Spotify has unveiled three new holiday covers for 2026, continuing its annual Holiday Singles tradition as festive listening gathers pace across the streaming platform.

Having recently released data showing that holiday listening is already picking up, Spotify has now revealed its 2026 Spotify Singles: Holiday Collection. It’s become something of an annual tradition for Spotify, and this year’s releases see Freya Skye, NIKI and Lykke Li put their own spin on three much-loved festive classics.

What’s new in Spotify’s 2026 Holiday Singles collection?

Spotify’s latest Holiday Collection features three new recordings, each reimagining a well-known Christmas song.

The 2026 lineup includes:

  • Freya Skye – “2000 Miles”: The singer takes on the Pretenders’ 1983 festive classic, which has become a seasonal favourite in its own right.
  • NIKI – “Merry Christmas, Darling”: The Indonesian singer-songwriter reinterprets the Carpenters’ original with a warmer, tropical feel inspired by growing up in a tropical climate.
  • Lykke Li – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”: The Swedish singer offers her take on the Judy Garland classic, aiming to honour its emotional history and timeless melody.

Speaking to Spotify, each artist explained the personal inspiration behind their recording. Skye highlighted the opportunity to create new festive memories through music, while NIKI wanted to give her chosen song more of a tropical feel. Meanwhile, Lykke Li focused on respecting the original while bringing something new to its timeless melody.

You can listen to all three tracks, alongside previous releases, in Spotify’s Holiday Collection playlist.

Spotify says its Holiday Collection has been a seasonal fixture for nearly a decade. Last year’s additions included Ravyn Lenae’s “O Holy Night”, Jordan Davis’ “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, Fall Out Boy’s “It Feels Like Christmas”, Poppy’s “Last Christmas” and Sofia Camara’s “Christmas Lights”.

What can independent artists learn from Spotify’s holiday releases?

Spotify’s latest announcement arrives as listeners are already turning to festive music. Earlier this month, Spotify revealed that holiday favourites were receiving an average of 36.2 million streams per day.

As we covered at the time, this early activity gives independent artists and labels a reason to consider seasonal releases before December arrives.

Is it too early to start thinking about festive music? Spotify says no

Spotify’s Holiday Singles collection provides a great example of how a familiar song can be reinterpreted in different ways. NIKI’s warmer approach to “Merry Christmas, Darling” and Lykke Li’s more traditional tribute show that there’s no single formula for a festive cover.

For independent musicians, the opportunity is to find a song that suits their identity and make it feel distinctive. That might mean reworking a classic into an acoustic ballad, giving a carol an electronic production or putting a genre-specific twist on a familiar pop song.

If you’re planning a festive single or album this year, RouteNote helps you distribute your music to Spotify and other major streaming platforms for free.

Get started with RouteNote and get your next release ready for listeners.