Are Daytime Soap Operas New or Repeats on New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day?

Wondering if your favorite soaps, Beyond the Gates, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, will be on during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Holiday preemptions always have fans biting their nails, but don’t worry, we’ve got the scoop. From repeats to brand new episodes, here’s what to expect so you don’t miss a single juicy moment this holiday season.

Here’s a clear, show-by-show breakdown of what usually airs during the week. From heartwarming holiday specials to classic episodes or brand-new drama, fans can see exactly what’s coming up so they don’t miss a single moment of the action.

Show-by-Show Holiday Schedule Breakdown

Beyond the Gates Soap Holiday Schedule

Beyond the Gates is about to celebrate its very first New Year on screen, and for a show that only premiered back in February, it’s making the occasion extra special. The holiday episode airs on Tuesday, December 30, and features a serenade to ring in 2026 by special guest star Kenny Lattimore.

On the storyline front, colleagues Ted (Keith D. Robinson) and Shanice (Ernestine Johnson) find themselves pulled into each other’s romantic orbit, much to the dismay of Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant). Meanwhile, the entire Dupree family is left reeling from a sudden health crisis, adding extra drama to the festivities.

The show will be preempted on Wednesday, December 31, due to the Sun Bowl. It returns with a new episode on January 1, when Nicole delivers devastating news to Kat and Martin, sparking a heated argument between the siblings. On January 2, Ted reaches out to his daughter and surprises her with his unexpected stance on the situation.

Days of Our Lives

Since Days of Our Lives streams exclusively on Peacock, the show is not affected by preemptions, which means brand-new episodes all week long. Here’s what the schedule looks like for the week.

General Hospital Holiday Soap Schedule

General Hospital will air an encore episode on Wednesday, December 31. In this episode, Lulu reunites with Charlotte in Prague, but the moment is interrupted by Valentin’s arrival, while back in Port Charles, revelations about the Cassadine estate, Emma’s troubled past, and unresolved tensions around Dex’s stabbing intersect with shifting personal stakes for Michael, Sasha, and Josslyn. This episode originally aired on December 27, 2024.

The show will also honor the late Anthony Geary by re-airing his 2015 farewell episode on January 1. The special encore revisits Luke Spencer’s final story, including his last adventure with Laura, a dramatic rescue of Lucky, Ethan, and Jake, and the emotional moments of returning to Port Charles only to say goodbye to his family and leave on his own. It’s a heartfelt way to remember Geary’s nearly four decades on the show.

Then the show is back with new episodes beginning Friday, January 2, 2026, where Sonny warns Michael,  Kristina is taken aback, Alexis decides upon a new strategy, and more.

The Bold and the Beautiful

On Thursday, January 1, 2026, The Bold and the Beautiful takes viewers back to Italy with a fashion-filled episode from July 2025. This special re-airing is a stylish way to ring in the New Year without missing the drama.

The Young and the Restless Holiday Soap Schedule

Y&R is new on December 1 as well as January 2. However, on Thursday, January 1, 2026, The Young and the Restless will re-air a classic 1998 episode. In this memorable installment, Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper) throws a lavish party at Chancellor Mansion, only to have the celebration interrupted by her longtime rival, Jill Abbott (Jess Walton).

When Do New Soap Episodes Return?

Your favorite daytime soap operas return with all-new episodes on Friday, January 2.

Photo Credit: CBS/Peacock/ABC.

Follow Soap Opera News on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, spoilers, recaps, interviews, and more.