The 2025 holiday season brought with it a renewed surge in holiday music streaming across the United States, with listeners once again turning to festive soundtracks as a key part of their December traditions. This year, the dominance of classic Christmas tracks remained strong, but it was accompanied by a notable increase in engagement with new holiday releases, signaling a growing appetite for seasonal music that blends nostalgic charm with modern appeal.
As in previous years, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” stood at the forefront of seasonal listening. The iconic track, first released in 1994, continued its reign as one of the most streamed holiday songs of all time. In 2025, it added to its historic run by once again reaching the top of streaming charts in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Its timeless melody and widespread cultural presence have made it a staple of the season, and newer generations of listeners continue to embrace the song, often discovering it through curated playlists or viral social media content. Its continued success underscores the emotional connection many Americans have with music that evokes tradition, warmth, and festive celebration.
But the 2025 holiday season also demonstrated that listeners are increasingly interested in expanding their seasonal soundtracks beyond the classics. Contemporary artists released a wide range of holiday albums and singles that resonated with audiences. One of the standout projects of the season was Pentatonix’s Christmas in the City, which drew attention for its blend of traditional carols and inventive arrangements. The a cappella group’s ability to reinterpret familiar tunes with fresh vocal stylings helped the album gain traction on streaming platforms, appealing to fans who wanted something both familiar and new.
Streaming services reported high engagement across curated playlists that included a mix of evergreen standards and newer material. Tracks like “Last Christmas” by Wham!, Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” once again found places in millions of holiday playlists. These tracks, which span decades, continue to perform well thanks to their universal appeal and associations with holiday memories.
At the same time, artists from genres as diverse as pop, country, R&B, and indie released original holiday songs or reimagined old standards. Many of these songs found success through inclusion in high-profile playlists on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. The growth of streaming has made it easier than ever for niche holiday releases to find an audience, especially when they align with broader themes of comfort, joy, and family togetherness.
Another notable trend in 2025 was the early start to the holiday music season. Listeners began engaging with Christmas playlists as early as mid-November, a pattern that has steadily grown over the past few years. Some analysts attribute this to a broader cultural desire to extend the holiday spirit, particularly in times of uncertainty or social change. Music, more than many other forms of media, provides a sense of continuity and reassurance, and holiday tracks in particular offer emotional warmth and familiarity.
Social media also played a role in driving streaming numbers this year. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, users created and shared holiday-themed content that prominently featured classic and modern Christmas songs. This visibility helped push certain tracks back into public consciousness, sometimes prompting younger audiences to explore older songs they might not have heard before. In some cases, viral trends led to sudden spikes in streaming for songs that had long since faded from mainstream rotation.
The commercial success of holiday music in 2025 also had significant implications for the music industry. Artists and labels increasingly see the season as a prime opportunity for new releases, with some acts now planning their holiday albums months in advance. The financial viability of festive music—bolstered by its cyclical popularity—has made it a strategic cornerstone for many artists looking to sustain engagement during the winter months.
As the year draws to a close, 2025’s holiday music streaming trends reveal more than just listening habits—they reflect how music continues to be a powerful part of seasonal culture. Whether families gathered around the fireplace with timeless ballads or hosted lively parties set to upbeat pop renditions of carols, the sound of the holidays played a central role in shaping memories. The enduring popularity of legacy tracks combined with a fresh wave of new holiday music ensured that there was something for everyone on the festive playlists of 2025.