Christmas Number 1 2025: Kylie Minogue XMAS Tops UK Charts

Kylie Minogue’s XMAS claimed the 2025 UK Christmas Number 1 on 19 December 2025, ending Wham!’s two-year grip on the seasonal chart. The milestone marks her eighth UK Number 1 and makes her the first female artist with chart-toppers across four decades.

Artist: Kylie Minogue ·
Song: XMAS ·
Chart: UK Singles ·
Announcement: 19 Dec 2025 ·
Beaten: Wham!

Six key facts anchor the 2025 UK Christmas chart picture.

Whose Christmas number is 1 in 2025?

Kylie Minogue’s XMAS secured the 2025 UK Christmas Number 1, officially confirmed on 19 December 2025 via BBC Radio 1. The single, released exclusively through Amazon Music on 5 November 2025, achieved what many fans had long anticipated—her first Christmas chart-topper in a career spanning four decades. This milestone also marked XMAS as the first Amazon Music Original to reach Number 1 on the Official Christmas Singles Chart.

Kylie Minogue’s XMAS confirmed as winner

During the tracking week of 12 December to 18 December 2025, XMAS accumulated sufficient sales and streams to overtake Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” which had held the Christmas Number 1 position for the previous two years. The single’s performance represented Kylie Minogue’s most successful week in the UK market in 23 years, with sales and streaming figures surpassing her previous peak since “Love At First Sight” in 2002. Physical formats proved particularly significant, as XMAS topped the Official Vinyl Chart with 7″ gold vinyl and 12″ zoetrope vinyl editions alongside CD releases.

Announcement by Official Charts

The announcement positioned Kylie among an elite group of artists who have achieved UK Number 1 singles across four different decades. Only Elvis Presley, Elton John, Queen, and now Kylie Minogue share this distinction. Cliff Richard remains the sole artist with Number 1s spanning five decades. Notably, Kylie surpassed Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Mariah Carey, each of whom have achieved Number 1s across three decades.

Who is Christmas No. 1 this year?

Kylie Minogue claimed the UK Christmas Number 1 on 19 December 2025 with XMAS, announced during a BBC Radio 1 broadcast. The achievement marked her eighth UK Number 1 single overall, beginning with “I Should Be So Lucky” in 1988. Her most recent Number 1 singles prior to XMAS included “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (2001) and “Slow” (2003).

UK Singles Chart details

The announcement came 37 years after Kylie Minogue’s Official Chart debut, highlighting the longevity of her chart success. Her companion album “Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)” also reached Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, beginning its chart run on 18 December 2025 and continuing through 1 January 2026. The album included four new tracks—”Hot In December,” “This Time Of Year,” “Office Party,” and XMAS—alongside her seasonal material, with the label RHINO handling distribution under catalogue number 5021732847355.

Historical context from Wikipedia

XMAS entered the chart at Number 5 midweek, trailing behind Wham!, Mariah Carey, and Brenda Lee before securing the top position. The single outperformed Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” which had dominated the Christmas Number 1 spot for the previous two years. Kylie Minogue also became the first solo female artist to claim the Christmas Number 1 in twelve years, following Sam Bailey’s “Skyscraper” in 2013, and the third international female solo artist to achieve UK Christmas Number 1.

What is Christmas number 1 in Ireland 2025?

The official UK Christmas Number 1 announcement on 19 December 2025 did not extend to the Irish Singles Chart, which operates under separate calculation methodologies. While the UK announcement provided definitive confirmation for the British market, the Irish charts track their own seasonal patterns based on sales and streaming within Ireland specifically.

Current top song trends

Cross-border chart variations between the UK and Ireland arise from differences in streaming behaviour, physical sales distribution, and local artist support rates. Apple Music trending data and other platform indicators may offer insight into popular tracks in Ireland, but official chart confirmation requires separate verification through the Irish Recorded Music Association or Official Charts Company methodology for the Irish market.

Ireland chart insights

Regional variations in chart performance can produce different outcomes between the UK and Ireland despite overlapping release schedules and streaming platforms. The Irish market historically shows distinct seasonal preferences that may or may not align with UK results, particularly for domestic Irish artists and repertoire with stronger local connections.

What is Christmas number 2 in 2025?

Wham!’s “Last Christmas” finished as Christmas Number 2 in 2025, having dominated the top position in 2023 and 2024. Despite strong ongoing sales and streaming figures throughout the 2025 tracking period, the track could not maintain its previous grip on the Christmas chart summit against XMAS’s final-week surge.

UK number two details

“Last Christmas” accumulated substantial sales and streaming activity throughout the 2025 chart period but fell short during the critical final tracking week. The track’s commercial longevity across multiple consecutive years demonstrates the enduring appeal of the George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley composition, though the 2025 result marks the end of Wham!’s recent dominance on the seasonal chart.

Wikipedia list reference

The UK Christmas Number 2 position has historically featured a mix of perennials, new releases, and catalog tracks that missed the top spot. For comprehensive historical data on UK Christmas number twos, the Official Charts Company maintains records spanning the chart’s entire history.

We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate Kylie Minogue’s XMAS achieving the UK Christmas Number 1 – a historic milestone both for Kylie and for Amazon Music, as this is the first Amazon Music Original ever to reach Number 1 on the Official Christmas Singles Chart.

— Amazon Music statement via Official Charts

Kylie Minogue made her Official Chart debut 37 years ago with “I Should Be So Lucky” — now she’s finally claimed the Christmas Number 1.

— Official Charts commentary

Who is Christmas number 2?

Wham! occupies the Christmas Number 2 position in 2025, having been dethroned by Kylie Minogue’s XMAS after their two-year reign at the top of the UK Christmas chart. The British pop duo’s “Last Christmas” had successfully claimed the Christmas Number 1 spot in both 2023 and 2024.

Contenders and runners-up

Beyond Wham!, other high-placing tracks during the 2025 Christmas chart period included Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” both perennial seasonal entries that consistently chart during the festive period. The competitive field demonstrates continued consumer interest in classic Christmas repertoire alongside new seasonal releases.

Chart performance

XMAS faced a formidable field entering the final tracking week. Positioned at Number 5 midweek, the single needed to overtake established seasonal favourites with decades of chart history. The surge to Number 1 reflected strong final-week sales momentum, particularly through physical formats and Amazon Music streaming. The implication: classic tracks retain dominance through catalog loyalty, but contemporary artists with strategic release partnerships can still break through.

Summary

Kylie Minogue’s XMAS represents a significant achievement in UK chart history, marking her eighth Number 1 single and establishing her as the first female artist with UK Number 1s across four decades. The Christmas Number 1 result reflects both the enduring appeal of her musical catalogue and the commercial success of her recent releases, including the chart-topping “Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)” album. For British music fans, the outcome shows that new seasonal releases backed by major platform partnerships can still overtake classic festive catalogue when execution and timing align.

Related reading: Scottish Bank Holidays 2025

Kylie Minogue’s XMAS topped the UK Christmas charts in 2025, adding to biggest hits that span her enduring pop legacy.

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