A man proposes at Christmas, his girlfriend runs, and on the drive to his sister’s house he crashes his car. When he wakes up, the whole past year is gone, including her.
That’s the setup of Forgotten Holiday, the fifth movie in Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas 2026, starring Janel Parrish and Daniel Lissing. It premieres Saturday, October 24 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.
Amnesia is a well-worn Hallmark device, and this one comes with a painful twist. As Girls Gone Hallmark put it, she’s helping him remember the very thing that will remind him she walked away.
Here’s what we know about where Forgotten Holiday was filmed, who’s in it, and what to watch for.
Where was Forgotten Holiday filmed?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary Filming Location | Not officially confirmed; evidence points to British Columbia, Canada |
| Stills Photographer | Courtney Julien |
| Leads | Janel Parrish, Daniel Lissing |
| Supporting Cast | Gabrielle Rose, Steve Makaj, Jen Oleksiuk |
| Time Slot | 2 hours (with commercials) |
| Premiere | Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 8/7c |
| Streaming | Hallmark+, the following day |
British Columbia, Canada
Hallmark hasn’t announced where Forgotten Holiday was shot. No production listing, local news report or cast post has confirmed a town either.
The clues still point clearly in one direction: British Columbia.
The strongest evidence is the supporting cast. Hallmark’s official gallery shows Daniel Lissing alongside Gabrielle Rose, plus stills featuring Steve Makaj and Jen Oleksiuk. Rose and Makaj are longtime Vancouver-based actors who appear constantly in B.C.-shot productions. Hallmark usually casts supporting roles locally, so a supporting lineup like this is a reliable sign the movie was shot around Vancouver.
The odds also favour B.C. A Hallmark spokesperson told CBC that the network shot more than 50 productions in the province in 2024, about 40 per cent of its movies and series that year. Daniel Lissing has plenty of B.C. history too. His years as Mountie Jack Thornton on When Calls the Heart were spent filming in the province.
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Fort Langley, Abbotsford & Mt. Lehman
If Forgotten Holiday was shot in the Lower Mainland, a few towns are the usual suspects.
Fort Langley. This heritage village is Hallmark’s favourite B.C. Main Street. Local guides consistently name Fort Langley’s quaint shops and tree-lined streets, along with Abbotsford and Vancouver, as the most popular backdrops for Hallmark productions in the province. A story centred on an antiques store fits right in with Fort Langley’s storefronts.
Mt. Lehman, Abbotsford. If Kathryn’s family home looks familiar, this area is a good bet. One homeowner in the Mt. Lehman area told CTV that her property alone had hosted more than 40 Hallmark films. The neighbourhood’s homes have appeared in more than 50 Hallmark movies, including the Finding Father Christmas trilogy.
Vancouver and Burnaby. Hospital scenes, doctor’s offices and city exteriors are standard Hallmark work in Metro Vancouver, and this story has a car accident and a doctor’s appointment built right in.
| Possible Location | Why It Fits Forgotten Holiday |
|---|---|
| Fort Langley | Heritage storefronts suited to an antiques shop |
| Mt. Lehman, Abbotsford | Hallmark’s go-to area for family homes |
| Metro Vancouver | Hospital, clinic and city scenes |
None of these is confirmed for Forgotten Holiday. They are educated guesses based on where Hallmark usually films in B.C.
Why British Columbia works for Hallmark?
Hallmark has been filming in B.C. since at least 2000, and the reasons haven’t changed.
Hallmark programming executive Randy Pope told CBC that most of the network’s movies have historically been made in the province, citing deep talent, skilled crews and beautiful locations. He also acknowledged the financial side: a provincial tax credit and an exchange rate that favours the American company.
| Feature | British Columbia | Ontario |
|---|---|---|
| Hallmark track record | Industry standard | Growing fast |
| Local acting talent pool | Very deep | Deep |
| Ready-made “Hallmark homes” | Abundant (Mt. Lehman, Langley) | Available |
| Christmas Main Streets | Fort Langley, Steveston | Almonte, Port Perry |
For a story set mostly inside homes, shops and hospitals, rather than one that depends on a special landmark, B.C.’s ready-made Hallmark infrastructure is the easy choice.
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Can you really forget an entire year?
Sort of, and that’s what makes the premise interesting.
Memory loss after a head injury is real. Doctors call losing memories from before an injury retrograde amnesia, and the lost period often comes back gradually as the brain heals. What’s pure Hallmark is how neat it is in the film: losing exactly one year, exactly the relationship, and exactly the love of Christmas.
The film also leans on a classic TV-movie idea. Rob’s doctor gives Kathryn unconventional instructions: retrace their romance and reintroduce him to the holidays to help trigger his memory. In other words, a prescription for re-dating your boyfriend. It’s not medical advice, but it is very Hallmark.
