Kylie Minogue on Holiday Traditions and Her New Christmas Album: How the Aussie Pop Icon Is Spreading Festive Cheer

Kylie Minogue has long been one of the most beloved pop stars in the world, with a career that spans decades, countless hits, and a knack for reinventing herself — whether through dance anthems, emotive ballads, or her signature brand of effervescent pop. But for many fans, her connection to the holiday season has become a cherished tradition in its own right, and in late 2025 she doubled down on that festive spirit with the release of a special 10th‑anniversary edition of her Christmas album, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped).

Originally released in 2015, Kylie Christmas brought classic holiday songs together with original festive tracks into a warm, glittering package that helped it become a seasonal favourite for listeners around the world. To mark a decade of spreading festive cheer, Minogue worked with Warner Records to revive the album and add four new songs — Hot in December, This Time of Year, Office Party, and an Amazon Music Original called XMAS — as part of Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped), released on December 5, 2025.

For Kylie, revisiting her holiday project a decade later felt like the right moment to reflect on both her career and how meaningful the music has become for fans. She told PEOPLE that commemorating the anniversary was important because the album’s songs “are in people’s homes and hearts, and it rolls around every year,” pointing to how the music becomes part of listeners’ own seasonal traditions.

What sets this 2025 edition apart is not just the nostalgia of the classics, but the way Kylie intertwined them with fresh material that both captures the joy of the holidays and reflects her growth as an artist. The new track XMAS, for example, had been “living rent‑free” in her head for years — a melody she and her guitarist had toyed with before finally turning it into a full song. She described the creation of XMAS as playful and organic, a product of experimentation rather than pressure to produce a holiday hit.

In interviews, Kylie made it clear that she doesn’t see recording festive music as a simple “cash grab” or something easy to throw together. Instead, she emphasizes the creative challenge of reimagining songs that have been covered countless times and trying to bring something fresh yet enduring to the holiday genre. The fact that she approached the expanded album with joy and without heavy pressure speaks to her genuine love for the season and this style of music.

Kylie’s own holiday traditions — which reflect her Australian roots — inform much of her perspective on Christmas. In the Southern Hemisphere, the holidays take place in the height of summer, and she shared that her Christmas season is defined by sunny days, backyard cricket, splashing in the pool, and barbecues with family and close friends. Rather than a single ritual, it’s a collection of relaxed, joyful moments that embody the warmth of an Aussie Christmas.

Family, in fact, is central to how Kylie likes to celebrate. She told PEOPLE that Christmas for her is about spending time with loved ones and “taking stock of the year,” a sentiment that resonates with many fans who see the holidays as an opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and connection.

Even as the holiday season remains dear to her heart, Kylie doesn’t see Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) as the end of her festive music journey. Interviewed outlets report that she is already thinking about potential future holiday projects and would welcome collaborations with other artists — from fellow seasonal favourites like Michael Bublé to contemporary pop voices like Ariana Grande. Her openness to collaboration suggests that the festive chapter of her catalogue could continue to grow.

The new edition of the album also leans into the fun, festive spirit beyond the music itself. Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) was released in multiple collectible formats, including limited edition vinyl variants such as candy‑cane stripes and transparent red and green versions — adding to its appeal as both a musical and a seasonal gift item.

From classic covers like Santa Baby and It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to the energetic new tracks that Kylie peppered into the 2025 release, the album serves not just as background holiday music but as a reminder of how music can become part of the fabric of seasonal celebration. Whether listeners are decking their halls, hosting gatherings, or simply curling up by the fire with loved ones, the Fully Wrapped edition offers festive moments that span generations of Kylie fans.

For Kylie herself, the album wraps up an extraordinary year that included touring and creative successes, and she has shared that the holiday project gives her “a chance to rest, reflect, and be thankful” before moving creatively into 2026. This sense of closure and gratitude — wrapped in classic melodies and joyful new songs — underscores how meaningful Kylie Christmas has become not just for seasonal playlists but as part of the pop icon’s broader legacy.

In essence, Kylie Minogue’s holiday album — now refreshed for a new generation and underpinned by decades of festive tradition — reflects both her enduring appeal and her genuine affection for the season. It stands as a celebration of music, community, and the simple pleasures that make the holidays special, from backyard barbecues in sunny Australia to cozy winter evenings around the globe.