Mariah Carey is waking up for Christmas but if you want to go beyond her version of All I Want for Christmas, Apple Music has quite a few answers. The music streaming arm of Apple is ushering in the festive season with its 2025 edition of Carols Covered, bringing a new wave of reimagined Christmas and holiday classics performed by a hand-picked roster of global artistes.

The annual collection, known for its inventive takes on traditional songs, returns this year with contributions from ENHYPEN, Khalid, Olly Murs, Parker McCollum, UMI and several others.

All tracks in the series have been recorded exclusively for Apple Music and are available to listeners worldwide in immersive Spatial Audio, which is a cornerstone of the platform’s push towards richer, more dimensional sound experiences.

According to Apple Music editors, each artiste in the line-up was selected for their ability to reinterpret beloved carols while retaining the emotional warmth of the originals.

In addition to the contemporary set, Apple Music is also expanding its Classical Carols Covered playlist. The series invites classical musicians to give modern, often experimental twists to traditional carols. This year’s collection features fresh arrangements by celebrated organist and conductor Anna Lapwood and acclaimed pianist-composer Francesco Tristano, who bring new textures and tonal approaches to centuries-old melodies.

Together, Carols Covered and Classical Carols Covered offer a vibrant mix of nostalgia and reinvention, showcasing how today’s artistes continue to reshape holiday music while honouring its legacy. Both playlists — including all-new 2025 renditions as well as past favourites — are available now exclusively on Apple Music in Spatial Audio.

Apple Music’s 2025 Carols Covered artiste Khalid, who has chosen Last Christmas, told Apple Music: “First of all, I am a huge fan of George Michael. I love the approach that he took to write and produce an anthem about choosing better for yourself even during the holiday season. The melody of the chorus is so infectious and I can never get it out of my head!”

Parker McCollum has chosen Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town: “I covered the Bruce Springsteen version on Fox News in Austin, Texas, at 5.30 in the morning. It was one of the first times I ever played with a full band. I borrowed Brandon Rhyder’s band and we played Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town. It was the first time I was ever on live TV.”