Christmas ad season is here, and 2025’s campaigns are bringing the perfect blend of nostalgia, humour and festive magic. From familiar faces and beloved characters to cinematic storytelling and real-life heroes, this year’s ads remind us why we can’t help but get swept up in the holiday spirit.
From tears to laughs, here’s a roundup of the festive ads everyone’s talking about.
Aldi
Aldi has brought back its festive superstar — Kevin the Carrot — for a delightfully romantic storyline this year. To celebrate his 10th anniversary, the brand released a teaser showing Kevin proposing to Katie, with their loyal pup Caulidog carrying the ring.
It’s a sweet twist on Aldi’s signature humour, and the Love Actually–style card moment (“To me, you are 24 carat / Marry Christmas”) is a brilliant nod to film fans.
In the second instalment of Aldi’s Christmas trilogy, it all goes pear shaped. We follow Kevin on a chaotic, pun-filled stag do which channels The Hangover movie franchise. The ad sees poor Kevin go missing during the celebrations — though, thankfully, the Christmas Express eventually scoops him up from Lapland (he went for the dancing).
Now, all eyes are on part three to see whether Kevin and Katie’s big day goes ahead.
Asda
Asda leans into nostalgia in its 2025 Christmas advert, bringing back one of the season’s most iconic mischief-makers: the Grinch.
Dr. Seuss’ famously grouchy character — immortalised for many by Jim Carrey’s 2000 portrayal — makes a fitting return 25 years on. Set to a fresh rendition of Let It Snow, the ad follows the Grinch as he grapples with the realities of the cost of living… until Asda’s prices offer an unexpected glimmer of hope.
Cynical about Christmas and even more cynical about spending, he wanders into a glowing green Asda store and finds, to his own surprise, that a bit of festive cheer doesn’t have to break the bank.
John Lewis
John Lewis has held the Christmas-ad crown ever since The Long Wait set the standard back in 2011. So naturally, the big question each year is: what have they pulled out of the bag this time?
This year’s instalment feels like a genuine return to form—the kind that lands an emotional punch strong enough to make even the steeliest viewer well up.
The story centres on a music-obsessed dad and his son, using the idea of a simple, thoughtful gift to express the feelings that don’t always make it into words. Layered beneath the surface is a touching reflection on time passing too quickly, and on the pair recognising themselves in one another while still struggling to articulate their bond. It’s tender, heartfelt and beautifully crafted — underscored by the unmistakable pulse of ’90s dance classic Where Love Lives.
It’s everything we cross our fingers for in a John Lewis Christmas ad: warm, emotive and sprinkled with just the right amount of festive magic.
Lidl
This year, Lidl asks a bigger question: why do we love Christmas so much?
Lidl’s 2025 Christmas advert focuses on generosity and the importance of community. Told through the perspective of a young girl, the ad explores what truly makes the season special — from family moments to simple acts of kindness.
Importantly, Lidl is also reviving its Toy Bank donation initiative, which underscores its community-focused messaging. The campaign encourages shoppers to share joy this Christmas by supporting families who need it most.
Morrisons
For many, Christmas begins the moment the first festive ad hits our screens. But Morrisons reminds us that the real magic starts much earlier — with the hard work, skill and dedication happening behind the scenes long before the sleigh bells start ringing.
A Year in the Making is a tribute to the farmers, food makers and colleagues whose craft shapes the quality on Morrisons’ shelves. The ad opens in the height of summer and moves through the seasons, spotlighting everyone from fishermen and farmers to bakers and producers as they prepare for the celebrations ahead.
The finale swaps Santa for a Morrisons delivery driver arriving with a festive shop, a neat nod to the people who help make Christmas happen in real life. All of it is set to a fresh recording of Stop the Cavalry, bringing warmth and nostalgia to a thoughtful campaign.
M&S
M&S brings back Dawn French yet again, appearing both as herself and as her mischievous Christmas-fairy alter ego. The story opens with Dawn stuck in a Christmas Eve traffic jam, singing Driving Home for Christmas as her festive spirit starts to fade — until her fairy counterpart swoops in to save the day.
With a wave of magic, an M&S food truck transforms into a roaming festive feast, lifting the mood of everyone on the road. Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge also makes a well-placed cameo, reinforcing M&S’s food credentials and spotlighting his new seasonal range.
It’s a fun, uplifting ad that mixes humour, heart and plenty of delicious food — classic M&S Christmas storytelling.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s leans into heartfelt storytelling for its 2025 Christmas campaign, bringing back the BFG for a second year running. This time, the beloved giant teams up with real-life Sainsbury’s colleague Annie to defend Christmas dinner from a towering, 48-foot Greedy Giant determined to swipe the nation’s festive feasts.
The story ends on a warm, communal note as Annie welcomes the BFG into her home for Christmas lunch — a reminder that there’s always room at the table.
This year’s campaign also highlights Sainsbury’s partnership with Comic Relief. Sainsbury’s is donating £1 million to the charity through sales of its BFG Christmas range and Christmas products marked with the Comic Relief logo. Together, they will help provide over five million meals to ensure more families have access to food this winter.
Tesco
Tesco takes a refreshingly honest approach in its Christmas advert this year, reminding us that while we love Christmas, it’s rarely picture-perfect — and that’s exactly what makes it special.
The ad strings together a series of delightfully awkward, all-too-familiar festive moments: grandad oversharing his unfiltered opinions, muddling through Christmas cards for relatives you can barely remember and a supposedly friendly game of Pictionary spiralling into full-blown chaos.
The ad gently reassures viewers that the magic of Christmas often lies in its beautiful imperfection.
Waitrose
Waitrose goes full rom-com this year with a cinematic Christmas advert starring Keira Knightley and Joe Wilkinson. The Perfect Gift affectionately nods to Love Actually with its meet-cute, montage moments and big romantic gesture — only here, the grand finale trades in the cue cards for a home-cooked pie.
Keira plays herself, while Wilkinson returns as Phil, the hapless romantic first introduced in Waitrose’s 2024 campaign. This time, Phil bumps into Keira while doing his Christmas shop (naturally, at Waitrose) and instantly becomes smitten.
The result is sweet, self-aware and properly funny — packed with charm, warmth and pie. Honestly, what more could you ask for from a festive ad?
Which is your favourite?
Across the board, 2025’s Christmas adverts celebrate connection, generosity and a little holiday chaos. From Aldi’s carrot romance to Waitrose’s rom-com, each brand is telling its own story — but all share the same festive warmth, imagination and a reminder that the magic of Christmas comes from moments shared.
Curious to see how last year’s ads compare? Take a look at our Top Christmas Adverts of 2024.
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Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaF1fzzfM74
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1bRlnyQeDk&list=RDz1bRlnyQeDk&start_radio=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiJSTh9IHKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_nSedSlVLg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWGYQL0KMoI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaF1my5h-Os
