When is ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’ Airing This Year?

For so many of us, the Christmas season is all about watching every one of the Rankin/ Bass animated holiday specials — including 1970’s Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, which featured Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle himself and Fred Astaire as the narrator (and mailman!) who unspools the tale, as well as frequent Rankin/ Bass collaborator Paul Frees, and many others. But there’s only one chance to catch this musical special on network TV this holiday season — it will air on ABC, on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 10pm EST. Luckily for those with cable, it will also air several times throughout December on the Freeform channel.