Mariah Carey launches 2026 Christmas season with new ‘It’s time’ video

Mariah Carey has released her 2026 ‘It’s time’ video, featuring reference to her mid-1990s music project

Mariah Carey has officially signalled the start of the Christmas season with the release of her annual “It’s time” video, continuing a tradition associated with her hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You”.

This year's video takes inspiration from a lesser-known part of Carey's musical history. It opens with the singer performing “Hermit”, a track from Someone’s Ugly Daughter, an album she wrote and produced during the mid-1990s.

The project was released under the band name Chick, in collaboration with her friend Clarissa Dane.

Carey also contributed backing vocals to the album but did not publicly reveal her involvement until the release of her 2020 memoir.

As “Hermit” comes to an end, the scene transitions into a winter wonderland. Carey appears dressed for the festive season as the topper on a Christmas tree.

She then sings “It’s time” in her signature whistle register, before “All I Want for Christmas Is You” begins playing.

The singer has used different concepts for her annual Christmas announcements in previous years.

Her 2025 video featured actor Billy Eichner as a disgruntled elf, while the 2024 instalment showed Carey transforming from Morticia Addams into Mrs Claus. In 2023, she appeared to defrost, while the 2022 video showed her preparing for Christmas on an exercise bike.

The annual release also arrives as Carey’s 1994 Christmas hit remains a major contender on the Billboard charts. The song previously reached 22 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for the most weeks at the top.

 

 

 

 

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