[2026] Christmas songs in Western music: from new hits to hall-of-fame classics

That’s Christmas To MePentatonix

Pentatonix – That’s Christmas to Me (Official Video)

Pentatonix is an a cappella group from Texas formed in 2011.

Their stunning harmonies, as if they were playing instruments, create such beautifully refined a cappella that it’s perfect for Christmas.

Christmas In HollisRun-D.M.C.

RUN DMC – Christmas In Hollis (Official HD Video)

RUN-DMC, said to have influenced many rappers and changed the course of hip-hop.

Their Christmas song was used in Die Hard, so even those who’ve never listened to hip-hop might have heard it.

Winter WonderlandRadiohead

Radiohead – Winter Wonderland

Among the many covers out there, isn’t this one particularly striking? The melancholic timbre of Thom Yorke’s vocals creates a good kind of mismatch with the mood of the original.

The dubby backing track is also worth noting.

As you listen, you can’t help but wonder—how did it end up like this? It’s a song that only he could make.

Christmas Time is Here AgainThe Beatles

The Beatles – Christmas Time Is Here Again (Complete Version)

It’s a Christmas song by the world’s most famous band, the Beatles.

I own all of their original albums, but I had never heard it.

When I looked into it, I found out it was a fan-club-only track that was never released on an album—a legendary, elusive masterpiece.

Last ChristmasThe xx

The xx – ‘Last Christmas’ in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge

A cover of Wham!’s classic “Last Christmas” by the popular British band The xx.

Unlike the original, its dark and melancholic melody makes it feel as if it were their own song—an outstanding cover.