Christmas is already starting to appear on the horizon, and for music fans that can only mean one thing: Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball is on its way back.
The annual festive spectacular is expected to return to London for another two-night celebration of some of the biggest names in pop, with Saturday 5 December and Sunday 6 December 2026 currently being reported as this year’s dates.
However, there is an important caveat: Global has not officially confirmed the 2026 dates yet. The dates have been reported by The Sun and are appearing elsewhere online, so fans should treat them as provisional until Capital makes the official announcement. The Sun has also reported that John Legend is in advanced talks to headline the event.
When is Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2026?
The reported dates for this year’s Jingle Bell Ball are:
- Saturday 5 December 2026
- Sunday 6 December 2026
The venue is also yet to be officially confirmed, although all signs point towards the event returning to The O2 in London, which has hosted the Jingle Bell Ball for years.
Capital itself has already confirmed that the Jingle Bell Ball will return in 2026, saying that the lineup would be revealed in autumn 2026.
That makes November the key month for fans hoping to find out who will be taking to the stage.
When will Capital announce the Jingle Bell Ball 2026 lineup?
Based on the expected schedule, Capital is likely to reveal this year’s lineup across Wednesday 4 November and Thursday 5 November.
That would follow the format used for the 2025 event. Last year, the lineup was revealed across two days on Capital Breakfast, with the artists announced ahead of the ticket sale.
If Capital follows a similar pattern this year, fans can expect the first names to be revealed during the breakfast show, with more huge acts following on the second day.
Wednesday 4 November and Thursday 5 November are therefore the dates to watch — but they should be considered predicted announcement dates rather than confirmed dates from Global.
When will Jingle Bell Ball 2026 tickets go on sale?
If the lineup announcement follows that predicted schedule, tickets would be expected to go on general sale on Friday 6 November 2026.
Again, this is based on the anticipated announcement timetable rather than an official Global confirmation.
Last year’s event provides a useful indication of how the process works. The 2025 lineup was revealed ahead of tickets going on general sale at 9am on Friday 7 November, with fans able to access tickets through Global Player.
Will there be a Jingle Bell Ball pre-sale?
Yes — fans should expect a pre-sale opportunity.
Capital’s usual ticketing setup gives listeners who are logged into Global Player with a Global iD exclusive access before the general sale.
If this year’s schedule follows the expected timetable, that pre-sale could begin at 9am on Wednesday 4 November, the first day of the lineup announcements.
That means anyone hoping to attend should make sure their Global Player account is set up and that they’re logged in before the announcements begin.
It’s potentially the difference between getting tickets and watching the show from home, given how quickly the Jingle Bell Ball can sell out.
Who could perform at Jingle Bell Ball 2026?
This is where things get particularly exciting.
There are already some major names being linked with this year’s event, although the lineup remains officially unconfirmed.
John Legend
The biggest name currently being reported is John Legend.
According to The Sun, the Grammy-winning star is in advanced talks to headline the Jingle Bell Ball, with sources suggesting he could top the bill across the weekend.
If Legend does perform, there’s a strong possibility that he could headline both nights rather than appear on just one evening.
His huge catalogue — from All of Me and Ordinary People to more recent material — would also give Capital a suitably spectacular headliner for its Christmas party.
Mariah Carey
Then there’s the ultimate Christmas name: Mariah Carey.
The All I Want for Christmas Is You superstar is being speculated about for the Jingle Bell Ball, particularly because she is due to be in the UK for her Christmas tour.
Nothing has been officially confirmed, so fans shouldn’t take her appearance as a certainty. But if Capital could secure Mariah for the event, she would undoubtedly be one of the biggest festive bookings imaginable.
Jamie Miller
Another name to watch is Jamie Miller.
The rising singer has been gaining attention with his track Babydoll, which is expected to make a significant impact on the charts.
A Jingle Bell Ball appearance could be a major moment for Miller as he continues to build his profile — and Capital has a long history of mixing established superstars with some of the hottest emerging artists. Find out more about Jamie Miller, here.
Who else could appear?
There are also a number of other names being discussed for this year’s event, including:
- Alex Warren
- Becky Hill
- Sienna Spiro
- Troye Sivan
- Olivia Rodrigo
- And from The Celebrity Traitors, Sebastian Croft and Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
At this stage, however, these should all be regarded as rumours or speculation rather than confirmed performers.
Becky Hill is particularly interesting given the latest reporting. The Sun has said she is expected to perform alongside John Legend, while also reporting that Jamie Miller is being considered and Mariah Carey is in talks.
Of course, Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball lineups are famous for surprises, so there could be plenty of names that haven’t even entered the rumour mill yet.
Can you watch Jingle Bell Ball 2026 online?
Yes.
If you don’t manage to get tickets — or simply want to experience the show from home — Capital is expected to stream both nights live and for free on Global Player.
That follows the established format for the event. Capital streamed the 2025 Jingle Bell Ball through Global Player and its YouTube channel, giving fans who couldn’t attend in person another way to watch the performances.
There is also expected to be an ITV1 and ITVX highlights special, following Global’s partnership with ITV for its major live music events. Capital’s 2026 Summertime Ball, for example, received an ITV1/ITVX entertainment highlights broadcast.
Jingle Bell Ball 2026: everything we know so far
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 December 2026* |
| Venue | The O2, London* |
| Lineup announcement | Expected Wednesday 4 & Thursday 5 November* |
| Pre-sale | Expected from 9am Wednesday 4 November* |
| General sale | Expected Friday 6 November* |
| Reported headliner | John Legend* |
| Other names linked | Mariah Carey, Becky Hill, Jamie Miller, Alex Warren, Sienna Spiro, Troye Sivan & Olivia Rodrigo* |
| Live stream | Global Player |
| TV | Expected ITV1/ITVX highlights special |
*These details are not all officially confirmed by Global at the time of writing.
So, when should Jingle Bell Ball fans start paying attention?
Wednesday 4 November could be the big day.
If the predicted schedule is correct, that’s when Capital could begin unveiling its 2026 Jingle Bell Ball lineup — and it’s also when Global Player users could get their first opportunity to access the pre-sale.
Then, Thursday 5 November could bring another batch of superstar announcements, before tickets potentially go on general sale at 9am on Friday 6 November.
For now, though, fans should keep their eyes on Capital and Global Player. The broadcaster has confirmed that the Jingle Bell Ball is returning in 2026, but the exact dates, venue, lineup and ticketing timetable remain to be formally announced.
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If the current rumours are anything to go by, John Legend, Mariah Carey, Becky Hill and Jamie Miller could make this year’s Jingle Bell Ball one of Capital’s biggest Christmas parties yet.