Marks & Spencer has launched its 2026 festive campaign, “The Home of Christmas”, including a star-studded advert which debuts today. It follows a younger-looking version of Santa, with an 80s pop hit forming the soundtrack.
This marks the first time in nearly a decade that M&S has brought Food, Fashion, Home and Beauty together for a Christmas campaign.
The festive film stars James Norton as a Santa who goes undercover, with Lucy Punch taking on the role of Mrs Claus. Katherine Jenkins OBE makes a special appearance and provides the soundtrack.
In the advert, Santa decides he wants to experience Christmas for himself without all the fuss of being recognised. He is encouraged to do this by Mrs Claus.
He ditches the iconic red suit for a Christmas jumper, shaves off the famous beard, and suddenly looks a whole lot younger and far less recognisable. Norton appears as a fresh-faced, incognito Father Christmas who ventures out into the real world.
His festive journey takes him through all the moments people love about the season, such as dressing up, sitting down to an incredible spread, picking out thoughtful gifts and decking out the home.
The advert ends with Santa realising that the true magic of Christmas isn’t conjured at the North Pole; it is happening in homes everywhere, around dinner tables, beneath Christmas trees and in those moments spent with loved ones.
For the soundtrack, Katherine Jenkins has done her own version of “Heaven Is a Place on Earth”, nearly 40 years after Belinda Carlisle first released it. This version is released today.
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Speaking on the advert, Norton said: “It’s not every day you get asked to play Santa, let alone a Santa who immediately shaves off his beard. M&S has been such a familiar part of Christmas for as long as I can remember, so getting to be part of its Christmas campaign feels really special. I loved that this story takes such an iconic character and lets us see him differently.
“He gets to experience Christmas like the rest of us, discovering that the real magic is in the food, traditions and moments we share with the people we love. It’s warm, funny and full of Christmas spirit, and I’m very happy to have been briefly trusted with the red suit.”
Lucy Punch added: “M&S and Christmas just go hand in hand, so it was an absolute joy to become part of that tradition this year. I loved that Mrs Claus is the one who gets this story moving.
“She gives him the nudge so he can get out there incognito and experience the magic of Christmas for himself. There’s something very sweet and fun about their dynamic, and something quite lovely about the idea behind it: this idea that the magic you’re looking for is actually happening all around you.”
M&S research found that 81 per cent of customers want a special Christmas with the people they love, while 68 per cent say food is what makes the season feel festive.
And the numbers back up M&S’s claim to be at the heart of British Christmas. The retailer stated it shifts nearly three mince pies every second during the festive period, one in three Christmas turkeys sold in the UK comes from its shelves, and it sells 1,800 Christmas jumpers a day.
M&S marketing director, Sharry Cramond, said: “Customers don’t think about Christmas as one meal, one gift or one outfit. They think about all the moments that make the season special.
“As the only retailer with a truly cross-category offer spanning Food, Fashion, Beauty, Gifting and Home, M&S plays a unique role in helping customers create Christmas from start to finish.
“Bringing those categories together allows us to tell one connected Christmas story and celebrate all the ways our customers make the season their own. That’s why we’re proud that customers call M&S The Home of Christmas.”
Marketing director for M&S Food, Andrew Hicks, added: “Christmas is made up of countless moments, traditions and rituals that mean something different to every family. For generations, M&S has been privileged to play a part in those celebrations, helping customers create a Christmas that feels uniquely their own.
“From the food shared around the table to the thoughtful finishing touches that make the season memorable, we’re proud to be part of some of the moments that matter most. This year’s campaign brings that to life in a way that is warm, unexpected and full of charm, celebrating the special place M&S holds in our customers’ festive traditions and reinforcing why we’re proud to be The Home of Christmas.”
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