TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis is executive producing ‘The Christmas Eve Feast,’ a new Hallmark movie premiering November 27, 2026, as part of the network’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ lineup. The film stars Daniella Monet and ‘When Calls the Heart’ actor Kevin McGarry, and marks De Laurentiis’ second movie collaboration with Hallmark.
Celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis is executive producing a new Hallmark holiday movie, The Christmas Eve Feast, set to premiere November 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark, according to Good Housekeeping. The film is part of the network’s 2026 ‘Countdown to Christmas’ lineup and stars Daniella Monet and ‘When Calls the Heart’ actor Kevin McGarry. The announcement comes shortly after De Laurentiis was eliminated from season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars’ in September.
Hallmark announced its full 2026 ‘Countdown to Christmas’ slate on September 17, with new movies scheduled to air from mid-October through mid-December. Among them is The Christmas Eve Feast, which De Laurentiis is executive producing. The cast includes Daniella Monet, Toni Ellwand, and Kevin McGarry, a familiar face to Hallmark viewers from his role in the long-running series When Calls the Heart.
According to the network’s description, the film follows executive chef Silvana ‘Silvy’ Gianetti, played by Monet, who has grown disillusioned with her job at an upscale New York restaurant. When her grandmother (her ‘Nonna’) suffers an unexpected injury, Silvy returns home to Boston to help prepare her family’s Italian ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ Christmas Eve dinner.
The story develops as Silvy’s family welcomes Ethan, a photographer played by McGarry, who is close to her grandmother. As he photographs the family traditions, the two form a bond, and Silvy begins to reconsider both where she belongs and who she wants beside her.
Why This Move Matters for De Laurentiis
The project keeps De Laurentiis active in television just weeks after her run on Dancing With the Stars season 35 ended with her elimination in September, according to Good Housekeeping. Rather than stepping back from the screen, she is expanding her footprint in scripted television through a producing role.
It also deepens her relationship with Hallmark, one of the most reliable destinations for holiday programming. For Food Network fans who have followed De Laurentiis’ cooking career, the film’s chef-protagonist storyline — centered on Italian food traditions like the Feast of the Seven Fishes — plays directly to her culinary brand, even though her role is behind the camera as executive producer.
For Hallmark, pairing a well-known food personality with established network stars like McGarry is a way to broaden the appeal of its annual holiday slate, which remains a ratings anchor for the channel each winter.
De Laurentiis’ History With Hallmark
This is not De Laurentiis’ first collaboration with Hallmark. She previously executive produced the 2022 TV movie Always Amore, starring Autumn Reeser and Tyler Hynes, which premiered in April of that year, according to Good Housekeeping. That earlier project also blended a food-world setting with a romantic storyline, establishing the template she is returning to with The Christmas Eve Feast.
De Laurentiis built her career at Food Network, where she hosted cooking programming for years and became one of the channel’s most recognizable personalities. More recently, she has divided her time between creating social media content and competing on Dancing With the Stars, where she was eliminated earlier in September.
“Giada De Laurentiis is teaming up with Hallmark to executive produce a new movie for the network’s 2026 ‘Countdown to Christmas.'”
— Good Housekeeping
What’s Still Unknown About the Film
Several details about The Christmas Eve Feast have not been announced. It is not yet clear whether De Laurentiis will appear on screen in any capacity — a cameo or otherwise — or whether she contributed recipes or food styling to the production, though the culinary subject matter suggests possible involvement.
Beyond the premise and the November 27 premiere date, Hallmark has not released additional casting details, a trailer, or the film’s full creative team. The exact size of the 2026 ‘Countdown to Christmas’ slate and the airdates of other films in the lineup have also not been fully detailed in the announcement reported so far.
Countdown to the November Premiere
Hallmark’s 2026 ‘Countdown to Christmas’ programming begins rolling out in mid-October, with new movies airing through mid-December. The Christmas Eve Feast premieres Friday, November 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark.
In the lead-up, viewers can expect the network to release promotional materials, including a trailer and first-look images, as is typical for its holiday slate. Any additional details about De Laurentiis’ involvement — on camera or in the film’s food production — would likely surface in that promotional window.
Key Questions
When does The Christmas Eve Feast premiere?
The movie premieres Friday, November 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on the Hallmark channel.
Will Giada De Laurentiis star in the movie?
No. According to Good Housekeeping, De Laurentiis is serving as executive producer. The film stars Daniella Monet, Kevin McGarry, and Toni Ellwand. Any on-screen appearance has not been announced.
Is this Giada De Laurentiis’ first Hallmark movie?
No. She previously executive produced Always Amore (2022), starring Autumn Reeser and Tyler Hines, making The Christmas Eve Feast her second movie collaboration with Hallmark.
What is The Christmas Eve Feast about?
It follows a disillusioned New York executive chef, Silvana ‘Silvy’ Gianetti, who returns home to Boston after her grandmother is injured to help prepare the family’s Italian ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ Christmas Eve dinner, and grows close to a photographer named Ethan.
Where can viewers see Kevin McGarry outside this film?
McGarry is best known to Hallmark audiences from When Calls the Heart, the network’s long-running period drama series.
Source: rss
NFL season / tailgating Picks
team gear
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
