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The festive season is approaching and, much like last year, brands are releasing their Christmas ads early to kick off the excitement for the Golden Quarter.
Among the latest releases, John Lewis tells a heartwarming tale of a sister's bond, Tim Burton offers his unique vision of Christmas for Harvey Nichols, while Asda calls upon an army of gnomes to save the day and Aldi reintroduces Kevin the Carrot for the ninth consecutive year.
And there’s plenty more to come. We’ve got all the top ads for you right here. Check out what brands have released so far.
Zalando has unveiled its Christmas spot that captures the familiar moment of wardrobe indecision - the “towel stare” – an existential pause, sitting wrapped in a towel and overwhelmed by choices.
Ever wondered what really goes on at the North Pole when Santa’s reindeer aren’t delivering presents? Well, this Netflix Doc-style ad from The Norwegian Postal Service shines a light on just that.
In the short film, Rudolph - Santa’s iconic red-nosed lead - gets a bit too carried away after receiving a promotion from the big man himself. As his celebrity status skyrockets, so does his ego, leading to an epic rise and fall that’s both hilarious and cautionary. Fame, after all, comes at a price, and Rudolph’s story is one for the ages.
Sports Direct is encouraging people to embrace new traditions this festive season with a fast-paced spot featuring a few familiar faces. From family runs and football to rugby matches and even Hyrox sessions in the garage, the 60-second ad puts community and family at the heart of its message.
The film begins outside a snow-covered house, where viewers catch a glimpse of a spirited gran shadowboxing with a snowman in the front garden. With a playful kick, she sends the snowman’s head flying into the sky, setting the stage for a series of sporting moments to follow.
Did you know that each Christmas in the UK, people buy 750 million Brussels sprouts, only to toss half of them in the bin? This festive season, the Japanese brand Kikkoman aims to help reduce that waste by adding a flavorful twist to classic sprout recipes, with a splash of its signature soy sauce.
Olipop’s ad introduces viewers to two lovable yetis, Oli and Pop, whose large and intimidating appearances make it hard for them to connect with others.
Despite their best efforts to spread holiday joy, the humans they encounter are initially frightened and keep their distance, leaving the yetis feeling disheartened and isolated. Luckily, in the end, a can of Olipop bridges the gap between them all.
JD Sports has put its own spin on what defines ‘family’ this year with a documentary-style ad featuring Central Cee, Beta Squad, Paddy the Baddy, Maya Jama and others.
From the talent to the real people featured in the spot, the cast blends into one as viewers watch different festive traditions unfold between numerous real families and friends.
Coca-Cola has unveiled an AI Christmas ad this year, updating its iconic ‘Holidays are Coming’ TV spot. The 16-second short, which adopts the same aesthetic as the 1995 original, is the first time the brand has produced an ad fully generated by AI.
This year's Big Issue ad, narrated by ambassador Daniel Mays, re-images the classic Twelve Days of Christmas carol. But instead of partridges, geese, drummers and gold rings, the spot features real Big Issue vendors and frontline workers revealing the top 12 reasons that a person could find themselves homeless, as well as some of the many ways the charity provides support.
Saatchi & Saatchi's ‘The Gifting Hour’ is the story of Sally, who, like many people, has left her festive shopping a bit late and is now rushing to find a gift for her sister at a John Lewis store.
While browsing, Sally tumbles through a rack of dresses and is transported back to her childhood home, stepping into a magical world that brings the sister’s memories to life. From early childhood moments to teenage drama, the ad vividly captures the sibling’s bond through all its highs and lows. Finally, Sally finds the perfect gift, reuniting with her sister in the present day, as their journey through the years comes full circle.
Read our interview with the retailer and Saatchi & Saatchi here.
Disney embraces emotive storytelling in its annual holiday campaign, sharing the heartwarming tale of a young boy who forms an unlikely friendship with a small octopus.
The ad follows the journey of the child who discovers a curious octopus has attached itself to his head during a seaside vacation. After returning home, the boy forms a true friendship with the octopus by introducing his new companion to his life on land.
With the festive season (almost) in full swing, Starbucks has released a short film that captures the busyness of Christmastime, be it parties, supermarkets, or putting up decorations. The film offers the coffee brand's drinks as a moment of rest for people on the go.
O2 has released a poignant film highlighting the experience of people living with data poverty during the festive season. The scenes are drawn from real stories, featuring a young man working in a kitchen who can’t complete his studies due to limited data, a father and daughter unable to stream a show together on a coach journey and a woman outside a laundrette struggling to stay connected with loved ones.
Following last year’s success, Shaun the Sheep and his flock return for Barbour’s 2024 Christmas campaign. This year, the clothing brand spotlights its signature accessories, focusing on gifting warmth for winter.
