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Selfridges has launched its 2026 ‘Christmas and the City’ campaign across its London, Manchester and Birmingham stores and on Selfridges.com. The programme includes 12 themed windows at its Oxford Street flagship, city-inspired food and entertainment, and seasonal transport takeovers.
Selfridges has launched its 2026 Christmas campaign, ‘Christmas and the City’, across stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham and on its digital store, Selfridges.com. The campaign turns the Oxford Street flagship’s 12 windows into scenes inspired by cities around the world and adds seasonal food, performances and transport-themed activities at selected locations.
The Oxford Street windows depict 12 destinations: Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Lagos, New York, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, London and the fictional Vice City. The scenes follow Santa on stops around the world, including rooftops in Paris and a journey through Bangkok by tuk-tuk. Selfridges says the campaign also introduces new characters, including Bellhops and Showgirls, who will guide visitors to entertainment in the stores.
At the London flagship, a New York-inspired Downtown Café is set against illuminated skyscrapers and includes a subway-carriage dining area. The menu is described as offering afternoon tea, diner dishes and cocktails, with items such as a Lox Bagel, Classic Hot Dog, NYC Cheesecake and Coke Float. The Cloakroom Bar is scheduled to host a Parisian cabaret on selected Thursdays in November and December, with tickets available to book.
Selfridges also plans yellow taxi activations in London and Birmingham and a yellow tram takeover in Manchester, serving the Trafford and Exchange Square stores. In Manchester, the Exchange Square location is due to host San Carlo Bottega’s Big Panettone Party, a three-course meal with live music. From December 1, Santa and elves are scheduled to visit stores. A Broadway-inspired Snow Show, led by a Showgirl character, is described by the retailer as open to all at its London, Birmingham and Manchester Exchange Square stores.
A Multi-Store Christmas Experience
The campaign extends Selfridges’ Christmas offer beyond window displays, combining in-store dining, live entertainment and city-themed transport with its seasonal retail presentation. The programme spans three major UK city markets and the retailer’s website, giving customers several ways to encounter the campaign, although activities vary by location.
For shoppers, the practical distinction is that some attractions are tied to specific stores or dates. The cabaret, for example, is scheduled for selected Thursdays, while the Manchester panettone event is based at Exchange Square. Selfridges says the Snow Show is open to all at named locations, but its source report does not provide a full schedule or further booking details for every activity.
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From Windows to City Scenes
Selfridges’ campaign takes its theme from cities both real and imagined, using the Oxford Street flagship’s 12 display windows as its central visual element. The list ranges from global cities such as Tokyo and Lagos to Vice City, a fictional destination. The scenes are framed around Santa travelling between locations, with details including a Paris rooftop and a Bangkok tuk-tuk.
The retailer says the campaign has rolled out in its stores and online. In a statement quoted by Cosmetics Business, Selfridges chief executive André Maeder said the concept was intended to create shared memories and make visitors feel welcome. He said the company was celebrating cities “real and imagined” in London, Manchester and Birmingham. These are the retailer’s stated aims; the report does not provide customer response or attendance figures.
““Christmas and the City has been imagined by our teams to create special memories to share and to make everyone feel welcome.””
— André Maeder, Selfridges chief executive, as quoted by Cosmetics Business
Schedules and Booking Details
The source report does not give the full dates, opening hours or booking arrangements for every event. It says cabaret performances will take place on selected Thursdays in November and December and that tickets can be booked, but does not list the performance dates or prices. It also does not specify taxi routes, the tram takeover timetable, or the Snow Show’s performance schedule.
Further operational details, including whether any activities have capacity limits or require advance reservations, are not stated. The report also offers no figures for expected attendance, campaign spending or sales impact, so those outcomes cannot be assessed from the information available.
Seasonal Events Begin in December
Selfridges says Santa and his elves will begin visiting stores on December 1. The campaign’s November and December cabaret dates and the Manchester dining event form part of the wider seasonal programme, while the yellow taxis and tram are planned for the named cities. Visitors will need to check Selfridges’ current store and online information for dates, availability and any booking requirements not detailed in the report.
Key Questions
What is Selfridges’ 2026 Christmas campaign called?
It is called ‘Christmas and the City’ and is themed around cities around the world, with Santa travelling between locations in the campaign scenes.
Which stores are included?
The campaign is running across Selfridges locations in London, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as on Selfridges.com. Some events are limited to particular stores.
What is featured in the Oxford Street windows?
The London flagship’s 12 windows feature scenes inspired by Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Lagos, New York, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Milan, Paris, London and Vice City.
When do Santa visits start?
Selfridges says Santa and his elves will begin visiting stores on December 1. The report does not give a complete schedule of individual appearances.
Do visitors need tickets for the events?
Tickets are available to book for the Cloakroom Bar cabaret on selected Thursdays in November and December. The source does not provide full booking details for all events, so visitors should check Selfridges’ listings for the relevant store.
Source: rss
