Now that the holiday season is here, we get to listen to all of the festive tunes that help make the season so joyful. For those looking to update their Christmas playlist for the year, we’ve got you covered with all the can’t-miss songs of the season.
Whether you’re a pop fan looking for some fun tunes to play in the car, or you’re hosting a party and want a festive playlist, or you’re decorating the tree with your kiddos and need to entertain the whole family with the music selection, there’s something on this list for every type of Christmas music fan.
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Classic Christmas Songs
It’s not Christmas at all until we start hearing these classics playing.
- “The Christmas Song” β Nat King Cole
- “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” β Andy Williams
- “Happy Holiday” β Andy Williams
- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” β Judy Garland
- “I’ll be Home for Christmas” β Bing Crosby
- “Itβs Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” β Perry Como
- “Sleigh Ride” β The Ronettes
- “White Christmas” β Bing Crosby
- “A Holly Jolly Christmas” β Burl Ives
Christmas Party Songs
Your holiday bash will be extra festive with these songs playing in the background.
- “Feliz Navidad” β JosΓ© Feliciano
- “Run Rudolph Run” β Chuck Berry
- “Rockinβ Around the Christmas Tree” β Brenda Lee
- “Jingle Bell Rock” β Bobby Helms
- “Little Saint Nick” β The Beach Boys
- “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” β Bruce Springsteen
- “Christmas All Over Again” β Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” β U2
- “Step Into Christmas” β Elton John
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“Wonderful Christmastime” β Paul McCartney
- “What Christmas Means to Me” β Stevie Wonder
Christmas Caroling Songs
For anyone who plans to go door-to-door caroling this season, here are some classics to learn.
- “Silent Night” β Carpenters
- “O Christmas Tree” β Aretha Franklin
- “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” β Pentatonix
- “Deck the Halls” β Nat King Cole
- “Joy to the World” β Whitney Houston
- “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” β Amy Grant
- “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” β John Denver and The Muppets
- “Jingle Bells” β Ella Fitzgerald
- “O Holy Night” β Carrie Underwood
Karaoke Christmas Songs
These songs would be fun to perform as solos or duets, especially since two of them were actually used in karaoke scenes in popular holiday movies and shows. In The Night Before movie, they sing “Christmas in Hollis,” and in a Christmas episode of The Office, Angela sings “Little Drummer Boy.”
- “All I Want for Christmas Is You” β Mariah Carey
- “Christmas in Hollis” β Run-D.M.C.
- “The Little Drummer Boy” β Bing Crosby
- “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” β Frank Sinatra
- “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” β Marilyn Maxwell and Dean Martin
- “Last Christmas” β Wham!
- “Santa Baby” β Eartha Kitt
- “I’ll Be Home” β Meghan Trainor
- “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” β John Lennon
Christmas Songs for Kids
Children will love singing along to these fun tunes.
- “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” β Burl Ives
- “Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey)” β Lou Monte
- “Here Comes Santa Claus” β Gene Autry
- “The Chipmunk Song” β Alvin and the Chipmunks
- “Frosty the Snowman” β Perry Como
- “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” β Thurl Ravenscroft
- “The Twelve Days of Christmas” β Ray Conniff
- “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” β The Jackson 5
- “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” β Alvin and the Chipmunks
- “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” β Gayla Peevey
Updated Christmas Classics
So many beloved Christmas songs have been covered by other artists over the years. These fresh takes on the classics are definitely worth a listen.
- “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” β Michael BublΓ©
- “We Need a Little Christmas” β Glee Cast
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“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” β Tyler, The Creator
- “Mary, Did You Know?” β Pentatonix
- “Please Come Home for Christmas” β Eagles
- “O Holy Night” βΒ Josh Groban
- “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” β Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
- “All I Want for Christmas Is You” β Dolly Parton
- “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” β Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson
- “Grown-Up Christmas List” β Barbra Streisand
- “What Christmas Means to Me” β John Legend
Pop Christmas Songs
These upbeat songs will have you dancing in the car (or wherever else you’re listening to them).
- “Santa Tell Me” β Ariana Grande
- “Mistletoe” β Justin Bieber
- “Santa Claus Lane” β Hilary Duff
- “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays ” β NSYNC
- “My Only Wish (This Year)” β Britney Spears
- “Christmas Tree Farm” β Taylor Swift
- “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” β Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton
- “Candy Cane Lane” β Sia
- “A Nonsense Christmas” β Sabrina Carpenter
- “Underneath the Tree” β Kelly Clarkson
- “My Kind of Present” β Meghan Trainor
Instrumental Christmas Songs
For a more low-key vibe (possibly for a dinner party), give these instrumental Christmas albums and songs a listen.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas album β Vince Guaraldi Trio
- “Christmas Canon” β Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- “Somewhere in My Memory” β John Williams, from the Home Alone soundtrack
- “Tchaikovsky β The Nutcracker: March” β Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle
- “Stille Nacht (Silent Night)” β Mannheim Steamroller
- “Gumption” β Hanz Zimmer, from The Holiday soundtrack
- “Cry” βΒ Hanz Zimmer, from The Holiday soundtrack
- “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” β Michael Chertock
- “Main Title” β John Debney, from the Elf soundtrack
- “Carol of the Bells” β The Tabernacle Choir
- “Joy to the World” β Boston Pops Orchestra & John Williams
Winter Songs
For a more wintry vibe than a Christmas one, check out these songs.
- “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” β Dean Martin
- “Winter Wonderland” β Bing Crosby
- “Let It Go” β Idina Menzel
- “White Winter Hymnal” β Fleet Foxes
- “Evermore” β Taylor Swift and Bon Iver
- “California Dreaminβ” β The Mamas and the Papas
- “Winter Song” β Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
- “Winter Song” β Β The Head and the Heart
- “Winter Time” β Steven Miller
New Christmas Songs
The classics are always fun to listen to, but also check out these brand new Christmas songs that just came out in 2024.
- “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (40th Anniversary Edition) β Band Aid
- “Officially Christmas” β Dan + Shay
- “Holiday Road” β Kesha
- “You for Christmas” β Kelly Clarkson
- “Santa for Someone”Β β Jennifer Hudson
- “Wrap Me Up” β Jimmy Fallon and Meghan Trainor
- “Glow” β Little Big Town
- “Blue Christmas” β Jeff Goldblum and Veronica SwiftΒ
- “Maybe This Christmas” β The Philly Specials, Jason Kelce, and Stevie Nicks
