Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas Special: Why It's Off in 2026
There is no new Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special in 2026. Brendan O'Carroll cancelled the recordings of the Christmas and New Year episodes in August because he needed surgery on a fractured jaw, which leaves RTÉ One, where the 2025 special went out on Christmas night, with no new episode to show.
- 2026: no new Christmas or New Year special. The recordings were called off on Monday 17 August 2026.
- Why: O'Carroll said a CT scan found two fractures in his jaw, and that he needed surgery and a few months to recover.
- In Ireland: RTÉ One showed the 2025 specials on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. A repeat for Christmas 2026 is not confirmed.
- Back when: 2027 is the target, by his account and the BBC's. No date exists.
Is there a Mrs Brown's Boys Christmas special in 2026?
No. O'Carroll, who writes the sitcom and plays Agnes Brown, announced on Monday 17 August 2026 that he was cancelling the recordings of both 2026 festive episodes. RTÉ carried his statement that day, and British Comedy Guide reported the same details from the show's official Facebook page.
The recordings didn't go ahead, so there is no finished episode waiting for a slot. That is the difference between 2026 and a year where a programme is simply moved to another night.
Why was it cancelled?
For a medical reason, and only the one he gave himself. In his statement O'Carroll said a CT scan had found two fractures in his jaw, that he needed immediate surgery, and that recovery would take a few months. He said the decision followed advice from his consultant.
He hasn't said how the injury happened, and we're not going to guess. He apologised to people who had been looking forward to the shows.
When did RTÉ One show the Christmas specials before?
On Christmas night, with the second episode on New Year's Eve in 2025. RTÉ's own listings give these slots, in Irish time, and the Irish Times and The Journal printed the same 2025 times.
| Special | Date in Ireland | Irish time | Channel | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas 2024 (Ding Dong Mammy) | Wednesday 25 December 2024 | 9pm | RTÉ One | Aired |
| Christmas 2025 (Mammy's Bottles) | Thursday 25 December 2025 | 9.05pm | RTÉ One | Aired |
| New Year 2025 (Stormin' Mammy) | Wednesday 31 December 2025 | 9.50pm | RTÉ One | Aired |
| Christmas 2026 | None | None | None | Recording cancelled |
| New Year 2026 | None | None | None | Recording cancelled |
One quirk in that table: Irish viewers got the storm episode a night early. RTÉ billed it for New Year's Eve, and British Comedy Guide's episode list puts the BBC One showing on Thursday 1 January 2026.
Will RTÉ repeat an old special at Christmas 2026?
That is not confirmed as of Wednesday 7 October 2026. RTÉ hasn't published its Christmas 2026 schedule, and the August report says nothing about repeats. For a sense of timing, RTÉ revealed its Christmas 2025 line-up on Monday 1 December 2025.
We'll add the answer to this page when RTÉ's listings come out. Until then, treat any date you see for a 2026 repeat as a guess.
Can you watch older episodes on RTÉ Player?
RTÉ's Christmas Day 2024 listing marked that year's special as streaming on RTÉ Player, which is free to use in Ireland. We couldn't confirm on Wednesday 7 October 2026 which episodes, if any, are on RTÉ Player at the moment, so check the app before you plan a night around it.
If you're in Northern Ireland, the specials have gone out on BBC One, and the BBC says it is working on 2027 plans too.
When is Mrs Brown's Boys coming back?
In 2027, if the plans hold. O'Carroll said he had been talking to the BBC about returning to television in 2027, and a BBC statement reported by British Comedy Guide and TV Guide in the UK said the broadcaster was working with him on plans for that year. Neither side has named a month, and RTÉ hasn't announced anything for its own schedule.
What about the panto in Dublin and Killarney?
Postponed as well. Mrs Brown's Boys D'Panto? had been due in Dublin and Killarney later in 2026; British Comedy Guide names the venues as the 3Arena and the Gleneagle Arena. O'Carroll said he and the promoter MCD were working to move the shows to 2027. New dates haven't been announced, and ticket holders should go by what MCD or their ticket seller tells them.
What else is on Irish TV at Christmas?
The fixture most households plan around is the Late Late Toy Show, and our page has its date and how to watch. The weekly Late Late Show guest list is updated every Friday, and The Graham Norton Show in Ireland explains the Virgin Media One slot.
For the regular schedule, we keep which soaps are on each night and the Fair City page up to date. Looking past the holidays, there are pages for Dancing with the Stars Ireland 2027 and Kin series 3.
More sections: Christmas & Events · RTÉ · UK Shows in Ireland · Guide
FAQ
Is Mrs Brown's Boys cancelled for good?
No. Only the 2026 Christmas and New Year recordings were cancelled. O'Carroll and the BBC have each pointed to 2027 for a return.
What channel is Mrs Brown's Boys on in Ireland?
RTÉ One. That is where the 2024 and 2025 Christmas specials were shown.
What time was the 2025 Christmas special on RTÉ One?
9.05pm on Thursday 25 December 2025, according to RTÉ's listing and the Irish Times review published that day.
Sources
- RTÉ Entertainment (17 August 2026): Christmas and New Year recordings cancelled, jaw surgery, panto postponed, 2027
- British Comedy Guide (17 August 2026): the same announcement, venues, BBC statement on 2027
- TV Guide (UK): report on the cancellation and the BBC statement
- RTÉ Entertainment (1 December 2025): Christmas 2025 line-up, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve specials
- The Irish Times (25 December 2025): review giving RTÉ One, 9.05pm
- The Journal (31 December 2025): New Year's Eve TV guide, RTÉ One, 9.50pm
- RTÉ Entertainment (25 December 2024): Christmas Day listing, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
- British Comedy Guide: 2025 episode list with titles and BBC One dates