When Is ‘The Sound of Music’ Airing on TV This Year?

THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Julie Andrews, 1965 — 20th Century-Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection

What To Know

The Sound of Music will air on ABC on Sunday, December 21, from 7:00 to 11:00pm ET as part of the network’s annual holiday tradition.
The beloved 1965 film, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer with music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, remains a holiday favorite and is also available to stream on Disney+.
The story has inspired adaptations such as the 2013 live TV production and the 2015 film The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music, which explores the real family’s history.

If you are looking for a familiar classic to settle in with during the holidays, The Sound of Music is returning to network television once again. ABC has made the 1965 musical an annual tradition, and this year, The Sound of Music will air on Sunday, December 21, from 7:00 to 11:00pm ET on ABC as part of The Wonderful World of Disney. The network officially confirmed the film in that slot for its holiday programming lineup, keeping up a long-running tradition of showcasing it on a Sunday evening right before Christmas.

The film was released in 1965 and directed by Robert Wise. It stars Julie Andrews as Maria, the spirited young woman who becomes governess to the seven von Trapp children. The late Christopher Plummer plays Captain Georg von Trapp. The movie features some of the most memorable songs ever written for a musical, including “Do Re Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss,” and “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.” Rodgers and Hammerstein’s music helped make it one of the most beloved films of all time.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Christopher Plummer, Charmian Carr, Kym Karath, Angela Cartwright, Julie Andrews, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Eleanor Parker, 1965

20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection

Over the years, The Sound of Music has inspired several notable adaptations. The most prominent was The Sound of Music Live! in 2013, a televised production starring Carrie Underwood as Maria, which brought the stage version to a massive modern audience and introduced many younger viewers to the von Trapp story for the first time. Interest in the real von Trapp family also continued long after the film’s release, which eventually led to the 2015 feature film The Von Trapp Family: A Life of Music. The movie is based on Agathe von Trapp’s memoir and focuses on her perspective as the eldest daughter, offering a look at the family’s history beyond what was shown in the original musical.

For viewers who prefer to stream, The Sound of Music is also available on Disney+.