Happy New Year to all of our Mystery and Romance TV readers. Here is a list of some of my Hallmark Channel predictions for 2026. I have based my predictions on many recent Hallmark Media actions, and not on my personal opinion, save for the final prediction. Therefore, this is not my wish list, but what trajectory the network seems to be on.
Read on and let me know in the comments what you think I got right and what I missed!
2026 Will Be A Reset, Not A Rewind
Now that Michelle Vicary is back as the EVP of Programming at Hallmark, my prediction is that 2026 will be a reset, not a rewind.
Granted, some would consider her first big move a rewind. She has already brought back Lori Loughlin to reprise her role as Abigail Stanton in a handful of episodes of When Calls The Heart Season 14. Hearties will finally find some closure with the off-screen relationship between Abigail and Henry (Martin Cummins).
I call this a reset instead of a rewind, as my prediction is that in 2026, Hallmark will be a place where they don’t leave their fans in the cold with unresolved cliffhangers or incomplete storylines. This has been the black mark on the network for the past five years. I predict that 2026 will be when the network finishes what it started.
I also predict that with Michelle Vicary back at the helm, there will be other ways that the network resets its programming. The network needs a clear direction about its programming.
Hallmark Will Be More Thoughtful About Programming
Hallmark premiered a lot of wonderful 2025 movies and series. However, when they premiered them, they set themselves up for failure. For example, one of the best movies of Hallmark’s Countdown To Christmas was scheduled on the worst night.
It is hard to imagine who at Hallmark Media thought that the slow burn romance, We Met In December, starring Autumn Reeser and Nial Matter should premiere Thanksgiving night! Did we really need to see the hottest kiss of the year hanging out with grandma, sugared-up kids, and Uncle Joe snoozing on the recliner? No one wants to watch a slow, romance bloom after a heavy Thanksgiving meal!
We Met In December is a date night Hallmark movie. This should have aired on a Saturday evening. I would have suggested Fridays, but that is series night on Hallmark Channel 2025.
Thanksgiving should be lighter, happier, and more whimsical. In previous years, the network aired Catch Me If You Claus and The Nine Kittens Of Christmas on Thanksgiving night. Better 2025 choices would have been the musical and teen-filled The Snow Must Go On, the whimsical She’s Making A List, the antics of The Christmas Cup, or even A Royal Montana Christmas. Everyone loves royal movies. Remember, the three royal movies that premiered in March had more viewers than nearly every 2025 Countdown To Christmas movie.
I predict that Hallmark will be more thoughtful about other programming choices. This includes what they air after highly publicized premieres. Many of us creators noticed in 2024 the bad mistake the network made in airing a Christmas royal movie after Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. That beloved holiday movie with an outspoken former-Hallmark-now- GAF star had better ratings than the new movie, Believe In Christmas, that premiered right before Holiday Touchdown. Why didn’t they choose any of Tyler Hynes’ movies or Hunter King’s fun Santa Summit instead?
On linear television, networks are very selective about which shows or movies they air after the Super Bowl or other big events. Holiday Touchdown was essentially Hallmark’s Super Bowl.
One of the reason that Countdown To Christmas 2025 was so disappointing were the programming decisions, not necessarily the content. I predict that Hallmark will do better in 2026.
Hallmark Will Focus On Making Hallmark+ Great Again
I predict that in 2026, there will be a harder push for Hallmark+ to succeed. I predict that this is a must-do for the feel-good network. The reason I believe this is that Hallmark is trying a previous strategy with a larger built-in audience.
Rewind to the 2024 rebranding of Hallmark Plus, featuring The Groomsmen, a trilogy of movies starring some of the network’s biggest stars, Tyler Hynes, Jonathan Bennett, and BJ Brit, and directed by Sir Ron Oliver.
The rebranded streamer also premiered a cornucopia of mysteries, reality, and Christmas. H+ also included the spicy series The Chicken Sisters, as well as the network’s first Christmas series, Holidazed, and the international hit Mistletoe Murders.