The festive film, created by Aardman’s skilled team in their Bristol studio, brings Barbour back to life on Mossy Bottom Farm using the studio's beloved stop-motion animation style.
Matalan has launched its Christmas campaign honoring everyday family heroes. Celebrating the reality of familiar family moments, the campaign created by McCann sits under the retailer’s recently launched brand platform, ‘We Get It, We’ve Got You’.
Boots has launched its festive campaign that features actor Adjoa Andoh as Mrs Claus. The upbeat ad showcases her leading a “werkshop” of elves, preparing beauty gifts for all.
Directed by Dave Meyers, the spot highlights a wide range of beauty products, from viral skincare to glam gift sets all set to a hit noughties song by Eve.
Waitrose has launched the first part of its Christmas ad series, ‘Sweet Suspicion: A Waitrose Mystery’, marking the beginning of the retailer's festive campaign. This year’s spot offers a playful twist with a ‘whodunnit’ storyline, complete with an all-star cast and, for the first time, a suspenseful two-part format that will conclude in the coming weeks.
Read our interview with the brand and agency here.
Over 150,000 children in England are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, which is an increase of 20,000 since last year. It’s the highest number recorded in the country. Shelter is bringing awareness to this startling statistic in its heartbreaking festive campaign.
M&S Food’s Christmas ad is once again voiced by the brilliant Dawn French, promising charm, surprises and holiday spirit. Adding an exciting twist, French will not only lend her iconic voice to the Fairy character but also make her on-screen debut as herself, a first for the retailer.
In his ninth year, Kevin the Carrot is back on our screen this Christmas with another heroic tale.
The scene opens on Christmas Eve as a joyful village is plunged into darkness as humbug villains steal the festive spirit and speed away in a black-and-white van. To save the day, Santa calls his top agent, Kevin the Carrot, assigning him the mission to break into Humbug Headquarters and outsmart Dr Humbug to reclaim the Christmas cheer.
With clever disguises and a hidden compartment in his case, Kevin and his wife Katie navigate traps and dodge dangers. Will the lovable mascot prevail?
Morrisons’ Christmas ad celebrates holiday hosts as they prepare to make festive feasts unforgettable and features the return of the beloved singing oven gloves, now set to Give a Little Love from Bugsy Malone.
The soundtrack was recorded by a choir of 26 Morrisons colleagues at Abbey Road Studios,and the spot was directed by Michael Gracey, who is known for The Greatest Showman.
Sainsbury’s has debuted its annual Christmas ad and it’s a fantastical take on the 1982 BFG book by British author Roald Dahl.
The ad features a charming blend of real-life scenes starring a Sainsbury’s employee named Sophie, seamlessly interwoven with animated sequences of the friendly giant, bringing a touch of whimsy and warmth to this festive tale.
Asda has launched its annual Christmas campaign, choosing this year to forgo celebrity partnerships in favor of a team of animated miniature heroes on a mission to save Christmas. (Check out our interview with Asda.)
TK Maxx's ‘Festive Farm’ ad is returning this year, bringing the nation’s most stylish farm animals back to screens.
The furry fashionistas include Lil’ Goat in her chic beret, Duck sporting a bow tie, Alpaca wrapped in a cozy sweater and Hedgehog topped with a bobble hat. The spot is set to the track Let Me Blow Ya Mind by Eve and Gwen Stefani.
Yankee Candle celebrates the heartfelt holiday moments that make the season special, from large family gatherings to intimate get-togethers with friends. The campaign draws inspiration from the brand’s origin story: in 1969, founder Mike Kittredge crafted a candle as a gift for his mother, sparking a legacy of meaningful, memory-making gifts shared between loved ones.
Online department store Freemans has kicked off the holiday season by launching one of the first festive ads of the year. The campaign aims to inspire shoppers while offering ways to help customers manage the cost of their shopping.
With two months left until Christmas, the hero spot features singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. In the ad, she delivers gifts down a snow-covered ‘Sleigh Street,’ joined by a ‘Style Squad’ decked out in the latest seasonal fashion from the retailer.
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Urban Outfitters has unveiled its first-ever Christmas carol with its “biggest, boldest and most innovative campaign yet.”
The spot sees a whole host of characters, including Moomin, Kewpie and Miffy to cater to the Gen Z audience who love bit of holiday nostalgia.
Cyntia Leo, senior director of brand marketing, told The Drum: “We have been listening to our consumers to understand what they need and want most. What we’ve heard is that the holidays can be a stressful and chaotic time and that our consumers are nostalgic for the holiday classics and the cheerful magic they bring.”
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Shutterfly has kicked off the holiday season with two standout hero spots, both infused with dry wit. The ads encourage people to focus on personal connections and meaningful gestures through their holiday cards and gifts.
