Deck The Dials: iHeart Kicks Off All-Christmas Format And Holiday Special.

iHeartMedia has officially begun its annual move to all-holiday programming, with more than 95 stations switching to wall-to-wall Christmas music for the 2025 season. The flips bring a mix of contemporary holiday releases and staples from Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and other favorites, airing 24/7 through Christmas Day.

To accompany the station flips, the “iHeartRadio Holiday Special” returns Nov. 26. Hosted by Mario Lopez, the hour-long program will feature artists including Goo Goo Dolls, Gwen Stefani, Lady A, Meghan Trainor, Pentatonix and Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless sharing favorite songs and traditions. The special will air across iHeart stations at 7pm local time and stream on the iHeartRadio app’s “Holiday Season Radio” at 7pm ET.

Each year, iHeart turns more than 95 of its music stations in key markets into round-the-clock holiday outlets, a strategy it says has made the company the country’s top destination for Christmas music listening. Beyond broadcast, the iHeartRadio app pushes out dozens of themed channels such as “iHeart Christmas,” “North Pole Radio,” “iHeart Christmas Classics,” and formats spanning country, jazz, R&B and rock.

“Every holiday season, our stations set the tone with beloved festive tunes that span generations,” said Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer for iHeartMedia. “Our Holiday Special resonates so deeply because it’s more than just flipping to holiday music — it’s a heartfelt celebration where artists open up and share personal stories with fans.”