Sufjan Stevens Releases New Holiday Single “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)” — Listen
The previously unheard track appears on his upcoming holiday album, containing 15 fan-favorite holiday singles from his music catalog.
SUFJAN STEVENS: Photographed by Emmanuel Afolabi
SUFJAN STEVENS: Photographed by Emmanuel Afolabi
Sufjan Stevens drops his first new Christmas song in over 15 years with “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better).”
Built around apology and asking for forgiveness, the previously unheard track marks the Grammy-winning artist’s first new holiday song he wrote, produced, and performed.
The single appears on his upcoming holiday album Worst Christmas Ever!, set for release on November 6, 2026. It contains 15 of his Christmas staples from his catalog of recordings from his box sets Songs for Christmas and Silver & Gold. Pre-save the album here.
“I love the idea of a Christmas apology. A holiday characterized by giving and receiving gifts might be even better with giving and receiving forgiveness,” Stevens shares.
“‘I’m sorry’ is the ultimate ice-breaker in a moment of conflict, contention, and misunderstanding. Let’s try to be better this year: more loving, forgiving, welcoming, and reckoning. This song is a prayer — that we can all find a way to yield to the wisdom and understanding of forgiveness. I believe the world will find its way,” he adds.
The release also features a new video created by Stevens, Michael O’Neal, and Cubby Graham, along with 6,000 stills hand-painted by the trio along with Hannah Cohen.
Check out the track list below:
- “Silent Night”
- “Put The Lights On The Tree”
- “Holly Jolly Christmas”
- “Christmas In The Room”
- “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version)”
- “Sister Winter”
- “Joy To The World”
- “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)”
- “Angels We Have Heard On High (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version)”
- “Only At Christmas Time”
- “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Christmas Unicorn Version)”
- “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!”
- “Sleigh Ride”
- “Justice Delivers Its Gift”
- “Auld Lang Syne”
- “Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages)”
First writing Christmas music in 2001, at a time when he didn’t plan to create over five hours of material and over 100 recordings that were initially a simple gift for friends and family.
In 2006, Asthmatic Kitty collected the first five volumes of Songs for Christmas Vols. 1-5, and in 2012 they released Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10, compiling five more EPs recorded between 2006 and 2010.
The volumes featured high-profile collaborations with Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, Cat Martino, Gabriel Kahane, Casey Foubert, James McAlister, Rosie Thomas, Marla Hansen, Olivier Manchon, Sebastian Krueger, and Daniel, Elin, Lilly, and Ida Smith of Danielson.
Listen to “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)” below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Sufjan Stevens’ album Worst Christmas Ever! is set for release on November 6, 2026. It features “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)” plus 15 Christmas staples from his catalog.
The new song is built around apology and asking for forgiveness. Sufjan Stevens calls it a prayer that people can find a way to yield to the wisdom of forgiveness.
“On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)” is Sufjan Stevens’ first new Christmas song in over 15 years, and marks the first new holiday song he wrote, produced, and performed.
Songs for Christmas began in 2001 as a gift for friends and family. Asthmatic Kitty collected Vols. 1-5 in 2006 and released Vols. 6-10 as Silver & Gold in 2012.
The new video for this Christmas single was created by Sufjan Stevens, Michael O’Neal, and Cubby Graham. It also features 6,000 stills that the trio hand-painted together with Hannah Cohen.
