ABC Officially Confirms Return Of Iconic Fantasy Adaptation 23 Years Later

Mickey Mouse is joining families everywhere for the holidays.

ABC is bringing a beloved Disney Christmas classic back to TV more than two decades after its premiere on the network. Now, the company has officially confirmed that Mickey’s Christmas Carol will return as part of its 2026 holiday programming lineup, making this the animated special’s first appearance on ABC in 23 years.

According to ABC’s recently released holiday schedule, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Mickey’s Christmas Carol will air on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET and 5:00 PM PT. The special will take place the night before Thanksgiving, giving families an opportunity to revisit the classic animated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ famous Christmas story of the same name.

Originally released in 1983, Mickey’s Christmas Carol brings together several of Disney’s most recognizable animated characters for a recreation of Dickens’ 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. Instead of using human characters, the short features early Disney icons in the story, with Scrooge McDuck taking on the role of the selfish, money-hungry Ebenezer Scrooge.

Meanwhile, Mickey Mouse plays Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s underpaid employee, and Donald Duck portrays his nephew Fred. Goofy appears as the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s business partner who passed away. His warning was what triggered Scrooge’s long journey, revisiting his past, exploring his present, and seeing into his potential future.

The story follows Scrooge as he is confronted by spirits who open his eyes to how awful he has been to the people in his life and what that could cost him. Through his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, he begins to see the importance of being compassionate and generous, as well as the damage he caused by neglecting his relationships with his family and friends.

The animated holiday special also holds an important place in Disney history. Directed by Burny Mattinson, Mickey’s Christmas Carol premiered in England on October 20, 1983, before receiving its United States theatrical release on December 16 of that same year. Its production marked Mickey’s return to animation after a 30-year hiatus. His last cartoon prior to the short had been 1953’s The Simple Things, making the Christmas adaptation an important moment for one of Disney’s most famous characters.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol also received a nomination for Best Animated Short Film at the 56th Academy Awards in 1984. Although it did not win, the nomination was still a major achievement for Disney’s animation department.

The network has confirmed that several famous movies will air during the holiday season, including Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Home Alone, and The Santa Clause. The lineup will also feature Father of the Bride, Die Hard, Mufasa: The Lion King, and Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol will air on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET and 5:00 PM PT.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol