Great Christmas, the UK's most-watched Christmas-only channel last year, returns to Freeview channel 52 from 8am on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, a full 120 days before Christmas Day. The festive-only programming will run through to January, airing 186 Christmas films in total, 42 of which are making their debut on the channel.
The switch-over comes eight days earlier than last year's launch. The channel, currently home to a steady stream of films as Great Romance, will transform into Great Christmas, allowing festive fanatics to swap sun cream for stockings while the rest of Britain is still in the school holidays.
Viewer Demand Drives Earlier Launch
Great Christmas was the UK's most-watched Christmas-only channel last year, racking up 14.5 million minutes watched between September and December alone. A poll of TV viewers found one in five would happily watch Christmas films all year round.
Kate Gartland, Marketing Director at Great TV, said: “Great Christmas is back – and it’s earlier than ever. This year’s programming is jam-packed with even more movies to help build the excitement for the big day.”
Festive Film Lineup Revealed
Some of the Great Christmas titles include Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021), The Christmas Ticket (2025), Annie Claus is Coming To Town (2011), A Christmas Switch (2018), Christmas Ever After (2020), Snowmance (2017), Northpole 2 Open for Christmas (2015), Christmas Unwrapped (2020), The Magical Christmas Shoes (2019), Once Upon a Christmas Miracle (2018), The Perfect Christmas Village (2018), Christmas with a Crown (2020), and The Royal Nanny (2022).
Gartland added: “While we may be festive fanatics at Great, believe me, there is method in the madness - last year’s Christmas programming attracted more viewers than ever before so we’re starting the festivities even earlier for 2026.”
Great Christmas is available on channel 52 on Freeview and will air from Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
