In 2024, leading brands across industries have pulled out all the stops to captivate their audiences, using creativity, innovation, and heartfelt storytelling. From leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI to reimagine nostalgia, to championing themes of connection, generosity, and sustainability, each campaign is a testament to how brands understand their audience’s desires. Whether it’s a whimsical animation, a touching family story, or a humorous take on holiday traditions, these campaigns show how brands compete to stand out in a crowded festive marketplace.
Let’s embark on a journey through all the magical, or perhaps less magical, holiday commercials that are airing in 2024.
Louis Vuitton’s 2024 holiday campaign, “An Enchanted Journey,” takes viewers on a magical ride through a glistening carousel of celebrations. Each turn unveils new scenes filled with elegance and joy, featuring people enjoying the festivities and posing as models on the brand’s iconic monogrammed boxes. The luxurious visuals are a blend of sophistication and celebration, offering a glimpse into the joyful moments that Louis Vuitton promises to inspire. The campaign encapsulates the spirit of creating new memories while showcasing the timeless allure of the House’s creations.
Croatian Ikea 2024 holiday campaign humorously celebrates the unsung hero of the season—the portable step stool. The ad follows a lively family as they navigate holiday preparations, from reaching ornaments on top of the wardrobe to placing the star on the Christmas tree, and even using the stool as an extra seat during family gatherings. Through these relatable and comical moments, the ad highlights how this small yet versatile product becomes indispensable in making holiday moments run smoothly. Throughout the ad, Ikea’s signature furniture pieces subtly enhance the cozy, festive atmosphere, reinforcing the message that Ikea is there to make every family celebration more functional and joyful.
Lindt’s 2024 Christmas campaign takes a product-focused approach, and spotlighting their iconic chocolate figures: the reindeer, teddy bear, and Santa Claus. Lindt’s approach skips the opportunity for rich storytelling, focusing instead on only showcasing their products. The ad, nevertheless, beautifully showcases the craftsmanship and care that go into creating these festive treats, with scenes of chocolate being molded, wrapped, and presented as gifts. Through a warm narration, Lindt emphasizes that their chocolates are not just sweets but thoughtful gifts, perfect for showing loved ones how much you care during the holiday season.
Zalando’s Christmas 2024 campaign, “What Do I Wear?”, humorously addresses the common holiday dilemma of choosing the perfect outfit. The ad features a young woman, wrapped in a towel, standing before her wardrobe and pondering aloud, “What do I wear?” Her indecision leads to amusing daydreams where she imagines attending various festive events—such as a family dinner and a night out—still clad in her towel, drawing puzzled looks from others. These scenarios highlight the stress of holiday fashion choices. The narrative then shifts back to her bedroom, where she picks up her phone, browses Zalando’s app, and smiles upon finding the ideal outfit. The final scene shows her confidently stepping out in a stylish pink dress and white blazer, ready to enjoy the festivities. This campaign underscores Zalando’s role in providing diverse fashion options, ensuring that everyone can find the perfect attire for any holiday occasion.
Coca-Cola’s 2024 Christmas campaign combines tradition with AI-driven visuals to craft a global holiday journey. It opens with breathtaking snow-covered landscapes, an AI-rendered reindeer, and polar bears swimming in icy waters, before transitioning to the iconic Coca-Cola trucks lighting up towns and cities worldwide. Cheerful moments, like a playful dog and polar bears watching TV with Coca-Cola bottles, highlight the joy of the season. The ad culminates with Santa Claus leaving behind magical sparkles, seamlessly blending nostalgia and innovation to celebrate the universal spirit of Christmas.
This year, however, Coca-Cola’s campaign has sparked conversation about the use of AI in creating the ad’s visuals and storyline. While AI-generated content has allowed for seamless and visually stunning scenes, some viewers have questioned whether the emotional depth of the story truly resonates or feels slightly manufactured. The use of AI in marketing raises a broader question: can an algorithm-generated narrative capture the authenticity and heart that consumers crave during the holidays?
For many, the magic of holiday ads lies in their human touch—imperfections, raw emotions, and nuanced storytelling. While Coca-Cola’s campaign dazzles with its technical brilliance, it also invites reflection on how technology and creativity can coexist to create genuine emotional connections with audiences.
Disney’s Christmas story for 2024 is pure magic. In this animated masterpiece, a lonely boy befriends an octopus during a beachside holiday celebration. Together, they embark on a whimsical adventure, where the boy learns the true spirit of giving by sharing his Christmas joy with his new friend. With breathtaking animation and an uplifting score, Disney captures the essence of wonder and friendship, reminding us that the holiday season is about creating memories with loved ones—no matter how unexpected they may be.
