A small Illinois town between Springfield and St. Louis just won Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Town of 2026. After more than 1,000 towns were nominated, Carlinville, population roughly 5,500, edged 24 other finalists from across the country to claim the title, with Hallmark stars surprising residents in person to deliver the news.
A Nationwide Search That Started in July
According to NewsChannel 20, the nationwide search started back in July, with Hallmark eventually narrowing the field to 25 finalists before Carlinville came out on top. Hallmark's contest sought towns with traditions, celebrations and community spirit. More than 1,000 towns were nominated for the distinction, per Parade.
Once the field narrowed to 25, fans had several weeks to vote online for their favorites, the outlet reports. Eligible U.S. residents age 18 and older could cast a vote for Carlinville once per calendar day between Aug. 14 and Sept. 4, according to FOX 2 Now. A judges' panel then evaluated the finalists before Hallmark settled on a winner, according to NBC Chicago.
Hallmark Stars Surprise the Town
Carlinville's other finalist rivals included Bemidji, Minnesota; Neenah, Wisconsin; Parkville, Missouri; and Portsmouth, Ohio, per NBC Chicago's report. The surprise announcement was revealed in Carlinville on a Thursday, the station notes, when Hallmark fan-favorites Erin Cahill, Jonathan Bennett, Tamera Mowry-Housley and Brendan Penny shocked residents by giving the town its new title, as Parade reported.
Karin Doolin, executive director of the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce, said Hallmark's recognition was exciting after visitors had long compared the town to a Hallmark movie. Doolin added that Carlinville is proud of the traditions and community spirit that helped it win, and that she hopes more people will visit, according to NBC Chicago.
What Made Carlinville Stand Out
The town frequently draws visitors around the holiday season to enjoy its historic downtown square, locally owned businesses and historic architecture, FOX 2 Now reports. NBC Chicago notes Carlinville was recognized for its historic square, holiday light ceremony and festivities, including a light-filled holiday ceremony staged on the square each year. The town is also home to the world's largest continuous collection of original Sears catalog homes in a single neighborhood, according to the station.
Each winter, Carlinville hosts a Christmas market along with other holiday-themed events and experiences, NBC Chicago reports. The town's long-running Christmas in Carlinville market has anchored its holiday identity for decades; per the event's own website, the first weekend of December has been a destination for holiday shoppers and festival enthusiasts in Carlinville for more than 30 years. This year's market is set for Dec. 4-6, spread across the historic Downtown Square, the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, the Macoupin County Courthouse, the Macoupin County Historical Society, the Carlinville Elks Lodge, Country Gypsy and The Well on Main, with trolley and bus transportation connecting the venues.
A Possible Movie Shoot Ahead
Hallmark may use the winning location as a filming location for a future holiday movie, according to NBC Chicago. Reports on the timeline vary slightly: NewsChannel 20 states that the Hallmark Channel will film a movie in Carlinville next year, while Parade describes the town's prize as becoming the backdrop for a 2027 Hallmark Christmas movie to be filmed in the community. No filming date, movie title or cast has been confirmed.
The honor arrives as Hallmark kicks off its 2026 Countdown to Christmas slate, with round-the-clock holiday programming airing through Dec. 20 and 34 new original movies premiering throughout the season, Parade reports. For Carlinville, the recognition caps a campaign that began with a nomination among more than 1,000 towns after the search started in July and ended on Oct. 15, 2026, with Hallmark stars showing up at its historic courthouse to make the news official.
