The special, called The Return of Doctor Mysterio, will be shown on BBC One on Christmas Day.
It sees The Doctor working together with a superhero called Doctor Mysterio to save New York from a deadly alien threat.
The dynamic duo will be joined on their quest by an investigative journalist, played by actress Charity Wakefield.
The mysterious Doctor Mysterio will be played by actor Justin Chatwin, and the episode will be written by Steven Moffat.
Writer Steven Moffat said: "I've always loved superheroes and this Christmas Doctor Who dives into that world. My favourite superhero is Clark Kent. Not Superman, Clark Kent."
Matt Lucas, who said he would return to Doctor Who earlier this year, will also appear in this episode.

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11 October 2014 Last updated at 16:05 BST
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Alexandra Palace and Park says at the moment it is one of London's "least well known architectural treasures".
The world's first television station could be renovated too under the plans, as John Thompson of Alexandra Palace Television Group explains.
Jim Wheble reports.

The 27-year old made the podium at Rio 2016 in the men's 85kg category with a lift of 390kg.
Having already served a two-year doping ban, he could now face a lifetime ban.
"There is no final decision on sanctions relating to the Rio Olympics yet," the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) said in a statement.
The IWF has declined to make any further comment until the case is closed, but the officially endorsed World Weightlifting magazine has promoted fourth-placed Denis Ulanov from Kazakhstan to the bronze medal and lists Sincraian as disqualified.
Norwegian three-time Olympic cross-country skiing medallist Therese Johaug has also failed a doping test for the prohibited steroid clostebol.
Her country's ski federation said the substance had been in dcame from a sun lotion given to her by team doctor Fredrik Bendiksen, who has resigned and described the violation as his "personal mistake as a doctor".
This year's Christmas special episode of Doctor Who, will see the Doctor teaming up with a superhero.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A forgotten part of Alexandra Palace could be given a new lease of life if plans are approved to transform a Victorian theatre into a new film, play and concert venue.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
Romanian Olympic weightlifting bronze medallist Gabriel Sincraian has tested positive for the banned substance testosterone.