How To Bet On The UK Christmas Number 1 At William Hill

The Christmas Number 1 is one of the most talked-about entertainment moments of the year, and that chatter starts well before the festive week itself.

A mix of brand-new releases and long-loved classics has won in recent years, which is exactly why people love trying to guess the result. William Hill has already opened a market for anyone keen on 2026 Christmas Number 1 betting, and the early odds give the race a properly festive edge.

How is the UK Christmas Number 1 decided?

The UK Christmas Number 1 is decided by the UK Singles Chart in the week leading up to 25 December. The chart combines reported sales from around 6,500 retailers with streaming figures, so the winner is the song that can shift the most official UK consumption across that key festive stretch.

That is why the date the Christmas Number 1 will be announced is so important for music fans and punters alike. The result is revealed by BBC Radio 1 on the Friday before Christmas, making the final chart week a compact but intense sprint rather than a long campaign.

Streaming changed the whole feel of the race. Older festive staples can surge back each year, while new releases still have a route to the top if they arrive with a strong enough hook, a smart release plan, and enough public momentum to cut through the Christmas clutter.

How do you bet on the UK Christmas Number 1?

William Hill keeps this market in its TV & Novelty section, where you can find Christmas Number 1 odds alongside other seasonal and entertainment specials. Once you are in the right section, the process is straightforward: pick your selection, check the price, choose your stake, and place the bet before the market changes.

A sensible approach is to compare the front-runners rather than chase a longshot because the Christmas Number 1 market often moves on news, radio play, and festive releases. If an artist lands a big seasonal advert or drops a physical single, their price can shorten quickly. So, it pays to keep an eye on the latest market moves before betting.

For Xmas Number 1 betting, the practical detail matters as much as the headline odds. Check whether a song has a physical release, where it is available to stream, and whether it has the kind of momentum that can last through the chart week rather than just spike for a day or two.

Who are the favourites to be the 2026 UK Christmas Number 1?

Wham! lead the market at 1/1, and that makes sense given what Last Christmas has done in the streaming era. The song has become a December heavyweight, turning into the kind of perennial festive favourite that can keep returning to the top when the charts reward catalogue strength as well as fresh releases.

Elton John & CMAT sit next in the betting picture, while Sam Fender and Olivia Rodrigo are also in the mix. Fender has extra attention because his cover of You Can’t Always Get What You Want is tied to the John Lewis Christmas advert, which is exactly the sort of seasonal spotlight that can push a record into the conversation. Olivia Rodrigo is another name to watch following the release of Take Me Home (4 Christmas), which already has 6 million YouTube views.

The big lesson in Christmas Number 1 odds is that the market tends to reward songs with a clear seasonal identity, a big public profile, or both. A strong advert tie-in, a well-known classic, or a huge and organised fan base can all matter – especially once the chart week gets underway and the race truly sets off.

Who has won the UK Christmas Number 1 the most?

LadBaby owns the modern record run. They topped the chart for charity in 2018, 2019, and 2020, then returned in 2021 with a collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Elton John, before landing another victory in 2022. That sequence made them the dominant name among recent UK Xmas No. 1 winners, and it showed how charity appeal, humour, and an easily shareable hook can overpower more traditional festive contenders.

Wham! then re-wrote the recent record books with Last Christmas. The song finally became Christmas Number 1 in 2023, 39 years after release, and followed it with another festive win in 2024, becoming the first song ever to do that in consecutive years. Streaming has been a major part of that story.

That shift explains why the Christmas chart now feels so open. Older songs can come roaring back, but a new release with the right timing can still crash the party and make itself heard above the noise.

FAQs

When is the 2026 UK Christmas Number 1 announced?

The date the Christmas Number 1 will be announced is Friday, 18 December on BBC radio channels.

Who had the 2025 UK Christmas Number 1?

In 2025, the winner of the UK Christmas Number 1 was Kylie Minogue with XMAS.

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