The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to share the festive cheer than with captivating Instagram Reels? But finding the perfect soundtrack can be a challenge. That's why we've curated this ultimate list of the best songs for holiday Reels, guaranteed to boost your engagement and spread some serious holiday joy. From classic carols with a modern twist to upbeat pop tunes that perfectly capture the festive spirit, we've got you covered. In today's social media landscape, visually stunning content paired with trending audio is key to maximizing reach and connecting with your audience. This guide will not only provide you with a diverse selection of musical gems but also offer insights into choosing the right track to match your video's vibe and message, ensuring your Reels stand out from the crowd and capture the magic of the season. So, ditch the generic holiday music and get ready to create Reels that will truly resonate with your followers!
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Last Christmas | Wham! | 894M+ | |
| 2. All I Want for Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey | 787M+ | |
| 3. Mistletoe | Justin Bieber | 537M+ | |
| 4. Santa Tell Me | Ariana Grande | Merry Christmas | 295M+ |
| 5. It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas | Michael Bublé | Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition) | 133M+ |
| 6. Fairytale of New York | The Pogues | 98M+ | |
| 7. Driving Home for Christmas | Chris Rea | 71M+ |
1. Last Christmas (Wham!)
Nostalgic 80s Sound: Wham!'s signature synth-pop sound instantly evokes the festive cheer of the 1980s, making it perfect for adding a retro vibe to your holiday reels.
Upbeat Tempo and Catchy Melody: The song's undeniably catchy tune and upbeat tempo are highly engaging, ensuring viewers will tap their feet along to your video.
Iconic Holiday Status: "Last Christmas" is a globally recognized Christmas classic, instantly recognizable and guaranteed to resonate with a broad audience, creating immediate holiday cheer.
2. All I Want for Christmas Is You
Upbeat Tempo: Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" boasts an irresistibly joyful tempo perfect for creating upbeat holiday reel content.
Iconic Vocals: Carey's powerhouse vocals are instantly recognizable and add a layer of nostalgic charm, ensuring high engagement.
Visual Potential: The song's cheerful melody and classic Christmas theme lend themselves to a wide variety of visually appealing reel concepts, from snowy landscapes to festive gatherings.
3. Mistletoe (Justin Bieber - 2025)
Upbeat Tempo: Mistletoe's bright, catchy rhythm instantly evokes holiday cheer, making it perfect for setting a festive mood in your reels.
Nostalgic Vibe: Justin Bieber's vocals add a touch of familiar warmth, tapping into the cozy feelings associated with the holidays and triggering positive memories for viewers.
Visual Potential: The song's cheerful tone lends itself to a variety of creative visuals, from snowy landscapes to cozy gatherings, ensuring your reel is both sonically and visually appealing.
4. Santa Tell Me (Merry Christmas - 2025)
Upbeat Tempo: Ariana Grande's "Santa Tell Me" boasts a playful, mid-tempo beat perfect for creating a joyful and energetic holiday reel.
Catchy Melody & Vocals: The instantly recognizable melody and Grande's signature powerful yet sweet vocals are highly engaging and easily stick in the viewer's head, making it memorable.
Holiday Vibe: The song's cheerful lyrics and festive instrumentation create a strong holiday feeling, ideal for injecting Christmas spirit into your reels.
5. It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas (2011)
Upbeat Tempo: "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" boasts a delightfully brisk tempo perfect for creating a fast-paced, joyful mood in your holiday reels, keeping viewers engaged.
Classic Holiday Vibe: Bublé's smooth vocals and the instantly recognizable melody create a timeless, feel-good atmosphere, ideal for evoking warm holiday feelings.
Visual Coordination: The song's cheerful energy lends itself well to montage-style reels featuring festive scenes and activities; consider incorporating imagery that matches the song's bright, celebratory mood.
6. Fairytale of New York
Sound: The raw energy of The Pogues' instrumentation, combined with Kirsty MacColl's soaring vocals, creates a uniquely festive yet bittersweet sonic landscape perfect for a holiday reel's emotional depth.
Emotional Impact: Its poignant lyrics about a doomed romance against the backdrop of Christmas create a captivating contrast, adding a touch of melancholy that resonates deeply.
Visuals: The song's nostalgic feel and evocative lyrics lend themselves beautifully to vintage footage or heartwarming holiday scenes in your reel; consider incorporating images that reflect the song's themes of love, loss, and the holiday spirit.
7. Driving Home for Christmas
Nostalgic Vibe: Chris Rea's "Driving Home for Christmas" evokes a classic, heartwarming feeling perfect for capturing the spirit of the holidays in your reel.
Visual Potential: The song's imagery of a snowy journey home lends itself beautifully to visuals of cozy fireplaces, decorated trees, or family gatherings, enhancing your reel's emotional impact.
Engagement Factor: Its instantly recognizable melody and feel-good rhythm will resonate with viewers, making it highly shareable content during the holiday season.
8. Merry Christmas Everyone (1985)
Upbeat Tempo and Catchy Melody: "Merry Christmas Everyone" boasts a relentlessly cheerful tempo and a ridiculously catchy melody, perfect for injecting festive energy into your holiday reels.
Nostalgic Vibe and Wide Appeal: Its instantly recognizable tune taps into a potent wave of Christmas nostalgia, making it broadly appealing across age groups and viewer demographics.
Visual Synergy: The song's bright, celebratory feel lends itself well to visuals of festive gatherings, winter landscapes, or gift-opening scenes, enhancing your reel's impact.
9. Underneath the Tree (2013)
Upbeat Tempo: "Underneath the Tree" boasts a joyful, undeniably catchy tempo perfect for setting a festive mood in your holiday reels.
Warm Vocals: Kelly Clarkson's signature powerful yet warm vocals infuse the song with a comforting, nostalgic feeling, ideal for evoking heartwarming holiday moments.
Visual Potential: The song's lyrics lend themselves beautifully to visuals of family gatherings, cozy winter scenes, and gift-giving, enhancing your reel's storytelling.
10. Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley - 2025)
Sound: Elvis Presley's velvety vocals and the melancholic melody create a classic, instantly recognizable sound perfect for evoking a nostalgic, heartwarming holiday feeling.
Emotional Impact: The song's bittersweet lyrics about a lonely Christmas perfectly capture the wistful longing many experience during the holidays, making it deeply resonant for viewers.
Visuals for Reels: Pair this track with images of cozy winter scenes, vintage Christmas decorations, or even a slow-motion shot of falling snow for maximum emotional impact on your audience.
11Feliz Navidad
José Feliciano
1970
My Name Is José Feliciano
12Jingle Bell Rock
Bobby Helms
2023
13Happy Xmas
John Lennon,Yoko Ono
1971
14Wonderful Christmastime
Paul McCartney
1979
15I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Wizzard
1973
16Do They Know It's Christmas?
Band Aid
1984
17Step Into Christmas
Elton John
1973
188 Days of Christmas
Destiny's Child
2001
19Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Brenda Lee
1960
Merry Christmas From Brenda Lee
20The Christmas Song
Nat King Cole
2024
21Run Rudolph Run
Chuck Berry
1958
22Christmas Time Is Here
Vince Guaraldi Trio
1964
23Christmas Wrapping
The Waitresses
1981
24Christmas
Darlene Love
1963
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
25Holly Jolly Christmas
Burl Ives
1964
26Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Gene Autry
1949
27Sleigh Ride
Ella Fitzgerald
1960
28White Christmas
Bing Crosby
1942
29Silver Bells
Bing Crosby, Carol Richards
1952