The holidays are one of my absolute favorite times of the year. It feels like magic can happen. For me, it is about being cozy and comfortable, with candlelight and twinkle lights providing a gentle glow in the long winter nights. It is friends and family gathered around the table, alone time with a good book, and parties that fill the room with laughter. It is fuzzy socks, the sound of clinking glasses, and above all, warm glows. A good holiday playlist is the soundtrack that ties it all together, bringing the season’s music into every moment.
I have long made playlists for this time of year, ever since my retail days when hearing the same holiday tracks on repeat made me determined to find more variety. Later, growing up in Michigan and Texas meant two very different environments for the holidays, followed by years in LA and Seattle, each with their own seasonal energy. Whether it is snowy nights, rainy afternoons, beachy evenings, or cool sunny days, music has a way of pulling the holiday spirit together wherever you are.
Within that variety, there is also space for the quieter edges of the season. Sometimes a little melancholy or mellow reflection comes through. Winter and the solstice remind us to honor both light and dark, and to find beauty in stillness and introspection as much as in celebration.
This year I refreshed my holiday set and added a few new mixes, so there is something for every mood.
Holiday Cocktails
Ella. Louis. Frank. Nat. Lena. Billie. Bing. Artists so classic, I don’t even need to say their last names and you are already wrapped in a blanket of warm nostalgia. This is the soundtrack of holiday cocktail hours, clinking glasses, and festive toasts. These jazzy, swoony standards never go out of style and bring instant sparkle to any gathering. Whether you are mixing martinis, pouring champagne, or cozying up with a mug of something warm, this playlist sets the scene with timeless charm.
I have also woven in several songs from one of my favorite holiday movies, White Christmas. The thing about these classics is that when you really love a few songs, you play them again and again, sometimes sung by different artists, each bringing a new take. That is why you will find several versions of “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” here, because there is no such thing as too many renditions of a classic when they each shine in their own way.
At just about an hour and a half, the mix starts upbeat and peppy, then eases into swoony, sweeping vocals and lush instrumental arrangements, perfect for letting the evening wind down in style.
A Jazzy Bluesy Holiday
This mix swings. From Lou Rawls and Mel Tormé to Samara Joy and Michael Bublé, it spans decades of crooners, swing, and bluesy charm. Pink Martini and Jamie Cullum bring a playful flair, while Harry Connick Jr. keeps things smooth. It is a lively blend of styles that moves easily between eras, perfect for holiday brunch, kitchen singalongs, or keeping you company through errands and post office lines.
At about an hour and 45 minutes, the playlist moves from jazzy to swingy to bluesy, with little surprises tucked in between.
Festive Fireside Jazz
When you want the music to glow quietly in the background but still feel elevated, this playlist is the one to reach for. With elegant instrumentals from Oscar Peterson, Count Basie Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis, Bill Evans, and Vince Guaraldi, it brings sophistication and warmth to the season. I am especially partial to Peterson, my all-time favorite pianist, whose Christmas album is simply exceptional. You will also hear plenty from the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, a holiday soundtrack that never gets old.
At just under two hours, I built this one to start out upbeat, to get your toes tapping, and then as the mix flows it slows down and gets reallllll chill (while we warm up) around the fire. It is truly cozy holiday goodness at its finest. These tracks let the lights twinkle, the conversation flow, and the room feel inviting.
A Very Retro Christmas
This one is all about the groove. Motown greats like Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Smokey Robinson meet the soulful sounds of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and Jackson 5. Add in modern acts like The Dip, who bring a fresh spin on that retro soul style, and you have a mix that keeps the energy high. It is perfect for decorating Christmas cookies, arranging the holiday charcuterie board (which, if you are like me, is never a quick activity), or soundtracking the drive to see family.
At just about an hour, the mix is mostly energetic and upbeat, with a few slower tracks toward the end that help you wind down.
Merry Merry
This playlist is all about cozy glow with a little sparkle woven through. It leans into indie charm and mellow reinterpretations that bring warmth to the season while keeping things fresh.
Kacey Musgraves shines especially bright here, and honestly, her tracks make up about half the playlist. I feel so lucky to have been able to see her in concert three times as her career has evolved, and her holiday special is a favorite seasonal watch. Most of those songs are playful duets with artists like Lana Del Rey, Leon Bridges, and Camila Cabello. Alongside She & Him, Aloe Blacc, The Shins, Colbie Caillat, and Khruangbin, the mix balances soulful coziness with indie twists, like The Bird and the Bee’s “Carol of the Bells” or The Shins covering “Wonderful Christmastime.”
It is made for holiday mornings, quiet evenings by the fire, or gatherings where you want the music to feel warm and inviting without taking over the room. Coming in at a little over an hour, it starts out quiet and chill, then picks up with a few more upbeat bops to close things out.
Fa La La La La
This is the pop-centric mix, full of holiday standards and new favorites that have quickly become part of my Christmas must-listen-to list. It includes a couple of all-time standouts for me: “Purple Snowflakes” by John Legend and “Like It’s Christmas” by the Jonas Brothers. You will also find hip hop holiday beats from TLC and a “Feliz Navidad” bop from Why Don’t We.
John Legend shows up again and again across the playlist, joined by Leona Lewis, Remi Wolf, Alessia Cara, Carly Rae Jepsen, and more. Classics get remixed treatments like “’Zat You Santa Claus” by The Heavy. And of course, Mariah Carey holds her crown as the Queen of Christmas with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in both its original form and her duet with Justin Bieber 17 years later.
And if you thought multiple covers of the classics was a lot, then you will probably appreciate that I have four versions of Wham’s “Last Christmas” here (including the original masterpiece). It is just that good. We are even leading off the playlist with it, because it is truly the most heartbreakingly beautiful, achingly perfect George Michael song, and a highly singable way to start the playlist. Ps. If you haven’t seen the 2019 movie of the same name, do yourself a favor and add it to your rotation this holiday. George’s songs are woven throughout and it’s one of those moody yet sweet views that hits you when you least expect it.
The mix is just over an hour and a half, perfect for blasting in holiday traffic, running errands, or for dancing alone in your place like you’re in one of the holiday romantic comedies. It’s a judge-free mix.
Winter LoFi Nights
When the holidays feel busiest, this playlist slows the pace. Dreamy LoFi beats with a seasonal twist bring warmth and calm, perfect in the background while you work or for winding down at the end of the day. Think finishing up a cheesy Hallmark movie, then curling up in bed with a good book. It is the soundtrack for snow falling outside, twinkle lights glowing inside, and a little space to breathe.
A Soundtrack for Every Holiday Moment
The holidays hold multitudes. Cozy nights, lively parties, moments of reflection, and plenty of in-between. That is what makes a good soundtrack so powerful. Whether you are raising a festive toast, dancing through Motown grooves, settling in for a mellow indie morning, or letting lofi beats wind you down after a long day, there is a playlist here to match.
So light a candle, pour something warm (or sparkling), and press play. May these mixes bring a little extra glow to your season, wherever you are and however you celebrate.
