Halloween barely had time to pack away its skeletons before Mariah Carey stepped in with her annual announcement: “It’s time!” Released at midnight on November 1, her 2026 Christmas kickoff video gives the familiar tradition an unexpected opening—because this year, the Queen of Christmas takes a detour through a punk club.
The video begins in New York City on Halloween night, with Carey sporting a punk-inspired look and performing “Hermit.” She even dives into the crowd before the countdown reaches midnight. Then comes the transformation: the gritty club gives way to a snowy holiday scene, with Carey perched atop a giant Christmas tree. Her signature whistle-register declaration rings out, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” takes over. From crowd surfing to tree topping—now that is range.
The opening song is a particularly fun surprise for longtime fans. “Hermit” comes from Someone’s Ugly Daughter, the 1995 alternative-rock album released under the band name Chick. Carey secretly helped write and produce the project while working on Daydream, contributing backing vocals while her friend Clarissa Dane supplied the released album’s lead vocals. Carey later discussed that little-known chapter of her career in her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. That musical wink gives this year’s clip an extra layer of personality. Before welcoming everyone back into her Christmas kingdom, Carey reminds viewers that her musical world has always stretched beyond sleigh bells and soaring ballads.
Her annual announcement has become a holiday event in its own right: a playful invitation to turn up the Christmas playlists and embrace a little seasonal extravagance. And for 2026, Mariah’s message comes with both an electric guitar and a generous helping of glitter. The pumpkins have had their moment. Bring on the sparkle.
