Kylie Minogue earns first UK Christmas Number 1 with XMAS

Kylie Minogue has secured her first UK Christmas Number 1 with the track XMAS, a milestone highlighted by a low-key celebration from the singer herself. The 57-year-old Australian pop star’s Christmas single was announced on Friday, and she posted a wholesome clip to Instagram on Saturday showing her waking in black-and-white polka-dot pajamas to reach for the silver award. In the clip Minogue can be seen elated, giggling before lying her head back down on the pillow. She captioned the moment: “After 1 sleep with a Christmas Number 1… nope, won’t be over this any time soon!!!!!” The moment adds to a career that now boasts No. 1s across four decades.

XMAS marks Minogue’s eighth UK number-one single and the first Amazon Music Original to top the Official Christmas Chart, according to the Official Charts Company. The achievement extends her record of Christmas No. 1s into the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and the 2020s, tying her with a small group of artists whose No. 1s span four decades. Wham!’s Last Christmas remains the runner-up this year. The track’s Amazon-exclusive status — placing XMAS on playlists on Alexa and other Amazon devices — is cited as a factor in its streaming performance.

The chart move comes as streaming continues to reshape the holiday-number-one race. Changes in chart methodology, in which 100 streams count as one sale, have favored enduring hits and streaming juggernauts, a shift acknowledged by industry officials. Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company, said, “Streaming has completely transformed the way the Christmas No. 1 is decided. Classic songs have a real shot at returning to the top each year, thanks to their enduring popularity on playlists, which wasn’t possible in the era of physical sales.”

Minogue’s larger week included high-profile media appearances. She performed on Strictly Come Dancing the previous Sunday, drawing millions of viewers, and appeared on BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show with Scott Mills on Friday. The new No. 1 comes after last week’s chart-topping album Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped). While she has occasionally celebrated with glamorous events in the past, this year’s narrative centers on a cozy, home-bound celebration that aligns with the wholesome clip she shared online.

XMAS’s ascent is further framed by the broader context of her career-long chart presence. The song's performance reflects a combination of streaming-driven momentum, Amazon’s distribution strategy, and Minogue’s continued resonance with a global audience that remains engaged with Christmas music and holiday nostalgia. As the year closes, Minogue’s four-decade No. 1 streak stands as a notable milestone in the UK charts, underscoring the lasting appeal of a pop icon who has repeatedly reinspired her catalog across different eras.