M&S Christmas Advert 2026: James Norton Stars as an Undercover Santa in Festive New Film

Marks & Spencer has officially launched its Christmas advert for 2026, bringing together its food, fashion, home and beauty ranges in one festive story for the first time in almost a decade. The retailer’s new festive campaign, The Home of Christmas, follows a mischievous twist on the traditional Santa tale, with award-winning actor James Norton stepping into the role of an undercover Father Christmas:

M&S Unveils a Different Side of Santa This Christmas

Image of Marks And Spencers new Christmas advert featuring Lucy Punch and James Norton. — Image credit: Marks And Spencers

This year’s M&S Christmas advert sees Santa take a break from life at the North Pole after some encouragement from Mrs Claus, played by Amandaland star Lucy Punch. Keen to experience Christmas from a fresh perspective, Santa swaps his iconic red suit for a festive knit, loses the beard and heads out into the real world unnoticed.

Image of Marks And Spencers new Christmas advert featuring James Norton as Santa Claus. — Image credit: Marks And Spencers

Played by James Norton, the transformed Santa embarks on a festive adventure that celebrates everything people love most about Christmas, from dressing up for special occasions to sharing memorable meals, finding thoughtful gifts and creating a cosy festive home.

Throughout the advert, M&S showcases how Christmas magic is often found in the everyday moments spent with family and friends, rather than solely at the North Pole.

Shop the M&S Christmas Collection

Looking to recreate the festive magic at home? Explore the latest M&S ranges.

Katherine Jenkins Provides the Soundtrack

Image of Marks And Spencers new Christmas advert featuring Katherine Jenkins and kids choir. — Image credit: Marks And Spencers

Adding even more festive sparkle, renowned singer Katherine Jenkins lends her unmistakable voice to the advert’s exclusive soundtrack. Her performance helps bring warmth and emotion to the campaign while complementing the cinematic feel of Santa’s festive journey.

James Norton:

“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.”

Alongside him is Lucy Punch, (Amandaland and Motherland), as Mrs Claus. It is Mrs Claus who encourages Santa to lose the beard, leave the North Pole behind and experience for himself the Christmas magic being created in homes across the country.

Lucy Punch:

“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.”

Katherine Jenkins:

“For me, Christmas has always been about coming home. It’s about family, traditions and creating memories with the people you love most, and music is such a big part of that. Certain songs instantly become part of the soundtrack to our celebrations, so I was thrilled to record a new version of Heaven Is a Place on Earth for this campaign. I love how beautifully it complements the story, reminding us that the real magic of Christmas isn’t found in grand gestures, but in the moments we share together at home.”

Why M&S Calls Itself ‘The Home of Christmas’

For generations, Marks & Spencer has played a significant role in Christmas celebrations across the UK. From festive food and gifting to home décor and partywear, the retailer aims to be a one-stop destination throughout the festive season.

The new advert reflects what many shoppers say matters most at Christmas: spending quality time with loved ones, sharing great food and creating meaningful festive traditions.

Christmas by the Numbers: M&S’s Festive Success

M&S remains one of the UK’s biggest Christmas retailers, with impressive festive sales across multiple categories:

Food

Nearly three mince pies are sold every second during the festive season.
Around one in three Christmas turkeys sold in the UK comes from M&S.

Fashion

More than 1,800 Christmas jumpers are sold daily over the festive period.
Customers purchased 125,000 sparkle tees and festive crew knits last Christmas.
A pair of M&S pyjamas is sold every four seconds during the Christmas shopping season.

Home

M&S sells around 15 home fragrance products every minute throughout December.

Beauty

The retailer’s hugely popular Beauty Advent Calendar continued to fly off shelves last year, with one being sold every 17 seconds.

Where to Watch the M&S Christmas Advert 2026

The new M&S Christmas advert is available across social media and digital channels, marking the retailer’s official start to the festive season. Featuring James Norton, Lucy Punch and Katherine Jenkins, it’s a heartwarming reminder that Christmas magic can be found much closer to home than Santa ever imagined.