Viewers were very confused about the purpose of this streaming channel. Many went to social media to express their frustration that the 40 Countdown To Christmas movies aired on linear were not available to stream on H+ as it is with CBS series and their Paramount+ counterpart. It was not made clear that Hallmark+ was a separate channel with its own original programming.
Eventually, Hallmark Media announced in late December 2024 that all Countdown To Christmas movies would become available just like Paramount+ and Peacock, with their respective linear channels CBS and NBC.
However, 2026 promises to return to some exclusive content again. This time, they are counting on Hearties to subscribe. When they recently announced Hope Valley: 1874 premiering on Hallmark+ they never mention it airing on the Hallmark Channel. I looked at the press release and other publications.
Per the press release and other entertainment publications, there is no mention of this series premiering on cable. Now it certainly could be in the works, but that is not going to be a fallback for Hearties. They need a devoted group to sign on to streaming to make this platform work.
Hallmark tried doing this a year ago with The Way Home. From this current perspective, it seems that those fans won the battle, but it seems very possIble that that lost the war. This wonderful series was canceled weeks before the WCTH spinoff was announced. They have a top cast for the new series. I have assumed that they needed money for this, and TWH was expensive.
Most of all, the goal is to get Hallmark+ happening, unfortunately for fans of the time-travel series.
Mysteries Will Premiere On Hallmark+
Following the previous prediction, I think there will be more programming that will be exclusive to H+. To make streaming work, the network will need more fan groups to sign up. And since they stopped premiering new mysteries on the mystery channel, only the regular Hallmark Channel, I think this is the next genre that will exclusively premiere on streaming.
Let’s start with the basics: Despite some reports, Hallmark has not stopped making mysteries. But the network spent much of 2025 “premiering” mysteries that were first showing on Hallmark Plus. Moreover, the network stopped premiering actual new mysteries like the three Mystery Island, Hannah Swensen, Haunted Harmony, and Mistletoe Murders on Hallmark Mystery. Instead, they have premiered new mysteries on the OG.
Meanwhile, Hallmark has been holding on to several mysteries for most of 2025. There are a couple True Justice movies, two more of Tamera Mowry–Housley’s Haunted Harmony, a Nelly Knows Mysteries and more recently, a Hannah Swensen Mystery was filmed. Barbara and Victor announced this at the Hallmark Experience.
What are they waiting for? It seems very possible that they are holding on to these movies, and they will end up on Hallmark+. Mysteries are a big part of streaming. Furthermore, Acorn TV and BritBox are huge North American streaming channels with fans that certainly overlap with Hallmark’s mystery content.
Hallmark is the only big network that focuses on Cozy North American Mysteries. I predict they will lean into this. Two years ago, Lisa Hamilton Daly championed mysteries. When she left, the network did not seem to have a plan for them. Two scheduled Curious Caterer Mysteries were nixed. The Cases Of Mystery Lane canceled. Michelle Vicary has to really plan out the more expensive to make mysteries.
The success of Mistletoe Murders is changing things. It has become an international hit! I predict the network may decide to focus more on series based on this and other information.
For quite some time, the network has been developing the Campers and Criminals mystery series by Tonya Kappas. I predict that there will be more mystery series made as well.
Hallmark Will Finally Make New ‘Mystery 101’ Cliffhanger Movie
I am going to preface this prediction with the caveat that I do not have any inside information. Also, I will add that the Hallmark Mysteries & More podcast has also made this prediction.
I predict that Hallmark will reunite the Mystery 101 cast of Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha, and Robin Thomas for one more movie that resolves the cliffhanger that has upset Sleuthers for several years. Subsequently, I also predict that John Christian Plummer, who has told the mystery podcast that he is open and happy to write an eighth movie, will pen that script.
I thought this was possible when Michelle Vicary returned to the network as EVP of Programming. However, when Lori Loughlin was announced as returning to When Calls The Heart, I believe the momentum to bring back past stars is going to happen in 2026.
Not resolving the Mystery 101 cliffhanger was one of Hallmark’s biggest mistakes. Michelle Vicary has the ability to fix this faux pas that has soured many viewers on the network’s mystery series.
