The biggie has now landed, as John Lewis has unveiled it's tear-jerker of a campaign this year, with a Slow Horses star at the helm.

Waitrose also delivered a star-studded cast, too, with a sequel to last year's advert, bringing back Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson, while introducing Rivals star Alex Hassell to the story.

Barbour has unveiled its annual film with Aardman - and it's a cracker of a Wallace & Gromit tale, while Strathberry's felt stop-motion film is one of the most unique campaigns of the year.

Meanwhile, M&S may have just won Christmas with their soon-to-be-viral offering, starring James Norton.

All this to say is that it's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas now.

Keep this page bookmarked as we'll be updating it with the best Christmas adverts for 2026 as they arrive on screens.

Waitrose has followed up its romcom advert last year with an equally cutesy offering this year, called The Perfect Gift 2. Keira Knightley is getting married at 3 o'clock, but unfortunately for plucky Phil (played by Joe Wilkinson), he isn't the groom. She's getting hitched to Hugo Bunty-Griffin, played by Rivals' Alex Hassell - but he's more interested in his reflection than his wife. Across town, Phil is heartbroken (and showing it visibly). But when all seems lost, his friends arrive with a Waitrose feast to cheer him up. It prompts an idea for him - make a beef wellington of epic proportions to win back his woman. After his own odyssey to get to the church in time with the beef in hand, he throws it down the aisle, hoping it will win over Keira. Thankfully, love (and food) conquers all, and Keira returns to the side of the man she met in the Waitrose aisle. Keira Knightley said: “I always felt last year’s love story deserved another chapter, and what a sequel this has been. I absolutely loved the chance to revisit our relationship this Christmas, although I wasn’t expecting to find myself caught between two men and a beef Wellington! Making this short film has been so much fun. I hope it brings a little festive magic to everyone who watches it.”

Morrisons: Christmas Made Just Right

Morrisons started their Christmas campaign before their advert was released, with some mysterious bear sightings in Leeds, including enormous paw prints, a bear spotted on doorbell footage and CCTV of a furry figure waiting at a bus stop! It was all part of their Christmas advert launch, which is centred around the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The retailer is playing into the idea that everyone likes things a little differently, but with Morrisons' skilled bakers, butchers, fishmongers and deli colleagues, they can help customers get their Christmas "just right". Beverley Lumb, Marketing and Advertising Director at Morrisons, said: "Everyone has their own idea of what makes Christmas 'just right' alongside their own family traditions that make the day feel truly magical. As Christmas comes in all shapes and sizes, we pride ourselves on delivering good, honest value, ensuring every piece of festive fare is crafted with the thought, care and quality for everyone gathered around your table."

M&S: The Home of Christmas

James Norton stars as Santa Claus in M&S' festive advert - but not quite as you're used to seeing him. He changes his appearance so he can go undercover and see what Christmas is all about, stripping off in the process to give Mrs Claus (played by Lucy Punch) a visual treat. While out and about, he learns that Christmas magic is made in places outside the North Pole, through family gatherings and amazing food and drink. And helpfully, M&S can help customers bring their festive vision to life.

Barbour x Wallace & Gromit

Barbour has teamed up with Aardman for another Christmas advert - and somehow they keep getting sweeter and cuter. In this year's film, Wallace gifts his beloved pup friend a dog coat from the retailer. Gromit has a gift for his owner, too, but sadly Wallace proposes they go out for a walk before the pooch can offer his present up. Wallace unveils his new invention, the "Walk-O-Matic", which makes taking a walk out in the park a total breeze... in theory. While it copes well with cattle grates, it doesn't fare the same with ice, and the pair are left out in the cold. Gromit realises it's the perfect time to reveal his present - a lovely woollen jumper for his friend. The pair, now warm, head back to the house for their turkey, leaving the Walk-O-Matic behind. See if you can spot another member of the Aardman universe in the advert, too!

Strathberry: Gifts That Go the Distance

Luxury fashion brand, Strathberry, have unveiled three simply outstanding films to celebrate Christmas. Titled "Gifts That Go the Distance", the retailer, in collaboration with stop-motion studio So Daze, has used adorable felt figures to bring the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh's charming streets - plus the loveable characters within them - to life. The adverts celebrate Strathberry's roots, featuring a Giant Schnauzer based on Strathberry's founders' dog Jess, a badger knitting a Tartan scarf and a mouse riding a train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The adverts took over three months and more than 1,1o0s to make, proving that the things that take time will last.

Dame Kristin Scott Thomas is the star of the John Lewis Christmas advert for 2026, along with a vintage toy dog, voiced by Paul Whitehouse. In the sweet ad, Grandma Gloria is pleased her family will join her for the festivities, but the two small grandchildren are hard to please. Gloria thinks they might like playing with her old toy, Pickles, but they're much more interested in lunch. While popping some money in a card for them for Christmas, Pickles pipes up and tells Gloria she can do better than cash. While a gift-hunt doesn't go too well, a magical TukTuk pops up in front of the pair and whizzes them around the streets of London Town before settling in front of a John Lewis shop. The next day, Gloria shows the children to her home office which she has decorated into a disco paradise to dance and have fun in. Geordie icon, Sam Fender, performs You Can't Always Get What You Want on the festive advert that's sure to do very well among viewers.

