It’s been just over a year since a new Doctor Who episode aired, but a Christmas special is slated to come this year. And there’s also news about the series coming soon.
When asked about possible news about a new Doctor soon on BBC Radio 2 on Monday, June 1, Russell T. Davies, who will be writing the special, said, “You will get an announcement. There’s a press release lumbering through the BBC, which, as you know, is like the Jurassic period. And 57 people have to sign off on every single word. So, I promise you, in about, oh, a week or two weeks, there’ll be some sort of press release, and yet I can hear the gears slowing down, even as I say that.”
Read on for everything we know so far about the 2026 Christmas special, from what it will be about to who will star and more.
Is there a 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special?
Yes! It was announced in October 2025. Davies is set to write the special episode.
When will the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special air?
As the name of the special indicates, Doctor Who festive episodes air on Christmas Day, December 25. However, it should also be noted that an exact date has yet to be announced and it’s unclear where in the U.S. it will air since the BBC’s partnership with Disney+ is over.
“The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026,” Lindsay Salt, director of drama for the BBC said in a statement.
Who’s in the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special cast?
That has yet to be announced, though it does feel like Billie Piper has to at least make an appearance due to…
Where did Doctor Who leave off?
Ncuti Gatwa‘s Fifteenth Doctor, with time shifted by one degree, used his regeneration energy to fix things. In doing so, he kickstarted his regeneration … into Billie Piper, who previously played companion Rose Tyler, alongside the Ninth (Christopher Eccleston) and Tenth (David Tennant) Doctors. The big mystery is who exactly she’s playing now. There are a few possibilities.
What is the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special about?
That has yet to be revealed. Presumably, it will have to explain Piper’s appearance, but will she be sticking around for episodes after the special or will that be it?
Will there be another Doctor Who season?
Yes, it sounds like it. BBC’s announcement about the Christmas special also included the following in Salt’s statement: “We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course, which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”
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