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'All I Want for Christmas' overplayed according to Britons, while they want to hear more ‘Fairytale of New York’

Britons say that 'All I want for Christmas' is the most overplayed Christmas song, while they want to hear 'Fairytale of New York' more often

With the festive season around the corner, Ipsos reveals which Christmas songs Britons feel are the most overplayed during the holiday period. 
Topping the list is Mariah Carey’s iconic 'All I Want for Christmas Is You’, with just over a third (36%) of Britons identifying it as the most overplayed festive anthem. Other classics following closely are 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' by Band Aid (16%) and Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' (15%). 

One in five (19%) of Britons are hardcore Christmas enthusiasts, and don’t believe any Christmas-themed songs are overplayed during the festive period. 
When asked if there are any Christmas songs that they would like to hear played more often, one in five (19%) Britons express a desire to hear 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl more frequently, showcasing an enduring fondness for this seasonal favourite. However, a quarter (25%) say there are no Christmas songs they would like to hear played more often.  

Commenting on the findings, Peter Cooper, Research Director at Ipsos said:

Our latest research sheds light on the festive soundtrack that jingles through the British public's holiday season. While Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' may be the song equivalent of a holiday fruitcake—everywhere but still the subject of much debate—it's clear that some folks never tire of a good seasonal tune. The song 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues is like the musical eggnog; it just never goes out of style, making it a seasonal staple some wish to enjoy more often. Maybe if we play it enough, we can finally dethrone Mariah's festive reign!

Techinical note: 

  • Ipsos Observer interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,074 adults aged 18-75 in Great Britain using its online i:omnibus between 31st October – 3rd November 2025.
  • Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error. 
     

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