McDonald’s 2024 Christmas campaign takes a vibrant and energetic approach, following a young couple on a festive shopping trip. As the boyfriend checks their shopping list, the girlfriend spots the glowing McDonald’s sign in the distance. With upbeat techno music setting the pace, they drive through a neighborhood where houses adorned with colorful Christmas lights dance in rhythm to the music. Along the way, animated McDonald’s characters appear as festive light displays, accompanied by messages like “This way, you deserve it.” The ad concludes with the couple joyfully collecting their order at the McDrive, celebrating a moment of holiday indulgence and delight.
Kevin the Carrot returns for another whimsical adventure in Aldi’s 2024 commercial. In this heartwarming and humorous piece, the beloved animated carrot rallies his vegetable friends on a secret mission to save the Christmas spirit of the season. As they embark on their quest, the ad captures the essence of Aldi’s core message: affordable, high-quality food for every festive table. Ultimately, the friends successfully save the Christmas spirit character and release it, leaving viewers with a sense of joy and celebration.
Apple’s 2024 Christmas campaign, “Heartstrings,” delivers a deeply emotional story set in a warm family Christmas setting. The ad follows a father with hearing loss who feels disconnected from the holiday cheer around him. The turning point comes when his daughter gifts him AirPods Pro 2, featuring advanced hearing aid functionality. As he puts them on, the sounds of laughter, joyful chatter, and his daughter’s heartfelt piano performance fill the room, rekindling his connection to the moment. With a delicate piano melody as its soundtrack, the ad highlights Apple’s ability to blend cutting-edge technology with emotional resonance, portraying its products as tools for deeper connection and transformative experiences. Reborn Unwrapped already explored this touching campaign in our article “Heartstrings by Apple”, where we delved into it.
Deutsche Telekom’s 2024 Christmas campaign delivers a powerful message about breaking down barriers to foster connection. Rooted in the belief that there are more things uniting us than dividing us, the campaign highlights the importance of overcoming differences in religion, nationality, age, social status, and personal preferences. Through a visually stunning, modern fairytale-style ad, complemented by a series of podcasts and real-life stories, Deutsche Telekom inspires reflection on the barriers we create and how dismantling them can transform lives for the better. The campaign underscores the brand’s commitment to social cohesion, tolerance, and combating discrimination, reinforcing their vision of a more connected and inclusive world.
A1 Croatia’s Christmas 2024 campaign, Let Love Be the Loudest (in Croatian: “Neka ljubav bude najglasnija”), tells a heartwarming story of compassion and creativity. The ad follows a young boy preparing for the holidays with his family and their dog, Bobi. Determined to give Bobi a gift that will make the festivities enjoyable for him as well, the boy decides to sell his old books to gather enough money. On Christmas morning, he places a carefully wrapped gift under the tree—noise-canceling headphones for Bobi, ensuring the dog won’t be frightened by the sound of fireworks and can enjoy the holidays with the family. The touching narrative highlights the true spirit of giving, reminding us that love knows no bounds, not even between humans and pets, and discretely highlights the smart-tech accessories for pets that are currently available in their webshop, along other holiday season promotion products.
Chevrolet’s 2024 holiday campaign delivers a heartfelt message about the power of family and shared history. Set on the bench seat of their family’s 1978 Chevy Silverado C10, the ad follows a father and son reflecting on their journey together. Through tender moments and nostalgic flashbacks, they revisit the truck’s role in their most cherished memories, emphasizing that none of us can reach where we want to go without the support of those we love. Chevrolet beautifully weaves the theme of connection and legacy, reminding viewers of the timeless bonds that drive us forward.
Etsy’s 2024 Christmas campaign introduces Waldo as the protagonist in a heartwarming and humorous narrative. As Waldo strolls through a bustling train station and city streets, he humorously reflects on being constantly recognized in crowds, with people calling out, “That is Waldo!” Yet, beneath the recognition, he wonders, “People always ask where is Wally, not who’s Wally really?” The story takes a touching turn when he meets a friend at a café who gifts him a personalized present, prompting his heartfelt realization: “Sometimes it takes someone who really knows you to make you feel seen.” The ad concludes with Etsy’s tagline, “Gifts that say I get you. Etsy has it,” emphasizing the platform’s ability to provide meaningful, personalized gifts that resonate on a deeper level.
