It’s been just over a year since a new Doctor Who episode aired, but a Christmas special was slated to come this year. However, it’s now been announced that it will not air in 2026.
On Wednesday, June 10, the BBC released the following statement about the future of Doctor Who: “As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year. Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.”
The statement continues, “After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode. This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory. Details of the tender will be announced in due course. The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who.”
Davies also shared his own statement about his exit from Doctor Who on Instagram. The showrunner was with the series from Seasons 2 through 4 of the new era (with David Tennant) and returned for the 60th anniversary specials (with Tennant and Catherine Tate) as well as the two seasons with Ncuti Gatwa.
“And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender. As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!” he wrote.
He also revealed what had been done so far for the Christmas special that had previously been announced: “For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor. You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time. Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future, vworp vworp.”
This news comes after, when asked about possible news about a new Doctor soon on BBC Radio 2 on Monday, June 1, 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?
No. While one was announced in October 2025, with Davies set to write it, on June 10, it was announced that the BBC would not be moving forward with it.
Who would’ve starred in the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special?
That had yet to be announced, though it did feel like Billie Piper had 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 would the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special have been about?
That had yet to be revealed. Presumably, it would have had to explain Piper’s appearance.
Will there be another Doctor Who season?
It sounds like it with the statement noting “Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come” and the mention of “future series.”