Though it might seem early to start planning holiday travel, plenty of rom-com stars are already doing just that.
On April 30, 2026, the organizers of Christmas Con — the annual fan convention in Edison, New Jersey, devoted to holiday rom-coms — announced their first wave of confirmed stars for the December event, including a cast reunion for Hallmark’s former “Good Witch” franchise and the unexpected return of Ryan Paevey, who had said in the past he would not attend specific fan events again, including Christmas Con.
Five Former ‘Good Witch’ Cast Members to Appear at Christmas Con
GettyIn a social media announcement on April 30, Thats4Entertainment revealed the first 10 stars scheduled to appear at Christmas Con from December 11 – 13, available for autographs, selfies, photo ops, and Q&A panels.
The 2026 lineup includes former “Good Witch” cast members Catherine Bell, James Denton, Chris Potter, Bailee Madison, and Kat Barrell. The franchise started with seven movies starring Bell from 2008 to 2014, and then a show was born, which Hallmark aired from 2015 to 2021.
In 2024, Bell and Denton appeared at Christmas Con alongside some other “Good Witch” alums, Sarah Power and Catherine Disher. No word yet on whether they might appear again.
Christmas Con Organizers Say They’ve ‘Reset’ With Ryan Paevey
GettyIn another surprise, Christmas Con 2026 will feature former Hallmark star Ryan Paevey, who just wrapped his first Christmas movie for Great American Family — his first rom-com since backing away from acting in 2024 (he did return to “General Hospital” in late 2025).
Paevey’s participation came as a shock to many fans who remember his past remarks about swearing off the show after having a negative experience there several years ago.
Organizers provided a positive update in the comment section of their April 30 post, writing, “We recently connected with @ryanpaevey , and we´ve taken the time to reset and move forward. Looking forward to having him at our show, for him to see everyone again and reconnect with the fans this holiday season.”
Fans were thrilled to see him included, including one who wrote, “MADE MY WHOLE YEAR! 😍”
Who Else Will Be at Christmas Con 2026?
Christmas Con 2026 will also feature longtime Hallmark star Niall Matter, who will star in the second “A Biltmore Christmas” movie, filmed in early 2026 with Holland Roden, Andie MacDowell, Jonathan Franke, and Rachel Boston.
The Christmas Con lineup also includes Jen Lilley, who just returned to Hallmark in “A Royal Setting” after a couple of years away, and Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, who had to back out of the convention in 2025 as she was undergoing cancer treatment. Rounding out the first 10 stars named to the Christmas Con lineup is former Hallmark star Danica McKellar, who’s worked exclusively with Great American Family since the fall of 2021.
VIP tickets for Christmas Con sold out long before any stars had been announced, and organizers say weekend tickets are 80% sold. Once those are gone, only single-day tickets will remain until the show is sold out. Tickets can be purchased here, and organizers promise more talent confirmations are forthcoming.
