a Holidaze closes the calendar on December 2
In a Holidaze ends the season with a classic genre trope: the Christmas time loop. The film is adapted from the 2020 bestselling novel written by Christina Lauren, the pseudonym for the duo Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, who also participated in the script alongside director Tiffany Paulsen.
Maddie Ziegler plays Maelyn Mae Jones, a directionless young woman who lives with her parents and hates her job. After making a huge romantic mistake during what is supposed to be her family's last Christmas at their Utah cabin, Mae asks the universe to show her what would make her happy and wakes up repeating the same Christmas over and over again until she solves it. Graham Phillips plays Andrew, while Elias Kacavas completes the love triangle between the two brothers present in the novel.
Tiffany Paulsen previously directed the 2020 hit Holidate with Emma Roberts. The supporting cast includes Patton Oswalt, Jackie Sandler, and Rob Lowe, who returns to the Netflix Christmas universe after starring in Holiday in the Wild in 2019. Filming took place in Vancouver and Whistler. Netflix has shown a poster, but there is no standalone trailer yet.
Family bonus: Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday
It's not a movie, but it deserves a separate mention for families. Gabby's Dollhouse, Netflix's major children's hit that was the fourth most-watched series on the platform in the second half of 2025 with about 108 million views, is launching a holiday-themed competition spin-off on December 9 in the United States.
Makers and Bakers Holiday follows pairs of young bakers and crafters who compete in baking and craft challenges inspired by the Dollhouse. When Netflix commissioned the series, it confirmed that Laila Lockhart Kraner, who voices Gabby, would be the host.
The festive edition includes guests such as Aidy Bryant and Melissa Villaseñor, former Saturday Night Live cast members, as well as Justin Willman, known for Magic for Humans and years of experience hosting Cupcake Wars on Food Network. The production is handled by DreamWorks Animation and B17 Entertainment, part of Sony Pictures Television. Netflix has only confirmed the release in the United States for now.
Licensed Christmas movies and series coming to Netflix
In addition to its original productions, Netflix is also expanding its catalog with licensed Christmas titles, with expected dates for the United States that may vary by region:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024), starring Judy Greer, is expected on November 1. It is an adaptation of Barbara Robinson's 1972 classic children's book about a troubled family that takes over their town's traditional living nativity scene.
Christmas with the Coopers (2015), also known as Love the Coopers, is also scheduled for November 1. The ensemble comedy features Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Ed Helms, and Alan Arkin, and follows four generations of a family gathered on a chaotic Christmas Eve.
The first two seasons of Mistletoe Murders are also expected on November 1. The mystery series stars Sarah Drew as Emily Lee, the owner of a Christmas shop in a Vermont town who gets involved in murder investigations.
Finally, The Great British Baking Show: Holidays, featuring the 2025 Channel 4 specials, is expected before Christmas in the United States. Highlights include a reunion of the Peep Show cast, with David Mitchell, Olivia Colman, Isy Suttie, Matt King, and Sophie Winkleman competing for the title of Festive Star Baker, as well as The Great New Year Bake Off, featuring favorite contestants from previous editions.
Frequently asked questions about the Netflix 2026 Christmas schedule
What is the first Christmas movie Netflix is releasing in 2026?
A Dog's Perfect Christmas, starring Dennis Quaid and featuring the voice of Thomas Haden Church, is the first confirmed Christmas release, dated November 4, 2026.
How many original Christmas movies is Netflix releasing in November and December 2026?
Netflix has confirmed four major English-language Christmas productions: A Dog's Perfect Christmas, Tyler Perry's The Gospel of Christmas, Guarding Stars, and In a Holidaze, in addition to the Swedish comedy The Christmas Switch, spread across November and December.
Why did Guarding Stars change the title of the novel The Bodyguard?
Netflix chose to rename the adaptation to Guarding Stars to avoid confusion with the 1992 classic starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, which was also titled The Bodyguard.
Which actresses star in The Christmas Switch?
The Christmas Switch stars real-life twin sisters Felice Jankell and Happy Jankell, who play two sisters with opposite personalities who swap lives before Christmas.
Is Gabby’s Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers Holiday a movie?
No. It is a reality competition series spin-off of Gabby's Dollhouse, focused on young bakers and crafters, with a release confirmed for December 9, 2026, in the United States.
Are the dates for licensed Christmas titles confirmed?
Not all of them. Netflix has announced expected dates such as November 1 for titles like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever or Christmas with the Coopers, but these dates may vary by region and are subject to change.