Aldi: Kevin the Carrot and The Christmas Wish

Aldi's beloved Kevin the Carrot is back for Christmas 2026, but there's a problem - his Cauli Dog has gone missing which threatens to ruin celebrations! Kevin's daughter, Chantenay, opens the advert, worried for her dog and wishing for his safe return. The father and daughter duo put up "lost" posters and soon discover some little paw prints that take them into the wilderness for their search. Along the way, the pair encounter some funny characters before finally the tracks lead them towards their home where they find Cauli Dog safe and sound, asleep in a Christmas cracker. Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is all about moments that bring loved ones together. This year, Kevin and Chantenay are on a festive ‘pawsuit’ to bring Cauli Dog home, reminding us that the real magic of Christmas is being together with the people, and pets, we love. We hope their adventure warms hearts across the nation.”

Asda: All of Christmas at Asda Price. Boom.

Asda has proved that customers don't need to cut back on spreading joy this Christmas, but they can cut back on the cost. The campaign starts with all of the excitement and preparation leading up to the big day. While showcasing some competitive prices for several key items of the season, the voiceover declares: "All of Christmas at Asda Price. BOOM!". The tone shifts, turning the house into a club to the tune of Martin Garrix's Animals, as everyone breaks out in dance, completely filled with joy.
Tom Hampson, Group Marketing Director at Asda, said: "The reality is that our customers don't want less Christmas, they just want Christmas for less. They still want the great food, thoughtful gifts, festive treats, decorations and all the traditions that make the season feel special, but without the worry that they’re spending more than they have. That's the premise of this year's campaign. We're showing customers that they don't have to choose between a great Christmas and great value. With everything they need under one roof, we're helping families bring the joy they want this Christmas, at the prices they need.”

Tesco have pulled out all the stops for a star-studded Christmas advert starring Anna Maxwell Martin and Roisin Conaty. The Last One Laughing star plays Polly, a Tesco delivery driver who crosses paths with an old school friend, Lizzie, who's played by Maxwell Martin. Lizzie accidentally orders her Christmas food to her old address and is left in complete despair. Polly takes it upon herself to save her old friend's Christmas and offers to help get the food to the right address. The pair end up on a fun road trip where they reminisce about their lives and friendship. Conaty said about the advert: “I love that this story centres on female friendship. It starts in a way many people can relate to, all stress and mayhem, but shows how one small act of kindness can bring people back together after years apart. It's lovely to show Polly and Lizzie reuniting and celebrating kindness and grace. Also, the silliness we can only feel with old friends alongside the magic of Christmas." Maxwell Martin added: “We’ve all been there. In the stress to get everything perfect at Christmas, suddenly you realise you’ve somehow only ordered one singular sprout, totally forgotten wrapping paper, or sent a delivery to the wrong address. I’m really pleased to be part of a production that acknowledges that whilst we can all strive for our ‘perfect’ Christmas, it is in fact human connection that truly helps to make Christmas magic.”

Lidl - Lidl Christmas Everybody

Lidl has teamed up with a soap icon for their festive offering this year, starring none other than the legend himself, Barry from EastEnders (Shaun Williamson). Shaun can be seen pondering about how great it would be to wish everyone a Merry Christmas - and he takes inspiration from Slade to do so. In the music video/advert, Shaun reimagines the iconic Christmas song, Merry Christmas Everybody, while delivering some Lidl goodies to his neighbours.

Sainsbury's has welcomed back the BFG for their phizz-whizzing Christmas campaign. In the BFG's whimsical cave, the much-loved giant has been struck down with a cold and declares he will probably miss Christmas this year. Refusing to let her friend be alone, Annie heads into action and loads up a Sainsbury's delivery van with some Taste the Delicious food before hitting the road with Fred in tow. Annie and Fred have a perilous journey to get to the BFG before they finally get to the cave, laden with goodies, before tucking into a gorgeous Christmas together. Radha Davies, Sainsbury's Marketing Director, said: “The BFG has become a much-loved part of Christmas for our customers, so we wanted to bring him back for another adventure this year. At the heart of the story is a simple idea: nobody should miss out on Christmas. Whether that's Annie making sure her friend gets the festive feast he deserves, or the moments families create around the table, it's those acts of care and generosity that make Christmas special."

Argos has enlisted the help of Richard Ayoade this year to show off their top gifts for the year. In the funny video, the comedian is pondering over a gift for his mother, when two ghosts of Argos' Christmas adverts past arrive to help him out. Making reference to the nineties routine of circling desired presents in the Argos catalogue, Ayoade settles on a Shark CryoGlow Clinic LED Face Mask for his mum. He's so overjoyed after landing a perfect gift that he hangs out the window to share festive greetings with a delivery driver for Argos, who's bemused, claiming it's the first time he's seen the dead-pan comedian smile.

Very: That's the Very Thing

Very's iconic pink box is brought to life in their Christmas advert, offering a gateway to imaginative worlds which showcases the breadth of gifts available to buy from the retailer. At the heart of the advert is an adorable young flamingo who's looking for his own present. Travelling through the Very cube, he finds the dream worlds for his family members and the perfect gifts to make Christmas so special for them. Beckie Crane-Stanion, marketing director at The Very Group, said : “Christmas and Black Friday are key calendar moments for our customers, and Very’s flock of flamingos have gone through a transformation to bring even more warmth and personality to our online department store. This year, by embracing new technology, we’ve enhanced the creative concept to introduce a new family which we’re confident our customers will love!”

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