The 12 Dates of Christmas (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

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The 12 Dates of Christmas follows successful shop owner Christina Walker as she makes room for romance, taking 12 dates across the 12 weeks before Christmas. Directed by David Lipper, the 2026 romantic comedy stars Lucy Hale and Ian Harding in a seasonal search for Mr. Right.

The 12 Dates of Christmas is a 2026 romantic comedy about balancing professional success with the possibility of a lasting relationship. Lucy Hale stars as Christina Walker, a shop owner whose career-focused life has left little time for dating.

Set during the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas, the film follows Christina as she agrees to go on 12 dates while hoping to find Mr. Right. David Lipper directs from a screenplay credited to Lipper and Seth Howard.

The 12 Dates of Christmas movie details

Story without spoilers

Christina Walker has built a successful business, but her dedication to her career has come at the expense of her dating life. With Christmas approaching, she takes on a clear romantic challenge: 12 dates over 12 weeks, each offering another opportunity to meet someone who might become the right partner.

The premise places Christina’s personal search against a festive countdown, giving the story a defined structure as she considers what she wants from romance while navigating a series of dates. The supplied synopsis does not reveal how the search concludes.

What to expect

The film combines romantic-comedy elements with a Christmas setting and a dating-focused premise. Viewers can expect the story to center on Christina’s attempts to make space for love while managing the life she has built as a successful shop owner.

Its 12-week format provides the central framework, with the approach to Christmas shaping the timeline. The available details establish the romantic search but do not specify the individual dates, conflicts or ending.

Cast and creative team

Lucy Hale leads the cast as Christina Walker, with Ian Harding playing Peter Grant. Greer Grammer, Kahyun Kim, Demetrius Shipp Jr., Carter Jenkins, Leonidas Gulaptis, Zack Pearlman and Riker Lynch are also credited in the cast, though characters are not specified for those performers.

David Lipper directs The 12 Dates of Christmas and shares writing credit with Seth Howard.

• Lucy Hale as Christina Walker
• Ian Harding as Peter Grant
• Greer Grammer
• Kahyun Kim
• Demetrius Shipp Jr.
• Carter Jenkins
• Leonidas Gulaptis
• Zack Pearlman
• Riker Lynch

Release and production context

The 12 Dates of Christmas is listed as a United States production in English. It is dated November 6, 2026, and is classified as a Comedy and Romance. No runtime is supplied. The credited production companies are Applewood Studios, BuzzFeed Studios, CaliWood Pictures, Fortitude International and Latigo Films.

Production companies: Applewood Studios, BuzzFeed Studios, CaliWood Pictures, Fortitude International, Latigo Films

The 12 Dates of Christmas official trailer

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With its Christmas countdown, professional heroine and 12-date premise, The 12 Dates of Christmas is positioned as a seasonal romantic comedy built around the question of whether Christina can find love while maintaining the life she has created. The cast is led by Lucy Hale and Ian Harding, with David Lipper directing.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb