Your guide to CBC Music's 2019 holiday schedule
'Tis the season for CBC Music to take over your holiday airwaves
Wondering what festive delights CBC Radio One and CBC Music (formerly Radio 2) have scheduled over Christmas Eve and Day? Get the full schedule below.
And don't forget: we'll be airing Joy to the World, CBC Music's annual Euroradio holiday special, on Dec. 22 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All times are local, and half an hour later in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dec. 22 on CBC Music
6 to 9 a.m.
Join host Florence K for a special choral Christmas warm up ahead of our popular Joy to the World broadcast.
Joy to the World
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
One of CBC Music's most popular radio events of the year, Joy to the World is a full day of holiday music programming from the countries of the European Broadcasting Union. This tradition has been going strong for more than 25 years, uniting the globe through traditional music for the holiday season. This year's broadcast, hosted by Julie Nesrallah, will include performances from Iceland, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, England and more.
Dec. 24 on CBC Music
Deep Roots Christmas with Tom Power
4 to 5 p.m.
You string the lights, we'll strum the guitars. Join q host Tom Power, for the perfect evening filled with traditional Christmas classics and sing-along hits.
CBC Christmas Sing-In with Julie Nesrallah
5 to 6 p.m.
From the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, the 40th CBC Christmas Sing-In is a concert of sacred music for choir, organ, brass and percussion. Join the chorus and sing along with your favourite carols.
Winter Solstice with Jarrett Martineau
6 to 7 p.m.
The shortest day, the longest night of the calendar year. Reclaimed host Jarrett Martineau explores the traditions and the music that surrounds the winter solstice.
Home for the Holidays with Odario Williams
7 to 10 p.m.
A hearth-warming mix of classic holiday music and contemporary favourites.
Marvin's Room Christmas Party
10 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Find the coolness in Christmas with the Marvin's Room Christmas Party. It's a celebration of the holidays through funk and soul, blues and hip hop. From Christmas classics to remixed carols, we're covering it all.
Christmas Night
Midnight to 6 a.m.
A continuous stream of classical Christmas music for the overnight hours.
Dec. 24 on CBC Radio One
Home for the Holidays with Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe
8 to 11 p.m.
A hearth-warming mix of classic holiday music and contemporary favourites.
Winter Solstice with Jarrett Martineau
11 p.m. to 12 a.m.
The shortest day, the longest night of the calendar year. Reclaimed host Jarrett Martineau explores the traditions and the music that surrounds the winter solstice.
Christmas Night
Midnight to 6 a.m.
A continuous stream of classical Christmas music for the overnight hours.
Dec. 25 on CBC Music
Home for the Holidays with Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe
6 to 9 a.m.
A hearth-warming mix of classic holiday music and contemporary favourites.
Home for the Holidays with Tom Allen
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Gather around for this unique mix of seasonal songs and stories with Tom Allen.
Handel's Messiah with Julie Nesrallah
12 to 2:45 p.m.
G.F. Handel's oratorio Messiah is a Christmas favourite for classical music lovers. This year features the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under Ivars Taurins together with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and illustrious soloists.
Queen's Message
2:45 to 3 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth delivers her Christmas message from Buckingham Palace, an annual tradition on radio since 1952.
Home for the Holidays with Katherine Duncan
3 to 5 p.m.
Seasonal favourites for your Christmas Day.
Noël with Florence K
5 to 6 p.m.
CBC Music host Florence K introduces us to beloved French holiday songs and spins classic holiday standards en français.
Gospel Christmas with Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe
6 to 7 p.m.
Let the power of voice bring the spirit of Christmas into your heart. An uplifting, spiritual present sent through the soulful and lush voices of Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Faith Chorale and the Winans family.
Global Christmas with Paolo Pietropaolo
7 to 8 p.m.
A celebration of Christmas around the world through music. Host Paolo Pietropaolo takes you on a festive globe-trotting journey, celebrating the music and exploring some of the different traditions the season has inspired.
Home for the Holidays with Rich Terfry
8-10 p.m.
A hearth-warming mix of classic holiday music and contemporary favourites.
Home for the Holidays with Laila Biali
10 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Laila Biali brings a hearth-warming mix of jazzy holiday favourites.
December 25 on CBC Radio One
Home for the Holidays with Tom Allen
6 to 9 a.m.
Gather around for this unique mix of seasonal songs and stories with Tom Allen.
