5 food trends for Christmas 2026

Our expert team of product developers, chefs and producers have been hard at work on this year's jaw-dropping Christmas range. With over 900 festive products, including 300 new launches and 400 returning Foodhall favourites, we have all the delicious innovation and trends to make this Christmas magical. Discover the must-try flavour trends we predict will be making waves this season.

For some, Christmas starts on 1 November, as soon as the Halloween decs are taken down, and doesn’t end until New Year’s Eve. That’s ample opportunity to sprinkle festive magic into every day. Whether that’s eating your favourite foods with a festive twist, or making the moment special with all the trimmings, it’s never been easier.

Marie Ford, head of product, says, “Now the Christmas season encompasses both working days and celebration moments, we wanted to make every one of them special, so we’ve given our Foodhall favourites a festive glimmer. My personal favourite is the Merry Pizza Pie (in store from 11 November) – I love this Detroit-style pizza, with the addition of juicy chicken, pork stuffing and cranberry sauce."

Did you know the average Brit will eat 3-4 Christmas dinners over the festive season?* That's a lot of turkey! In fact, a whopping 86% of people will meet up with friends and family over the six weeks, seeing them enjoying a number of 'cameo' Christmases.

The easiest way to feed a crowd? With a festive picky bits spread, with Gen Z in particular preferring drinks and nibbles to a full-on meal, driving the demand for curated party food spreads (“high beige”).

Alice Holman, product development manager, says, “This summer we were crowned the home of picky bits, and we're taking that to the next level with our Christmas offering. Our Foodhall favourites, which people know and love, have been turned into the tastiest party food that will have everyone asking where it’s from. My personal favourite, the Lasagne Cups (in store from 14 Oct), will play a starring role at my get-togethers.”

You can’t go to that Friendsmas pot-luck dinner, or visit Auntie Julie’s empty-handed! A whopping 86% of people say they take something when visiting people at this time of year, so from the most delicious gifts to show-stopping table-ready dishes, or perhaps you’re hosting and want to save time with a main or dessert that’s ready to go, M&S Food has all you need.

Katy Patino, head of product, says, “This year we’ve really focussed on those hosting occasions, offering a stunning selection of show-stopping dishes and deliciously cute gifts you can take to gatherings that taste as good as they look. At the next Friendsmas, take round our Collection Dry Cured Gammon. With its pineapple and morello cherry glaze, you'll pass yourself off as a foodie, as cherry is a hot flavour trend this year. Or gift our Delacourt Champagne. It's a class act that's a favourite with shoppers and winefluencers alike. Mind you, you can't go wrong with our iconic light-up biscuit tins.”

The one thing that gets everyone excited at this time of year? The arrival of the festive flavours, the ones that remind you of Christmases past, as well as exciting new ones you can’t wait to try.

Four flavours dominate this season:

• Malt

• Pistachio

• Cherry

• Zesty citrus

Annette Peters, head of trends and innovation, says, "Malt is already big this year and will really come into its nostalgic stride at Christmas, with its deep, toasted caramel notes delivering comfort and indulgence. Cherry is also enjoying a major revival, appearing everywhere from social media feeds to restaurant menus, and it's a flavour trend we're proudly embracing. Citrus, meanwhile, remains synonymous with Christmas, but we're seeing those familiar festive flavours evolve in new and exciting ways across the Foodhall, bringing a fresh twist to the traditional tastes and aromas customers associate with the season. And for pistachio lovers, the trend shows no sign of slowing down, with plenty of irresistible options still on the menu this Christmas."

Christmas isn’t just about the big three days, but the big five weeks, we’re seeing more people being mindful about what they’re consuming. Of course, Christmas is still about indulgence, but people want to pace themselves and balance the treats with healthier options. In fact, we’ve seen that ‘health’ is on a par with ‘indulgence’ in terms of Christmas, with 73% saying they’ll eat fewer treats, 60% drinking less alcohol and 25% choosing cleaner or healthier options. Low-and-no is still a trending drinks category, with 33% of people saying they’re drinking less now than they did 12 months ago.

Claire Richardson, head of product, says, “This year we've seen the trend for choosing foods made with recognisable ingredients is bigger than ever, as are foods with added benefits. Good dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants, so it's a great choice at Christmas, and our 85% Dark Chocolate Coated Dates will really hit the sweet spot! And low-and-no really comes into its own at this time of year, as people want to pace themselves, and we have some incredible options. I'll be drinking the Alcohol-Free Clementine and Cranberry Bucks Fizz on repeat, while the decaf Espresso Martini is sure to be a favourite.”

Whether you're searching for Christmas recipe inspiration, want to browse our full festive range in store, or just need some handy tips and hacks to make every moment magical, we've got delicious Christmas ideas all wrapped up.