When will the 2023 Christmas Number 1 be announced?

The Official Christmas Number 1 is a British tradition that's seen a host of yuletide stapes crowned - from Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You to Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?

It's the most important chart race of the year for music fans up and down the country, you might say. 

After 71 years, securing that Christmas Number 1 is still considered the ultimate accolade in pop, and the stuff entire careers are built around.

Previous years have seen a wide variety of songs claim the festive crown; wintry ballads, huge charity singles, dance bangers and quirky novelty numbers that, let's be honest, could only hit the top spot at Christmas. Bob the Builder's Can We Fix It?, anyone?

The first ever Official Christmas Number 1 was won by Al Martino's Here In My Heart in 1952, while last year, the feat was secured by LadBaby and Martin Lewis with Food Aid.

See Every Official Christmas Number 1 song here.

This meant LadBaby broke a long-standing UK chart record, becoming the first act to ever achieve five consecutive Christmas Number 1 singles (joining We Built This City, I Love Sausage Rolls, Don't Stop Me Eatin' and Ed Sheeran and Elton John collaboration Sausage Rolls for Everyone). And to make it even better, all the proceeds from the single went towards food bank charity the Trussell Trust.

Previously, both The Beatles and Spice Girls had held the record for the most consecutive Christmas Number 1s in UK chart history; The Beatles scoring four with I Want To Hold Your Hand (1963), I Feel Fine (1964) and Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out (1965) and Spice Girls bagging three with 2 Become 1 (1996), Too Much (1997) and Goodbye (1998).

Who are the contenders for the Christmas Number 1 2023?

It's too soon to say, but you can be pretty certain Last Christmas by Wham! and All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey are set to join the fight for the festive top spot. Plus, Ed Sheeran & Elton John’s modern yuletide hit Merry Christmas has shown signs of becoming a festive classic in recent years.

Relive all the contenders for 2022's Official Christmas Number 1 song here.

How is the Christmas Number 1 winner determined?

The only chart that counts, The Official Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company on behalf of the British music industry. First established in 1952, the Official Chart today surveys thousands of retailers and digital services daily to count UK physical sales, digital downloads, audio streams and video streams. The most comprehensive research panel of its kind, it captures 99.9% of the total UK singles market

When will the Official Christmas Number 1 song 2023 be announced?

The 2023 Official Christmas Number 1 will be announced on Friday, December 22. The full Christmas Top 40 will be counted down on BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart with Jack Saunders from 4pm.

The full Top 100 Official Christmas Singles Chart and Official Christmas Albums Chart will be published on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm.

Make sure you’re following Official Charts on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for updates throughout the race. Join in the Christmas Number 1 conversation using #XmasNo1 and #OfficialChart.