What you need to know about Christmas number ones
The festive season is firmly upon us and bands and artists have been competing for the crown of Christmas number one.
Kylie Minogue has taken the 2025 Christmas top spot, her first UK Christmas number one.
Her song XMAS beat Last Christmas by Wham!, which had held the position for the previous two years but could only manage number two this time around.
Listen to the full chart rundown with BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders.
There have been 75 Christmas number ones.
Now, not every Christmas number one has been a Christmas song, some of them don't even seem like proper songs at all - but what was Christmas number one the year you were born?
Well, here at BBC Bitesize, we've put together this useful finder tool so you can see what topped the charts on Christmas past.
What was Christmas number one the year you were born?
Every Christmas number one
The Official UK Charts began recording number one singles on 14 November 1952. The competition has changed a lot over the years, cassettes became CDs, sales became streams, and the market became ever more crowded.
A host of famous names and faces have held the title over the years, with a wide array of tinsel-time toppers. From The Beatles, featuring Paul McCartney, to Wings, featuring Paul McCartney, to Band Aid 20, featuring… Paul McCartney! (Wait, is he going to be there every year???)
Below, you can find a list of every Christmas number one from 1952 onwards, or - if you want to learn a little more about the songs that topped the charts - check out this Bitesize guide on the history of Christmas number ones.
Every Christmas number one of the 1950s
- 1952 - 'Here in My Heart' by Al Martino
- 1953 - 'Answer Me' by Frankie Laine
- 1954 - 'Let's Have Another Party' by Winifred Atwell
- 1955 - 'Christmas Alphabet' by Dickie Valentine
- 1956 - 'Just Walkin' in The Rain' by Johnnie Ray
- 1957 - 'Mary's Boy Child' by Harry Belafonte
- 1958 - 'It's Only Make Believe' by Conway Twitty
- 1959 - 'What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?' by Emile Ford and The Checkmates
Every Christmas number one of the 1960s
- 1960 - 'I Love You' by Cliff Richard and The Shadows
- 1961 - 'Moon River' by Danny Williams
- 1962 - 'Return to Sender' by Elvis Presley
- 1963 - 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles
- 1964 - 'I Feel Fine' by The Beatles
- 1965 - 'Day Tripper/We Can Work it Out' by The Beatles
- 1966 - 'Green, Green Grass of Home' by Tom Jones
- 1967 - 'Hello, Goodbye' by The Beatles
- 1968 - 'Lily the Pink' by The Scaffold
- 1969 - 'Two Little Boys' by Rolf Harris
Every Christmas number one of the 1970s
- 1970 - 'I Hear You Knocking' by Dave Edmunds
- 1971 - 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)' by Benny Hill
- 1972 - 'Long Haired Lover From Liverpool' by Jimmy Osmond
- 1973 - 'Merry Xmas Everybody' by Slade
- 1974 - 'Lonely This Christmas' by Mud
- 1975 - 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen
- 1976 - 'When a Child is Born (Soleado)' by Johnny Mathis
- 1977 - 'Mull of Kintyre/Girls' School' by Wings
- 1978 - 'Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord' by Boney M
- 1979 - 'Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)' by Pink Floyd
Every Christmas number one of the 1980s
- 1980 - 'There's No One Quite Like Grandma' by St Winifred's School Choir
- 1981 - 'Don't You Want Me' by The Human League
- 1982 - 'Save Your Love' by Renée & Renato
- 1983 - 'Only You' by The Flying Pickets
- 1984 - 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid
- 1985 - 'Merry Christmas Everyone' by Shakin' Stevens
- 1986 - 'Reet Petite' by Jackie Wilson
- 1987 - 'Always on My Mind' by Pet Shop Boys
- 1988 - 'Mistletoe and Wine' by Cliff Richard
- 1989 - 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid II
Every Christmas number one of the 1990s
- 1990 - 'Saviour's Day' by Cliff Richard
- 1991 - 'Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are The Days of Our Lives' by Queen
- 1992 - 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston
- 1993 - 'Mr Blobby' by Mr Blobby
- 1994 - 'Stay Another Day' by East 17
- 1995 - 'Earth Song' by Michael Jackson
- 1996 - '2 Become 1' by Spice Girls
- 1997 - 'Too Much' by Spice Girls
- 1998 - 'Goodbye' by Spice Girls
- 1999 - 'I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun' by Westlife
Every Christmas number one of the 2000s
- 2000 - 'Can We Fix It?' by Bob the Builder
- 2001 - 'Somethin' Stupid' by Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman
- 2002 - 'Sound of the Underground' by Girls Aloud
- 2003 - 'Mad World' by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules
- 2004 - 'Do They Know It's Christmas' by Band Aid 20
- 2005 - 'That's My Goal' by Shayne Ward
- 2006 - 'A Moment Like This' by Leona Lewis
- 2007 - 'When You Believe' by Leon Jackson
- 2008 - 'Hallelujah' by Alexandra Burke
- 2009 - 'Killing in the Name' by Rage Against The Machine
Every Christmas number one of the 2010s
- 2010 - 'When We Collide' by Matt Cardle
- 2011 - 'Wherever You Are' by Military Wives with Gareth Malone
- 2012 - 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' by The Justice Collective
- 2013 - 'Skyscraper' by Sam Bailey
- 2014 - 'Something I Need' by Ben Haenow
- 2015 - 'A Bridge Over You' by The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir
- 2016 - 'Rockabye' by Clean Bandit
- 2017 - 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran
- 2018 - 'We Built This City' by Ladbaby
- 2019 - 'I Love Sausage Rolls' by Ladbaby
Every Christmas number one of the 2020s
- 2020 - 'Don't Stop Me Eatin'' by Ladbaby
- 2021 - 'Sausage Rolls for Everyone' by Ladbaby ft. Ed Sheeran & Elton John
- 2022 - 'Food Aid' by Ladbaby
- 2023 - 'Last Christmas' by Wham!
- 2024 - 'Last Christmas' by Wham!
- 2025 - 'XMAS' by Kylie Minogue
