2022 Holiday Specials

Mariah Carey, the Backstreet Boys, Miley Cyrus, and Every Other Holiday Special Coming Your Way

Nov 10 2022 by Amanda Prahl

The weather is getting chilly, and the holiday decorations are coming out of storage — and you know what that means! The most wonderful time of the year also means a slew of holiday specials hitting the airwaves, featuring some of your favourite celebrities and musicians alongside beloved traditions you remember from childhood.

This year's holiday specials are set to feature some of the biggest names in showbiz, including Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys, and so many more. It's sure to be a jam-packed season, so we've put together this handy guide to make sure you won't miss a single one of these specials, whether you watch live or later, on TV or streaming. From Christmas cheer to New Year's Eve celebrations, here are the holiday specials you won't want to miss as 2022 comes to a close.

Image Source: Getty / Terence Patrick

2022 "The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration"

Heading into its seventh year in its current format, Disney's annual primetime special will again feature musical performances, celebrity guests, beloved Disney characters, and other segments across a two-hour event. The 2022 hosts and lineup have not yet been announced.

How to watch: Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, or stream next day on Hulu

Image Source: Getty / Richard Harbaugh

2022 "Christmas at Rockefeller Centre"

One of the longest-running Christmas traditions is the lighting of the giant Christmas tree in New York City's Rockefeller Centre. The annual tree-lighting special is set to return again on NBC this year, featuring a lineup of famous faces and musical performances ahead of the big switch-flip.

How to watch: Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. on NBC

Image Source: Getty / Andrew Lichtenstein

2022 "CMA Country Christmas"

Country-music fans get their own take on Christmas magic with this annual special on ABC. This year's musical performances have not yet been announced.

How to watch: Dec. 1 at 9 p.m. on ABC, or stream next day on Hulu

Image Source: Getty / Mark Levine

"A Very Backstreet Holiday" Special

The Backstreet Boys are coming together for a holiday special celebrating the most wonderful time of the year — and their holiday album. Their upcoming ABC special will feature musical performances of iconic holiday songs, plus a few surprises along the way.

How to watch: Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

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"Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas to All" Special

Mariah Carey, the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas, is bringing her holiday magic to a CBS special this year. Filmed in New York's Madison Square Garden, where Carey is performing a Christmas revue on Dec. 13, the upcoming special will feature her performing several holiday hits, according to Variety.

How to watch: Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS, or stream live and on demand on Paramount+

Image Source: Getty / Terence Patrick

2022 "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Celebration"

Disney's annual Christmas Day parade typically features parade segments and musical performances taking place across several Disney Parks, particularly Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. This year's lineup has yet to be officially announced.

How to watch: Dec. 25 at 10 a.m. ET, or streaming the next day on Hulu

Image Source: Getty / Chloe Rice

2023 "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest"

Ryan Seacrest continues to host the iconic New Year's Eve celebration live from Times Square. This year's lineup of celebrity guests and musical performances has yet to be announced.

How to watch: Dec. 31 on ABC

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Neira

2023 "Miley's New Year's Eve Party"

Following her inaugural special last year, Miley Cyrus will return for her second annual New Year's Eve celebration on NBC. Cyrus cohosted last year's show, produced by "Saturday Night Live" head honcho Lorne Michaels, with Pete Davidson but is likely to be hosting solo this year.

"Carrying this whole show alone, it'll end up sacrificing, I think, some of the music," Cyrus told Variety. "I think music is what drives New Year's — whether just people making playlists or going out and hearing DJs — music is a staple of New Year's, so that's my No. 1 focus."

How to watch: Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET on NBC, or stream live and on demand on Peacock

Image Source: Getty / Vijat Mohindra

"New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash" 2023

CBS's New Year's Eve special returns to Nashville again this year. According to Deadline, musical guests will include Brooks & Dunn, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, and Zac Brown Band, plus many others across a five-hour special.

How to watch: Dec. 31 from 8-10 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. ET on CBS, or stream live and on demand on Paramount+

Image Source: Getty / Brett Culver