Gospel Christmas with Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe
9 to 10 a.m.
Let the power of voice bring the spirit of Christmas into your heart. An uplifting, spiritual present sent through the soulful and lush voices of Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Faith Chorale and the Winans family.
Noël with Florence K
10 to 11 a.m.
CBC Music host Florence K introduces us to beloved French holiday songs and spins classic holiday standards en français.
Deep Roots Christmas with Tom Power
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
You string the lights, we'll strum the guitars. Join q host Tom Power, for the perfect evening filled with traditional Christmas classics and sing-along hits.
Handel's Messiah with Julie Nesrallah
12 to 2:45 p.m.
G.F. Handel's oratorio Messiah is a Christmas favourite for classical music lovers. This year features the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra under Ivars Taurins together with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and illustrious soloists.
Queen's Message
2:45 to 3 p.m.
Queen Elizabeth delivers her Christmas message from Buckingham Palace, an annual tradition on radio since 1952.
CBC Christmas Sing-In with Julie Nesrallah
3 to 4 p.m.
A popular broadcast tradition from the Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul in Montreal, the 40th CBC Christmas Sing-In includes your favourite seasonal music, from "O Come All Ye Faithful" to "The Huron Carol." Join host Julie Nesrallah and sing along wherever you may be on Christmas Eve.
Global Christmas with Paolo Pietropaolo
4 to 5 p.m.
A celebration of Christmas around the world through music. Host Paolo Pietropaolo takes you on a festive globe-trotting journey, celebrating the music and exploring some of the different traditions the season has inspired.
Home for the Holidays with Laila Biali
5 to 7 p.m.
Laila Biali brings a hearth-warming mix of jazzy holiday favourites.
Home for the Holidays with Odario Williams
7 to 10 p.m.
A hearth-warming mix of classic holiday music and contemporary favourites.
Marvin's Room Christmas Party
10 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Find the coolness in Christmas with the Marvin's Room Christmas Party. It's a celebration of the holidays through funk and soul, blues and hip-hop. From Christmas classics to remixed carols, we're covering it all.
Home for the Holidays with Katherine Duncan
12 to1 a.m.
Seasonal favourites for your Christmas Day.
Holiday playlists
Tune in to one of our genre-specific playlists at cbc.ca/listen for on-demand holiday music.
One of our finest yearly traditions, this is a seasonal mix of concertos, carols and hits from the choral, vocal and instrumental repertoire. Cozy up in front of the fire and delight in a wide range of gifts from this musical tree, ranging from Handel's Messiah and Bach's Christmas Oratorio to Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride."
Spruce up your holiday happenings with a mix of seasonal pop and jazz standards, including Bing Crosby, Michael Bublé, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
Celebrate the holidays with country music's biggest and brightest stars as they sing cherished holiday favourites and original songs, including Blue Rodeo, Gord Bamford, Amy Grant, Paul Brandt and more.
A collection of musical presents gifted to us from the past two decades of pop divas, boy bands and superstar acts, including music from Wham!, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and more.
The ugly Christmas sweater of holiday playlists. Enjoy weird, colourful and fun favourites from They Might Be Giants, Bootsy Collins, Run-D.M.C. and more.
Celebrate the holidays with funk, soul, blues and hip hop. From R&B renditions of Christmas classics to remixed carols, this playlist has James Brown, Jully Black, Eartha Kitt, Jackson 5 and more.
Christmas standards that are anything but. Scat along with favourites like Tim Tamashiro, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Vince Guaraldi, Louis Armstrong and more.
Join in on the ultimate blue, blue, blue Christmas with songs from B.B. King, Bessie Smith, Shakura S'Aida, Matt Anderson, Sharon Jones, Elvis and more.
With these charming classics, you'll find plucks and strums from Smokey Mountain Band, Sufjan Stevens, Natalie MacMaster, Great Big Sea, Good Lovelies and more.
Christmas classics in the gospel tradition featuring Aretha Franklin, Mahalia Jackson, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin and more.
Keep warm with this exclusive showcase of rich Canadian talent, ranging from Chantal Kreviazuk and Rufus Wainwright to Beau Dommage and Susan Aglukark.
Take a holiday trip around the world with music from South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the far East, the Caribbean and Africa.
While waiting for Père Noël, why not settle in with traditional carols and beautiful modern classics en français, from Daniel Lavoie, Claire Pelletier, Maryse Letarte and more.