Get ready for a holiday showdown that's got more twists than a Christmas cracker – this year's UK Christmas Number 1 race is heating up, blending pop royalty, timeless classics, and even a powerful charity anthem that could stir up some serious debate!
In the early stages, Kylie Minogue is grabbing the spotlight with a strong head start. Her Amazon Music UK exclusive track, XMAS, has racked up an impressive 7,000 units in just the first 48 hours, according to the Official Charts. What’s fueling this surge? Fresh releases of the song on a shiny 7-inch gold vinyl, a quirky 12-inch zoetrope vinyl, and a classic CD format all hit shelves on Friday. Plus, with streaming numbers typically spiking over the weekend on platforms like Amazon Music, and Kylie set to perform XMAS live tonight during the Strictly Come Dancing semi-finals, her momentum could skyrocket even further. For those new to chart lingo, think of 'units' as a combined score from sales, downloads, and streams – it's the magic number that crowns winners.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Despite her dazzling return to the Official Singles Chart Top 10 last year with the viral hit Padam Padam, Kylie hasn't claimed a UK Number 1 since her 2003 smash Slow. Could this festive tune finally break that 22-year drought, and not just any top spot, but the legendary Christmas Number 1? It's a tantalizing possibility, but don't count her out just yet – as more sales and streaming data pour in from other platforms, an unexpected upset could flip the script.
Right on her heels, reigning champions WHAM! are poised in second place with their evergreen Last Christmas. After snagging the Christmas crown in both 2023 and 2024, they're gunning for a hat-trick that could make chart history, becoming the first single ever to pull off such a feat. And this is the part most people miss – their lead over Kylie? A mere 231 units. Talk about a neck-and-neck battle!
Now, let's dive into something that might spark a bit of controversy. The week's top-selling track so far, just behind WHAM!, is Lullaby by Together For Palestine. This heartfelt charity single, featuring stars like Leigh-Anne, Bastille's Dan Smith, Mabel, Neneh Cherry, Nadine Shah, and others, is all about raising funds for the people of Gaza. Every penny from its sales goes straight to Choose Love’s Together For Palestine Fund, supporting Palestinian-led groups such as Taawon, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and the Palestine Medical Relief Service. With nearly 10,000 units sold already, it's a strong contender, but it's lagging in streaming compared to rivals. To keep climbing, downloads need a big boost. But here's where it gets controversial – should a song tied to a political cause like this dominate the charts, or does it blur the line between entertainment and activism? Some fans might cheer it as a meaningful choice, while others could argue it's not 'pure' Christmas cheer. What do you think?
Another act to keep an eye on is The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's Fairytale of New York, sitting at number five. Thanks to a limited-edition zoetrope vinyl drop on Friday and solid streaming buzz, it's the third-best seller this week. Despite hitting every spot in the Top 20 except the very top, and being crowned the UK's favorite Christmas song by YouGov, can it finally claim that elusive Number 1? For beginners, imagine it's like a beloved holiday tradition that's always close but never quite wins the trophy.
With the entire Top 5 separated by fewer than 10,000 units, it's anyone's game, and remember, this is just the preliminary peek. As streaming data rolls in, the rankings could shift dramatically, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Shifting gears to the rest of the Top 10, Elton John's Step Into Christmas is eyeing a massive 11-place leap to potentially land its best position since 2022 at number seven. Kelly Clarkson's Underneath the Tree, a modern festive staple, has officially entered the big leagues at eight. And Shakin’ Stevens might see his 40-year-old Christmas Number 1, Merry Christmas Everyone, break back into the Top 10 at nine – proving some classics never fade.
Further down, Andy Williams' It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is climbing five spots to 15, while Dean Martin's Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! could push up four to 16. Paul's Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney is aiming for the Top 20 at 18. Other potential risers with a shot at influencing the race include Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday at 23, José Feliciano's Feliz Navidad at 25, Sia's Snowman at 29, and Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song at 30.
The biggest climber into the Top 40 might well be Cher's DJ Play a Christmas Song, on track to soar 25 places to number 33. And don't be surprised if Michael Bublé lands two tracks in the Top 40: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas at 21 and Holly Jolly Christmas at 40.
Ultimately, it's up to the British public to decide the fate of this year's Christmas Number 1. No matter who you're rooting for, get those purchases and streams in before 11:59pm on Thursday, December 18, to make your vote count. The big reveal happens on Friday, December 19, during BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart with Jack Saunders, starting at 3pm.
To stay in the loop on the Official Christmas Number 1 race: It kicked off on Friday, December 12, with sales and streams tallying up until midnight on Thursday, December 18. Catch the full Christmas Top 40 countdown on BBC Radio 1 that Friday, and find the complete Top 100 Official Christmas Singles Chart and Albums Chart on OfficialCharts.com from 5:45pm. Jump into the chat using #XmasNo1, sign up for the Official Charts mailing list for breaking news, and follow @OfficialCharts on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky.
What are your predictions for this year's winner? Do you believe a charity-driven song like Lullaby should take the crown, or is it best left to the traditional holiday hits? And could WHAM! really make history with a third win? Share your opinions and debates in the comments – let's see what the community thinks!
.jpg)
