Mariah Carey is officially back for Christmas, and this year, she’s bringing Gucci along for the ride.
We barely had time to wipe off the last traces of our Halloween makeup before being thrown straight into full-on Christmas mode. And, as tradition dictates, it’s not the calendar that decides when the holiday season begins, but the Christmas Queen herself with her now-iconic “It’s Time!”
This year, however, Mariah Carey decided to shake things up with a rather unexpected opening. The video takes us to New York City on October 31, serving major punk-rock energy and an aesthetic straight out of the ’90s. Bold makeup, blonde hair with fiery red streaks, a plaid miniskirt, and a studded jacket: Mariah goes full rebellious rockstar, even throwing herself into the crowd.
And no, it’s not just an aesthetic choice. The track playing in the background is Hermit, a nod to Chick, the alternative rock project Mariah worked on back in the ’90s, which remained largely overshadowed by her pop career. Turns out, before becoming the ultimate Christmas Queen, Mariah had a pretty grungy side too.
But when the clock strikes midnight, the moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrives. With her legendary high note and unmistakable “It’s Time!”, the internet’s most anticipated defrosting officially begins, and the entire mood shifts in an instant.
The dark, rebellious atmosphere gives way to a winter wonderland, complete with snow, sparkling lights, and a gigantic Christmas tree topped by none other than Mariah herself. Because where else would a queen belong if not at the very top?
And as if that weren’t enough, Mariah is doubling down on the Christmas glamour this year with Gucci, which has tapped the American superstar to front its holiday campaign.
Directed by Harmony Korine, the film takes us inside a bustling hotel, where every little detail is being carefully arranged ahead of the diva’s grand arrival. Sharing the spotlight with Mariah is the special Butterfly collection, inspired by the iridescent beauty of butterfly wings. A symbol that couldn’t be more fitting for the singer, who famously dedicated her iconic 1997 album Butterfly to the very same motif.
It’s a meeting of fashion and music that blends Mariah’s personal universe with the House’s signature aesthetic codes, turning the campaign into a celebration of nostalgia, luxury, and pure holiday magic for Christmas 2026.
Between a punk-rock revival, Gucci butterflies, and a generous dose of Christmas extravaganza, Mariah Carey has officially declared the holiday season open. And once again, all we can do is bow down to the queen and hit play on All I Want for Christmas Is You.