Amazon’s 2024 Christmas campaign, “Midnight Opus,” unfolds in the magical setting of a theater, spotlighting a humble janitor who maintains the space for upcoming performances. As he goes about his nightly duties, he hums a melody that catches the attention of his coworkers. Inspired by his talent, one of the staff discreetly uses the Amazon app to order him a sleek black blazer. The package arrives at the theater’s back entrance, and the team secretly prepares a surprise. While the janitor cleans the stage with his back turned, they set up lights, a microphone, and his Amazon gift. When the spotlights turn on, he’s stunned to see the stage transformed for his performance. Encouraged to sing, he begins, serenading a small but joyful audience of his coworkers, who celebrate his moment in the spotlight. The ad beautifully conveys the joy of thoughtful giving and how even small gestures can create unforgettable memories, with Amazon delivering the magic right on time.
Mercedes-Benz’s 2024 Christmas campaign delivers a heartwarming narrative set to a joyful holiday tune. Presented in elegant black-and-white video variant, the ad celebrates the power of journeys to connect people. It portrays families with children and couples traveling in various Mercedes-Benz vehicles, sharing intimate moments of conversation, laughter, and warm greetings with others. The campaign beautifully emphasizes the role of Mercedes-Benz in creating meaningful experiences, showcasing that the joy of the holidays isn’t just about reaching a destination but cherishing the moments along the way.
Chewy’s 2024 Christmas campaign captures the excitement and joy of welcoming a new family member during the holidays. The ad takes place in a cozy family home, where children eagerly unwrap presents on Christmas morning. To their surprise, the boxes contain pet supplies—dog food, a collar, and other essentials—despite the family not having a dog. As the narrator explains that the parents promised their daughters a special gift if they were good all year, the parents enter the room with a new puppy, delighting the children. The ad emphasizes that everything for their new furry friend was ordered from Chewy, ending with the heartwarming message: “For holidays with pets.” It’s a touching reminder of the joy pets bring to families and how Chewy makes it easy to prepare for their arrival.
Walmart’s 2024 Christmas campaign takes a humorous and charming approach set in a small-town café. The ad begins with a delivery arriving for the café’s waiter, who greets a regular customer—a lively woman who enthusiastically orders “Coffee, coffee, coffee!” With a knowing smile, the waiter pulls out a gift from Walmart and hands it to her over the counter. She opens it to find a coffee maker and exclaims, “You shouldn’t have!” to which he quips, “I had to—you’re drinking me out of business!” The ad ends with Walmart’s tagline: “With top brands from Walmart, Give the Gift That Shows You Get Them.” It’s a witty and relatable reminder of the joy of thoughtful gifting, made simple with Walmart’s wide selection. By focusing on personalization, Walmart reinforces its message that they have something for everyone on your list.
Cartier: “Cartier Magical Night”
Cartier’s 2024 holiday campaign invites viewers into a spellbinding winter wonderland where elegance and festivity intertwine. Set to a captivating melody, the ad weaves a story of a magical evening, where the rhythm of the season crescendos into a dazzling celebration. Through enchanting visuals of Cartier’s iconic creations, the campaign evokes the joy and sophistication of the holidays, reminding us that the Maison’s timeless pieces are the perfect accompaniment to moments of wonder and magic.
Lego’s Christmas campaign introduces Cataclaws, a playful kitten who brings chaos, joy, and humor to a town. The ad follows the cat running through the town, showcasing Lego’s creativity and teamwork. Lego reminds viewers of the joy their products bring to families. Different Lego sets were featured in the commercial to highlight their diverse range of sets.
The Christmas 2024 campaigns have truly raised the bar with their stunning storytelling, heartfelt emotions, and imaginative creativity. From Coca-Cola’s magical AI journey to Apple’s poignant narrative of reconnecting through technology, each ad brings something unique to the festive season. Whether it’s the playful spy drama of Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot, the heartwarming generosity in A1 Croatia’s tale of a boy and his dog, or the nostalgic charm of Disney’s animated wonder, these campaigns are not just about selling products—they’re about creating moments that touch our hearts and spark the holiday spirit.
These ads serve as a reminder of what makes the holidays so special: the joy of giving, the warmth of connection, and the power of love in all its forms. As we celebrate the season, they encourage us to pause and reflect on the values that truly matter.
Which of these campaigns resonated most with you? Did a particular story or message capture your heart this holiday season? Share your favorite in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts.