The 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert is finally here and the festive season has truly begun. It focuses on a grandma who is looking for the perfect gift for her two young grandchildren, with a little help from a Christmas present from her own childhood toy, Pickles the dog.
It was only released earlier today, (Tuesday November 3), but it’s already split opinion with shoppers. Commenting on the brand’s official Youtube page, one person wrote: “ Loved it, a gift means more than money in an envelope x its the thought that counts.” But, others disagreed. One person summarised the thoughts of many others when they simply said: “ Oh dear, not hit the spot this year .”
But, no matter what you think of it, the 2026 ad is the latest addition to the pantheon of John Lewis Christmas adverts, which have been looked forward to by many since 2007. Plenty of classics have come over the years and we all have our very own favourites.
But we took on the tough task of ranking every single one! From 2007 through to 2026, here is my thoughts on each and every one.
The 2026 Christmas advert - Don’t Give Up on Giving - is out now. You can watch it here.
17. 3- Excitable Edgar (2019)
Can we start by just taking a moment to admire the craftsmanship of this advert - it looks better than some Hollywood films released in the last few years. Personally, I love everything about this one - the song choice, the storyline, and of course the moment that poor Edgar is able to use his fire for good and light the Christmas pud. Not sure what the collective opinion is on this one, but it is a really strong effort and extremely Christmassy in a fairy tale way. Rating: 4.9 Jingle Bells. | YouTube/ John Lewis Photo: YouTube/ John Lewis
18. 2 - The Gifting Hour (2024)
A magical trip through the nostalgia of Christmases past, I found myself completely charmed by this effort. It gives strong Narnia vibes - the first film of which came out at Xmas and I remember watching with my own sibling. It is a brilliant effort and was well worth the wait. I love how it captures the manic vibes of doing Christmas shopping at the last minute and how the holiday really is all about your family - and the joy of getting the perfect present. Rating: 4.95 Jingle Bells. | John Lewis Photo: John Lewis
19. 1 - Monty the Penguin (2014)
Look, penguins are my favourite animals and so I have always had a soft spot for this advert. I remember it being released more than a decade ago and I wondered if my fondness for it was purely nostalgia based. But Monty’s quest for love is still as endearing now as it was back then. Rating: 5 Jingle Bells. | YouTube/ John Lewis Photo: YouTube/ John Lewis