Methods, systems, and media for presenting media content in response to a channel change request are provided. In some implementations, methods for presenting media content in response to a channel change request are provided, the methods comprising: causing media content provided on a first channel to be presented in a first display area on a first screen; receiving, at a hardware processor, a request to switch to a second channel; in response to receiving the request to switch to the second channel, causing thumbnail content corresponding to the second channel to be presented in the first display area; determining whether media content provided on the second channel is ready for presentation; and in response to determining that the media content provided on the second channel is ready for presentation, causing the media content provided on the second channel to be presented in the first display area.