- Over 380 new festive products join the 2026 Waitrose Christmas range, featuring showstopping centerpieces and indulgent desserts.
- 62% of UK adults are dining out less, driving demand for restaurant-quality home entertaining with luxury aperitivos and sharing plates*.
- 48% of UK adults report retro classics making a comeback, paired with surging searches for vibrant global flavours**.
Waitrose has unveiled its highly anticipated Christmas 2026 collection, unveiling an impressive lineup of over 380 new releases. From spectacular festive centerpieces to decadent, indulgent desserts, this vibrant new range brings an exciting variety of restaurant-quality dining straight to your home celebrations.
Maddy Wilson, Waitrose Director of Own Brand, says: “Christmas is about bringing people together over exceptional food. This year, we’ve reimagined festive traditions with vibrant global flavours, premium ingredients and restaurant-quality dishes that make entertaining at home feel effortless. From the first starter to the final toast, every part of the collection is designed to help customers create memorable moments around the table.”
Restaurant-quality entertaining at home
With 62% of UK adults dining out less than six months ago, host-led home dining is leading seasonal food strategy. Standout highlights include the succulent No.1 Slow Cooked Double Butter Basted Free Range Turkey Crown alongside luxurious sharing plates like Smoky Garlic & Chilli King Prawn Bites and cocktail-infused aperitivo offerings.
Elevate festive hosting with vibrant drinks and cocktail-inspired nibbles: the sparkling Festive Aperitivo Spritz delivers an effervescent start to any celebration, while bold bites like Spicy Marg Olives (lime, chilli, and tequila) and Negroni Inspired Olives (orange zest with a gin and Campari-style marinade) bring aperitivo hour straight to the holiday table.
Festive favourites, reimagined
With 48% of UK adults reporting a comeback for classic dishes**, Waitrose has refreshed nostalgic holiday staples with premium ingredients and modern culinary techniques from rich French Baking Brie with Cranberry & Port Glaze to playful retro treats like the Hot Chocolate Bombe with Marshmallows.
Customers are already getting ahead for Christmas with searches on Waitrose.com over the last 30 days soaring for “Christmas Cake Kit” (+540%), “Christmas Chocolate” (+270%) and “Christmas Cake” (+83%) compared with the same period last year***.
A Christmas table inspired by the world
Consumer demand for international cuisine is surging: search interest is up for Mediterranean (+68%), Middle Eastern (+100%), and Asian (+155%) flavours***. The 2026 range incorporates these global profiles into party foods such as Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns and festive centerpieces. Reflecting a +66% increase in searches for pistachio over the past year***, artisan bakery items like the decadent No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Panettone and Frangipane Mince Pies heavily feature nutty profiles alongside luxury gifting items.
12 Food Lover Favourites:
- Waitrose No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Frangipane Mince Pies (£4, available from 1st November)
- Waitrose No.1 Slow Cooked Double Butter Basted Free Range Turkey Crown (£70, available from 8th December)
- Waitrose No.1 Chocolate Salted Caramel Christmas Tree (£12, available from 22nd September)
- Waitrose No.1 Pistachio & Sour Cherry Panettone (£20, available from 1st November)
- Waitrose No.1 Ham & Cheese Croissant Stacks (£8.50, available from 11th November)
- Waitrose No.1 Handmade Polar Bear Bao Buns (£8.50, available from 11th November)
- Waitrose No.1 Smoky Garlic & Chilli King Prawn Bites (£6, available from 11th November)
- Waitrose No.1 Frosted Raspberry Snowflake (£22, available from 21st December)
- Waitrose No.1 French Baking Brie with Cranberry & Port Glaze (£8.50, available from 21st October)
- Waitrose No.1 Fish Pie Tartlet (£7.50, available from 18th December)
- Hot Chocolate Bombe with Marshmallows (£3, available from 22nd September)
- Caramel Crumb Waffles (£3, available from 21st September)
For the full Christmas 2026 range, including imagery, product details and launch dates, please see the Waitrose Christmas Lookbook
Launch dates
- Starters launching on 25 November
- Mains launching on 15 September
- Sides launching on 2 December
- Desserts launching on 15 September
- Party food launching on 11 November, available on a 3 for 2 offer
- Bakery launching on 21 September
- Entertaining launching on 15 September
- Christmas Food to Go launching on 4 November 2026
* Survey of 2000 respondents conducted in August 2026 via research and insights agency Obsurvant, on behalf of Waitrose.
** Survey of 2000 respondents conducted in May 2026 via research and insights agency Onsurvant, on behalf of Waitrose for its 1980s Dinner Party Guide, designed to help a new generation recreate retro entertaining for today.
*** Waitrose internal sales data, 2026
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