It may be a stretch, but Garage Sale Mystery fans may now have hope that this series will return. However, I predict that it will not happen until 2027.
Michelle Vicary Will Bring Back Old Hallmark Favorites
Ever since Michelle Vicary’s return was announced, a lot of Hallmark fans have hoped some fan favorites would also return. I predict the return of Holly Robinson Peete, Alicia Witt, Will Kemp, Brennan Elliott, Taylor Cole, and perhaps even Jesse Metcalfe, and Ryan Peavey.
In addition, I predict that Vicary will bring back Good Witch, and make another Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie.
Hallmark Christmas 2026 Will Be Best In Years
Based on the two big recent Christmas announcements, the network has realized that they need to tell fans about the holiday movies. Countdown To Christmas was not a success in ratings. Three royal movies that aired in March performed better in ratings than 22 of the 24 new Hallmark Christmas movies. Worse yet, not one movie had two million viewers.
I predict Hallmark is working hard to reverse those numbers. They have announced a partnership with Disney and another movie at the Biltmore. What else could they do?
I also predict that the network will reunite the Mowry sisters, Hallmark star Tamera Mowry-Housley, and Tia Mowry for a big-time holiday movie.
Next, I predict that Hallmark will finally do a Mean Girls reunion with Lacey Chabert and Jonathan Bennett. They are running out of time to make this happen, so this is the time for these two stars to make this reunion happen. Wouldn’t they make great siblings or best pals?
Another bold prediction is that Ryan Paevey will return for a Christmas movie, with Sir Ron Oliver, his good friend, directing. While I am reaching, I predict that Autumn Reeser and Jesse Metcalfe reunite for a holiday romcom.
What about the return of Holly Robinson Peete? It would be great if this much-missed star would lead a new Mahogany holiday movie.
Lastly, Christmas has not been Christmas without Alicia Witt. Hallmark, it is time to bring her quirky charm to the annual holiday programming.
‘Haul Out The Holly’ Will Have More Seasonal Sequels
I predict there will be more Haul Out The Holly movies. The network may look at other holidays including the Fourth of July, Valentine’s, Mother’s Day, and more. I give this series a half dozen movies.
This cast is so huge and so talented that I predict it won’t be going away anytime soon.
Hallmark Will Continue NFL Partnership
I predict that Hallmark will continue to work with the NFL for more Holiday Touchdown moves. This is a win/win for both the NFL and the network. Moreover, they sell the NFL special movie-themed giveaways for specific games. That ties in nicely with the the ornament side of the company and an extra profit center during these uncertain days of cable television.
Hallmark Will Not Renew These Series
I predict that Hallmark will cancel more than The Way Home. I predict they will also cancel The Chicken Sisters. Lastly, I predict they will not make Providence Falls Season 2 or Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas Season 2. These were limited series, and the stories were completed.
Hallmark Will Continue Making Reality Programming
I predict that in 2026, Reality is still a big part of Hallmark’s programming. However, this programming will not air on the Hallmark Channel.
Earlier in 2025, Hallmark took a big gamble by moving some of their reality programming from Hallmark+ to the Hallmark Channel. I predict that they will reverse their decision and premiere their reality content on the streaming channel.
The streamer has already kicked off 2026 with the new reality dating series Second Chance Love hosted by Chilli and Matthew Lawrence. The network has already started this shift of Reality into streaming.
Lastly, I predict they will not cancel any of their original reality programming, including The Motherhood. This is such cost-effective programming that even GAF is doubling down on reality in 2026.
Hallmark Will Feature More Couples Of A Certain Age
Everyone enjoyed Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas. Most of all, everyone especially enjoyed the relationship between Mac, portrayed by the incredible thespian Nathanial Parker, and Evelyn, portrayed by the talented treasure that is Jane Seymour. This was a master class in acting. This romance was delightful! Their storyline was written for people at a certain time of their lives, not meant for someone half their age.
