From One Direction and Taylor Swift to Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber and Coldplay, Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball has welcomed some of the biggest names in music to its legendary London stage. With the 2026 event fast approaching, we’re celebrating the performances that have made the UK’s biggest Christmas party so unforgettable.
There’s nothing quite like Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball. Every December, thousands of music fans descend on London’s The O2 for two nights of spectacular live music, huge singalongs and some of the biggest artists on the planet.
And 2026 is set to be another incredible year.
Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard 2026: Everything you need to know
Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard is officially returning to London’s The O2 on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th December 2026.
The two-night spectacular will once again bring together some of the world’s biggest music stars to kick off the festive season in style.
The excitement is already building, with this year’s star-studded line-up being revealed live on Capital Breakfast with Jordan North, Chris Stark and Siân Welby on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th November, from 7am. Enter your email address here, and we’ll email you the lineup…
Fans can tune in via Global Player to discover which artists will be taking to the stage this December.
When do Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2026 tickets go on sale?
There are two opportunities to get your hands on tickets:
- Thursday 5th November, 9am: Pre-sale access for Capital Plus and Radio Plus subscribers and eligible Barclaycard customers.
- Friday 6th November, 9am: General sale tickets go live via Global Player.
The doors at The O2 will open at 4.30pm, with performances starting at 6pm and finishing at approximately 10pm.
Whether you’re lucky enough to be there in person or following the action from home, one thing is certain: it’s going to be a huge festive celebration.
But before the 2026 line-up is unveiled, let’s look back at some of the biggest performances in Capital Jingle Bell Ball history.
10 iconic Capital Jingle Bell Ball performances you need to watch
From legendary boybands and global pop superstars to unforgettable headline sets, these are 10 performances worth reliving.
1. One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful (2012)
One Direction fever was at its absolute peak when Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik took to the Jingle Bell Ball stage in 2012.
The five-piece sent the arena wild with a set featuring ‘Live While We’re Young’, ‘Little Things’, ‘Kiss You’ and, of course, their breakthrough smash hit ‘What Makes You Beautiful’.
With thousands of fans singing every word, it was a brilliant reminder of just how huge One Direction were at the height of their success.
WATCH: One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful (Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2012)
2. Justin Bieber – Sorry (2021)
Justin Bieber brought serious superstar energy to The O2 when he returned to the Jingle Bell Ball in 2021.
His extended set was packed with hits, including ‘Ghost’, ‘Where Are Ü Now’, ‘What Do You Mean?’, ‘Sorry’ and ‘Peaches’.
The Canadian superstar’s appearance was particularly special as it marked his only European show of 2021 and his first UK performance in almost two years.
WATCH: Justin Bieber – Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2021 (Extended Set)
3. Taylor Swift – Christmas Tree Farm (2019)
Taylor Swift gave fans a truly magical festive moment when she headlined the Jingle Bell Ball in 2019.
Closing the Sunday night show, the global superstar performed a collection of her biggest hits, including ‘Lover’, ‘You Need To Calm Down’, ’22’ and ‘Blank Space’.
But the standout moment came when she performed her brand-new Christmas song, ‘Christmas Tree Farm’, live for the first time.
Wearing a Santa hat and surrounded by festive visuals, Taylor delivered the perfect Christmas treat to 16,000 fans.
WATCH: Taylor Swift – Christmas Tree Farm (Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2019)
4. Ed Sheeran – Full Headline Set (2021)
Ed Sheeran knows how to deliver a headline performance, and his 2021 Jingle Bell Ball closing set was no exception.
The singer-songwriter treated fans to an incredible run of hits, including ‘Shivers’, ‘Castle On The Hill’, ‘Thinking Out Loud’, ‘Perfect’, ‘Shape Of You’ and ‘Bad Habits’.
There was even a surprise appearance from Anne-Marie, who joined Ed on stage for ‘2002’, before he treated the crowd to his festive collaboration ‘Merry Christmas’.
A truly unforgettable set from one of Britain’s biggest musical exports.
