ABC will air “The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular” on Monday, Nov. 30, from 8 to 10 p.m., with new performances from Disney World and Disneyland. Hosts are still a secret.
“The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular” returns to ABC on Monday, Nov. 30, from 8 to 10 p.m., according to the 2026 holiday schedule ABC released Oct. 27. The network says the annual special will feature new musical performances from Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.
Mark the Monday after Thanksgiving. Your leftovers should be gone by then. Probably.
When does the Disney Holiday Spectacular air in 2026?
The special airs Monday, Nov. 30, from 8 to 10 p.m. on ABC. Inside the Magic and Disney Dining both list the time as 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.
Stick around after it ends. ABC follows it at 10 p.m. with “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” the 1970 Rankin-Bass special narrated by Fred Astaire, with Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle.
Who is hosting the Disney Holiday Spectacular?
Nobody yet. ABC’s schedule names no host, narrator or musical guests for 2026.
That matches past years. In 2025, ABC revealed its host and full lineup on Nov. 12, about three weeks before air.
In 2024, the lineup came out Nov. 20. Expect a similar reveal in mid-November.
Where can you stream the Holiday Spectacular?
ABC has not announced streaming plans for 2026. The last two editions streamed on Hulu and Disney+ the day after they aired on ABC, according to ABC’s press releases for those years.
If that pattern holds, cord cutters should be able to catch it Tuesday, Dec. 1. Treat that as a likely bet until ABC confirms it.
Which Disney parks are in this year’s special?
ABC’s listing names only two resorts: Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. The 2024 and 2025 specials also included Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, in Ko Olina, Hawaii.
Inside the Magic and Disney Dining both say it’s unclear whether Aulani will return. ABC may simply share more once the lineup drops.
BlogMickey and Inside the Magic report that Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will run in daylight at Magic Kingdom on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. Daytime parades usually point to TV taping, but Disney has not said that’s the reason.
Who hosted the Holiday Spectacular in past years?
The special has become an ABC tradition. ABC called the 2025 show its 10th annual edition.
2025: Derek Hough hosted, and Ginnifer Goodwin, the voice of Judy Hopps in “Zootopia 2,” narrated. It aired Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
2024: Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro hosted, and Kristen Bell narrated. It aired Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024.
The 2025 lineup leaned hard on pop and country. ABC’s press release listed Aloe Blacc, Good Charlotte, Coco Jones, Lady A, Mariah the Scientist, Bebe Rexha, Nicole Scherzinger, Gwen Stefani, Iam Tongi and Trisha Yearwood. Hough sang “We Need a Little Christmas” and “December.”
The 2025 show also plugged Disney’s big holiday movies. It had a segment with the “Avatar: Fire and Ash” cast at Pandora and a “Zootopia 2” celebration introduced by Ke Huy Quan.
The 2024 edition brought out Elton John, John Legend, Pentatonix, Auli’i Cravalho, Leslie Odom Jr. and K-pop group SEVENTEEN.
What else is on ABC’s holiday lineup?
The Holiday Spectacular is one of several Disney-flavored nights on ABC this season. PNP already covered two of them.
“Mickey’s Christmas Carol”: Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 8 to 8:30 p.m.
“Mary Poppins”: Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving), from 8 to 11 p.m.
“The Sound of Music”: Sunday, Nov. 29, from 7 to 11 p.m.
“CMA Country Christmas”: Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 9 to 10:01 p.m.
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade: Friday, Dec. 25, at 10 a.m. Eastern
“Mufasa: The Lion King”: Sunday, Dec. 27, billed by ABC as a “world premiere”
ABC will also simulcast “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2027” live on Disney+ on Thursday, Dec. 31. ABC calls that a first for the show.
How can you watch the special without cable?
ABC airs over the air, so a basic antenna works in most areas. Live TV streaming services that carry your local ABC station will also have it.
ABC should name the host, performers and streaming plans in the next few weeks. Our guess is that somebody from “Dancing with the Stars” gets the mic again. It’s tradition at this point.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
ABC (Oct. 27), 2026 holiday schedule, air dates, times, featured resorts
ABC press site, 2024 and 2025 hosts, performers, streaming, edition count
BlogMickey (Oct. 27), schedule recap, Magic Kingdom daytime parade dates
Inside the Magic, time zones, Aulani question, parade dates
Disney Dining (Oct. 29), time zones, Aulani question
Give Me My Remote (Oct. 27), schedule confirmation
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