Return to Santa Cast and Premiere Date
Quick answer: Paul Campbell and Rachel Boston star in Return to Santa, which premieres Friday, Nov. 27, at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel. Hallmark says it streams on Hallmark+ the next day.
This movie sits in the Countdown to Christmas 2026 lineup. Earlier that night, 6/5c, Hallmark airs The Christmas Eve Feast. Hallmark's movie page lists five airings of Return to Santa so far.
Who stars in Return to Santa?
Two names headline this one. Hallmark's cast page credits Paul Campbell and Rachel Boston, and the Hollywood Reporter's Countdown lineup says the same. No supporting cast has been listed yet.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Paul Campbell | Jake |
| Rachel Boston | Julie |
What is Return to Santa about?
Hallmark’s schedule listing says Santa finds Jake’s decades-old Christmas list and decides to fast-track all the wishes, which disrupts Jake’s practical life and puts his reconnection with childhood best friend Julie at risk. The ending stays under wraps here.
Where was Return to Santa filmed?
We found no filming location for Return to Santa. Hallmark's movie, cast and About pages and the Hollywood Reporter lineup (read Monday, Nov. 2) mention neither a shooting location nor a town setting, so we are not guessing. This line gets updated once a location is published.
When does Return to Santa air again, and where can you stream it?
| Date | Eastern | Central | Airing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 27 | 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. | Premiere |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | 4 p.m. | 3 p.m. | Encore |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | 2 p.m. | 1 p.m. | Encore |
| Wed., Dec. 9 | 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. | Encore |
| Fri., Dec. 25 | 4 p.m. | 3 p.m. | Encore |
We read these five showtimes on Hallmark Channel's page for the movie on Monday, Nov. 2, at 10:10 a.m. ET. Hallmark's daily schedule pages for Nov. 27 (8 p.m.) and Nov. 28 (4 p.m.) list the same two times, which matches the movie page. The daily pages for the December dates do not show a separate listing yet, so those three encores rest on the movie page alone, and Hallmark can change them before air.
To catch the premiere live, tune to Hallmark Channel through a cable, satellite or live TV package. Hallmark+ has no live feed. The movie page's note for that service reads "Streaming Next Day," meaning Saturday, Nov. 28.
FAQ
What time does Return to Santa start?
8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, on Friday, Nov. 27. Hallmark lists its first encore for Saturday, Nov. 28, at 4 p.m. Eastern.
Who stars in Return to Santa?
Paul Campbell plays Jake and Rachel Boston plays Julie, per Hallmark's cast page.
Does it belong to the 2026 Countdown to Christmas lineup?
Yes. The Hollywood Reporter's lineup lists it on Nov. 27 with the same two stars. The full Countdown schedule lists every other premiere.
Sources
- Hallmark Channel: Return to Santa (premiere and encore times, next-day streaming), its cast page and About page (story)
- Hollywood Reporter: 2026 Countdown to Christmas lineup (Nov. 27 date, two stars)