WATCH: Ed Sheeran – Full Set at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2021
5. Coldplay – A Sky Full Of Stars (2024)
Coldplay brought their stadium-sized spectacle to Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball in 2024, closing the first night with an incredible performance.
Chris Martin and the band delivered a set featuring some of their biggest hits, including ‘Higher Power’, ‘Yellow’, ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’ and the festive favourite ‘Christmas Lights’.
With the arena singing along, it was exactly the kind of euphoric performance that makes the Jingle Bell Ball so special.
WATCH: Coldplay – Full Set at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2024
6. Katy Perry – Roar (2024)
Pop superstar Katy Perry brought the glamour, the hits and plenty of attitude to the 2024 Jingle Bell Ball.
Her performance included a brilliant collection of fan favourites, with ‘Roar’ proving a particularly huge moment.
The singer also performed ‘Woman’s World’ for the first time in the UK, making her appearance even more special.
From the choreography to the huge arena singalongs, Katy delivered everything fans could have hoped for.
WATCH: Katy Perry – Roar (Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2024)
7. Little Mix – Black Magic (2018)
Little Mix were always guaranteed to bring the party, and their 2018 Jingle Bell Ball performance was no exception.
Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall took over the stage with a hit-packed set featuring ‘Black Magic’, ‘Touch’, ‘Power’, ‘Secret Love Song’ and ‘Shout Out To My Ex’.
They even closed the show in spectacular fashion, with confetti raining down on the 16,000-strong crowd.
One of the ultimate girl-group performances in Jingle Bell Ball history.
WATCH: Little Mix – Black Magic (Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2018)
8. Dua Lipa – Levitating (2022)
Dua Lipa has delivered some seriously memorable performances at Capital events, and her 2022 Jingle Bell Ball appearance was a particular highlight.
The global pop sensation had the entire O2 singing along as she performed ‘Levitating’, one of the biggest hits of her career.
Part of an incredible opening set, the performance showcased exactly why Dua had become one of the most in-demand pop stars in the world.
WATCH: Dua Lipa – Levitating (Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2022)
9. Sam Smith – How Do You Sleep? (2019)
Sam Smith has a voice that can stop an arena in its tracks, and their 2019 Jingle Bell Ball performance was a brilliant showcase of their incredible vocals.
Returning to the event with a collection of new hits, Sam performed songs including ‘Dancing With A Stranger’, ‘How Do You Sleep?’ and ‘Stay With Me’.
Their extended set was packed with emotional moments and huge pop anthems, making it one of the standout performances of the year.
WATCH: Sam Smith – Extended Set (Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2019)
10. Kylie Minogue – XMAS (2025)
No celebration of Capital’s recent Jingle Bell Ball history would be complete without Kylie Minogue.
The pop legend brought the festive atmosphere to The O2 in 2025 with the debut live performance of her Christmas track ‘XMAS’.
With a career spanning decades and a catalogue of unforgettable hits, Kylie was the perfect artist to add some extra sparkle to the UK’s biggest Christmas party.
WATCH: Kylie Minogue – XMAS (Live at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2025)
And what about Mariah Carey?
Of course, no list of Christmas music icons would be complete without the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey.
Although Mariah’s appearance was at Capital’s Summertime Ball 2025, rather than the Jingle Bell Ball, her performance deserves a special mention.
She brought her superstar status to Wembley Stadium in June 2025, performing for a crowd of 80,000 fans. Her appearance included ‘Type Dangerous’ and gave Capital audiences a chance to see one of the world’s biggest music legends live.
WATCH: Mariah Carey – Type Dangerous (Live at Capital’s Summertime Ball 2025)
Why Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball is the ultimate Christmas party
From One Direction’s boyband domination and Taylor Swift’s festive debut to Justin Bieber’s huge hits and Coldplay’s arena-sized spectacle, Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball has created countless moments that music fans will remember for years.
And with two nights at The O2 in December 2026, another chapter in the event’s history is about to begin.
The big question is: which superstar names will join this incredible list this year?
We’ll find out on November 4th and 5th, when Capital Breakfast reveals the 2026 line-up.
Until then, revisit these unforgettable performances, get your festive playlist ready and start counting down to the UK’s biggest Christmas party!
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