What is Forgotten Holiday about?
Kathryn Liu (Parrish) is an antiques buyer for her father’s store and has been happily dating Rob Ashford (Lissing) for nearly a year. When he surprises her with a pre-Christmas proposal, her fear of a failed relationship makes her run without answering him.
A heartbroken Rob then gets into a car accident on the way to his sister’s house, losing his memories of the past year, including their relationship and his once-infectious love of Christmas.
The tension comes from the stakes. As Rob gets closer to remembering, Kathryn has to face the possibility that bringing him back to himself could mean losing him for good, unless she finds the courage to fight for a love she was afraid to accept.
It’s an antiques buyer helping someone recover something lost, which is a neat thematic touch.
Cast of Forgotten Holiday
| Actor | Character | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Janel Parrish | Kathryn Liu | Pretty Little Liars; Two for Tee |
| Daniel Lissing | Rob Ashford | When Calls the Heart; Last Resort |
| Gabrielle Rose | Not yet announced | Veteran Canadian film and TV actor |
| Steve Makaj | Not yet announced | Veteran Canadian film and TV actor |
| Jen Oleksiuk | Not yet announced | Supporting cast |
Janel Parrish
Parrish has been performing almost her whole life. Born in Hawaii, she started at age six as Little Cosette in Les Misérables and later became internationally known as Mona on Pretty Little Liars, then starred in its spin-off, The Perfectionists. Her film credits include To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sugarplummed, and she was recently a finalist on The Masked Singer as Gazelle.
She’s also having a strong Hallmark year. Her earlier 2026 movie Two for Tee made Girls Gone Hallmark co-host Megan’s top five Hallmark movies of the year.
Daniel Lissing
To Hallmark fans, Lissing will always be Mountie Jack Thornton. Beyond When Calls the Heart, he played James King on ABC’s Last Resort and reunited with former co-star Erin Krakow in Hallmark’s Santa Tell Me.
Last year he starred opposite Lyndsy Fonseca in Single on the 25th, inspired by the Lauren Spencer-Smith song, and most recently he led Hallmark’s Aussie at Heart. Even the Girls Gone Hallmark hosts, who were split on Single on the 25th, agreed his performance was worth watching.
Playing a man who has lost his memory is a good fit for him. Rob has to be a stranger to the woman he loves while still showing glimpses of the man she knew.
Behind the Scenes
It’s a When Calls the Heart Weekend
Hearties get a double feature this weekend. Parade notes that Lissing’s Forgotten Holiday airs Saturday, followed by Lori Loughlin’s What If Christmas on Sunday, two Christmas movies starring When Calls the Heart alumni on back-to-back nights.
A Darker Premise Than Usual
Most Hallmark amnesia stories play the memory loss for laughs or charm. This one is built on a real emotional problem. Kathryn’s turned-down proposal comes before the accident, so every step toward Rob’s recovery also brings back the night she broke his heart.
Rob’s Family Plays a Big Part
The official stills put Gabrielle Rose front and centre, in scenes with Lissing, with Steve Makaj, and with Parrish. Given the plot detail that Rob was driving to his sister’s house, expect his family to play a major role in his recovery.
Where to watch Forgotten Holiday?
| Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| Hallmark Channel | Premieres Saturday, October 24 at 8/7c |
| Hallmark+ | Streaming from Sunday, October 25 |
The movie will re-air on the following timings:
- Sun, Oct 25 at 6/5c
- Fri, Oct 30 at 10/9c
- Tue, Nov 3 at 8/7c
- Sun, Nov 15 at 4/3c
- Fri, Nov 27 at 12/11c
Reviews
Forgotten Holiday hasn’t premiered yet, so reviews are still to come.
Pre-premiere buzz has focused on the premise and the pairing. Fan sites are highlighting the reunion of two Hallmark favourites. EntertainmentNow called Parrish and Lissing a pair of fan favourites, and Parade released an exclusive sneak peek ahead of the premiere.
The amnesia hook has fans curious. Girls Gone Hallmark’s reaction to the premise was a simple, enthusiastic “we’re in.”
FAQs
Who plays Kathryn and Rob in Forgotten Holiday?
Janel Parrish plays Kathryn Liu and Daniel Lissing plays Rob Ashford.
What is Forgotten Holiday about?
After Kathryn runs from Rob’s Christmas proposal, a car accident wipes out his memory of their year together. Kathryn has to “re-date” him to bring his memories back and remind him how much he loved Christmas.
Is Forgotten Holiday based on a book?
No source novel has been announced, so it appears to be an original Hallmark story.
What else is premiering on Hallmark this weekend?
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| Saturday, October 24 | Forgotten Holiday |
| Sunday, October 25 | What If Christmas |
Forgotten Holiday premieres Saturday, October 24 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark+.
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