This is often a stumbling block in romcoms. No 50-year-old is still traumatized at the thought of talking to their brother’s best high school pal. By the time most people reach 35, they have overcome more stressful situations.
I predict that while Hallmark will likely not renew Twelve Dates, they will take this success and develop more movies with a couple of a certain age.
Former Hallmark Exec’s New Production Company Will Be Big Competition
For years, the media has focused on Great American Family as Hallmark’s biggest competition, when in fact it has been Netflix. Many content creators have been praising their movies for the past few years.
However, I predict things are about to change.
Former Hallmark EVP of Programming Lisa Hamilton Daly, the talent behind some of Hallmark’s recent hits, including The Way Home, Mistletoe Murders, Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas is now a founding partner of production company Cottage Industry Entertainment. I understand that this is more a more upscale production company from the usual Hallmark fare.
According to Lisa Hamilton Daly’s LinkedIn, here is the description: “Under a first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios, Cottage Industry is tasked with delivering premium female-forward content, including drama series, comedy series, and feature films for linear and streaming services.”
Daly is unlike other executives in the television industry. She has an MA and Ph.D in English and American Literature. She knows about storytelling, and her curation at Hallmark and Netflix has showcased her expertise.
I predict that Cottage Industry Entertainment will create a holiday series or produce several movies that will outshine anything Hallmark does in 2026. Granted, this may actually be more realistic in 2027. Moreover, it is not clear if Netflix or another streaming service will purchase these productions.
But this is coming. And those who were disappointed by many of the 2025 Countdown To Christmas movies will certainly be open to looking elsewhere for their holiday entertainment.
I also predict that this will also inspire Hallmark and other romcom producers to elevate their own content. The fans will benefit.
Hallmark Will Return To Promoting Animal Rescue
This prediction is perhaps more of a hope than a prediction, but I am still running with it. When Hallmark made all of the changes to the network, they heartlessly axed their annual Kitten Bowl on Super Bowl Sunday. I was privately told by one now-former executives that this was “Bill’s thing,” referring to Bill Abbott, the former CEO of the network and the current CEO of GAF. Apparently, no one at Hallmark Media felt animal rescue was needed in their programming schedule.
What did Hallmark replace with this programming? On Super Bowl Sunday 2025 they did not air the latest episode of When Calls The Heart Season 12, which was the first of two episodes that Melissa Gilbert was starring in. Unbeknownst to Hearties and their DVRs, they premiered this big-time episode a day earlier.
The decision to cancel the Kitten Bowl was a fail in every way possible. Worse yet, this went over to GAF with Bill Abbott.
That said, filming a simple one-episode rescue Super Bowl event is very inexpensive. We know this because Hallmark has been so preoccupied with making cheaper reality programming the past few years.
Thankfully, many of the network’s stars have their own adopted rescue dogs. There was even a rescue honored in Celebrations With Lacey Chabert that featured her good friend Kaley Cuoco. Therefore, they could easily create a fun way to promote rescue during the most critical era of dog and cat euthanasia, homelessness, and abandonment.
We can hope that Michelle Vicary takes a page out of one of Hallmark’s heartwarming dog rescue movies and reinstates the Kitty Bowl.
On a personal note, I volunteer for a husky rescue, and we have recently helped rescue a husky named Cooper who was abandoned in the desert near Phelan, California. A wonderful Good Samaritan was feeding him, but was moving. We had to act fast.
I named him Cooper after the Countdown To Christmas movie Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper starring the fantastic Robert Buckley, and written by the incomparable Russell Hainline.
I named him Cooper because, like the character, he was optimistic and open-hearted despite some very difficult circumstances. He got dumped in the streets, and a Good Samaritan was feeding him, but was worried about his safety. We got the best Christmas present ever when he was adopted by an engineer who just lost his husky to cancer.
Hallmark and animal rescue. This is the perfect match.
Ok, here are my 14 predictions for Hallmark in 2026. What are yours? Please share your predictions in the comments below.
3 responses to “14 Hallmark Channel Predictions For 2026”
It will be good if they can follow through. I like these predictions, I really would like more mystery shows.
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