When to Watch Disney's Holiday Spectacular and Christmas Day Parade on ABC in 2026

Two of our favorite holiday traditions are watching The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration and the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade on ABC. These annual broadcasts feature holiday entertainment, musical performances, and festive moments from Disney destinations, making a holiday spent at home just a little more special!

Below, we’ve gathered the scheduled dates and times for these televised specials, along with other The Wonderful World of Disney holiday programming airing throughout the season.

filming at Magic Kingdom for ABC Christmas television special

November Schedule: The Wonderful World of Disney Presents on ABC

Here’s a look at November’s schedule starting the day before Thanksgiving and leading up to The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular, which airs on the last Monday of the month.

Wednesday, November 25th

8:00-8:30 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”: Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and all their pals star in an all-time Christmas classic. Ebenezer Scrooge is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity, but with the guidance of some newfound friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season.

Thursday, November 26th

8:00-11:00 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Mary Poppins”: Mary Poppins flies out of the windy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children. The spirited nanny turns every chore into a game and every day into a “Jolly Holiday” to reconnect the children with their parents.

Sunday, November 29th

7:00-11:00 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Sound of Music”: An annual holiday tradition: Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer star in the Oscar^®-winning film that features fan-favorite songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein, including “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and “The Sound of Music.”

Monday, November 30th

8:00-10:00 p.m. — “The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular”: The annual seasonal celebration will feature new musical performances from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

December Schedule for The Wonderful World of Disney Presents on ABC

For December, a few holiday movies will be aired the nights leading up to the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade, which airs Christmas morning.

Wednesday, December 23rd

9:00-11:00 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “The Santa Clause”: On Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) and his son discover Santa Claus has fallen off their roof. When Scott takes the reins of the magical sleigh, he becomes the new Santa and must convince a world of disbelievers, including himself.

Thursday, December 24th

8:00-10:15 p.m. — The Wonderful World of Disney Presents “Home Alone”: Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on a Christmas vacation, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister gets busy decorating the house. But he’s not decking the halls with tinsel and holly — he has to defend his home from two bumbling burglars.

Friday, December 25th

10:00 a.m. EST / 9:00 a.m. CST / 5:00 a.m. MST / 5:00 a.m. PST — “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”: Disney’s annual celebration returns Christmas morning with magical star-studded performances from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

When Does Filming Take Place at Disney World in 2026?

If you’re hoping to spot Walt Disney World in this year’s Christmas Day Parade, you might also be interested in the behind-the-scenes preparations. Those visiting Disney World on November 10th and 11th might be in for a special surprise. We’ve shared details about the 2026 Christmas parade filming at Magic Kingdom, including what we know about the production taking place ahead of the holiday broadcast.

Final Thoughts

The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration and the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade are two holiday television traditions worth keeping on your holiday watchlist. Both offer a festive way to celebrate the season, with musical performances and holiday entertainment from Disney destinations. For the rest of the season’s programming, you can find the full holiday television schedule on ABC’s website.

Of course, there’s plenty more to enjoy if you’re celebrating the holidays in person at Walt Disney World. We’re covering the seasonal decorations, entertainment, and special offerings throughout the resort, including our guides to Christmas at Disney World, Christmas at Magic Kingdom, and 2026 Christmas Food at Disney World. These guides are a great place to start planning your holiday visit.

If you’re just getting started, don’t miss our Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more details, and sign up for our newsletter for updates.