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There is no single answer, because “97.1” is a frequency that many stations in different cities use. If you mean Washington, D.C.’s 97.1 WASH-FM, the station’s most recent documented holiday switch was announced for November 15, 2024, at 4 p.m. As of October 8, 2026, I can’t confirm a 2026 start date from an official source, so treat the 2024 date as a precedent rather than a schedule.
Which 97.1 are you asking about?
A frequency alone does not identify a station. Listeners in different markets tune to 97.1 for entirely different stations, and each one makes its own programming decisions. Before you can find a start date, you need the city or market and, ideally, the station’s call sign (for example, WASH-FM). If you searched from the Washington, D.C. area and the station is 97.1 WASH-FM, the rest of this article applies to you directly.
What is documented for 97.1 WASH-FM
On November 13, 2024, 97.1 WASH-FM published a station announcement saying it would make its “OFFICIAL FLIP” to Christmas music on November 15, 2024, at 4 p.m., with holiday music airing 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That is the only WASH-FM start date I found in official material.
The announcement is a record of one season. It does not establish that WASH-FM always switches on November 15, and it does not give a 2026 date. Holiday format changes are often timed to the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas window, but the exact day and hour can change from year to year.
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Why a 2025 industry figure does not answer the question
In 2025, iHeartMedia described more than 95 of its stations flipping to holiday music. That number describes the company’s holiday programming overall. It does not tell you how many stations will switch in 2026, and it does not establish when WASH-FM will do so. Do not use it to infer a WASH-FM schedule.
How to find the start date for your 97.1
- Confirm the station’s city or market and call sign. Your local listings or radio-locator tools will show which 97.1 serves your area.
- Check the station’s own website and social media accounts for a holiday format announcement. Official flip notices usually appear in the weeks before the switch.
- If you are searching in October or November, look for an announcement dated this year, not last year. A flip notice from a previous season does not confirm the current one.
- If nothing is posted yet, contact the station directly or check back in mid-November, when most holiday format changes have been announced.
What to watch for
- A start date from a prior year is a historical reference only.
- Time zones matter. A 4 p.m. start is local time for the station’s market.
- Some stations stream holiday programming on apps or websites before the over-the-air switch, so a stream may begin earlier than the broadcast.
If you can tell me which 97.1 you mean, I can narrow this down further.
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