Olivia Rodrigo’s first Christmas song, “take me home (4 christmas),” comes out on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, with the official music video premiering at the same time. That’s 1 a.m. GMT and 9 a.m. in Manila on Friday, Nov. 6. The video co-stars Sex and the City‘s Cynthia Nixon and Saturday Night Live‘s Ben Marshall, and a 7-inch vinyl and cassette with a B-side called “miss this christmas” are coming too. Here’s what you need to know before you press play.
When Does “Take Me Home (4 Christmas)” Come Out?
Rodrigo announced the single on Monday, Nov. 2, writing on Instagram that her “first Christmas song” would be out “this Thursday at 5 pm pt/ 8 pm ET,” according to Billboard. Interscope Records confirmed the same time and said the music video drops alongside the song, per the release from Universal Music Canada.
Release time around the world
Rodrigo gave a single time for the drop, so here’s how 5 p.m. PT on Nov. 5 converts in other time zones:
- Los Angeles (PT): 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5
- New York (ET): 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5
- London (GMT): 1 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6
- Paris and Berlin (CET): 2 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6
- Manila, Singapore and Beijing: 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6
- Tokyo and Seoul: 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6
- Sydney (AEDT): 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6
Pre-saves are open now through the official “take me home (4 christmas)” link page, so the song should show up in your library on the streaming services you choose once it’s out.
What Is the Song About?
The description on Rodrigo’s webstore says the track is about “the excitement and nerves of spending the holidays with someone you love,” as Paste Magazine reported. It’s an original song, not a cover of a standard, so the lyrics are all new.
The cover art keeps the theme simple: Rodrigo sitting on the floor in a red Santa hat with matching red lipstick, per Billboard. It’s a lighter look than much of her recent era, and it fits a song about the nervous, giddy side of bringing someone home for the holidays.
Who wrote and produced it?
Rodrigo wrote “take me home (4 christmas)” with her longtime collaborators Dan Nigro and Amy Allen, and Nigro produced it, according to Variety. Nigro has produced Rodrigo’s records since her debut, so fans can expect the song to sound like it belongs in her catalog rather than a one-off seasonal novelty.
The Music Video: Cynthia Nixon and Ben Marshall
The official video premieres at the same moment as the song. It features Rodrigo alongside Cynthia Nixon, best known as Miranda in Sex and the City, and Ben Marshall, the Saturday Night Live cast member. Interscope hasn’t shared a plot, so how the two fit into the story is something fans will find out when the video goes live.
Casting well-known actors has become a habit for Rodrigo this year. Last month’s video for the “expectations” remix with Chappell Roan starred Talking Heads frontman David Byrne as a retro game show host, Paste noted.
Vinyl, Cassette and the B-Side “Miss This Christmas”
Rodrigo is putting the single out on physical formats too:
- 7-inch vinyl: available to pre-order now and in stores starting Friday, Nov. 6, according to Interscope. Variety reports it can be pre-ordered on Target’s website or found in Target stores on Friday.
- Cassette: an exclusive cassette is on pre-order through her official store at oliviarodrigo.com.
- B-side: the physical releases include a second song, “miss this christmas,” per Paste.
Physical holiday singles tend to sell out quickly with collectors, so if you want one, pre-ordering is the safer bet than waiting to see what’s on the shelf.
Why This Song Is a Big Deal for Rodrigo
This is the capstone of a very busy 2026. Rodrigo released her third album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, in June. Billboard reports it produced the Hot 100 No. 1 single “Drop Dead” and has spent three weeks total at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
In August she launched her own festival, Daisy Chain Fields, which Billboard says raised $20 million for women’s charities, and in September she started the Unraveled arena tour. Then in October she surprised fans with the “expectations” remix featuring her friend Chappell Roan, the first official remix she’s ever released, which pushed the song to No. 3 on the Hot 100. If you’re new to Roan, our look at Chappell Roan’s rise in the music industry covers how she got here.
With the album, tour and remix all landing inside awards season, Rodrigo is one of the names to watch in our guide to the 2027 Grammy nominations and the Album of the Year contenders.
The 2026 Holiday Music Race
Rodrigo is walking into a crowded season. Mariah Carey has already given her annual “It’s time!” announcement on Nov. 1, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” dominates the charts every December, Billboard points out. Other new holiday releases this year include a Hilary Duff holiday EP and an upcoming Alanis Morissette holiday album, Good Weather for Immaculate Conception.
In the U.K., where the Christmas No. 1 is a national event, Music Week lists Rodrigo among the new releases competing with a reimagined Elton John and CMAT version of “Step Into Christmas,” released as an Amazon Music exclusive, along with new music from Sam Fender. Fall has already shown that older songs can surge back up the charts, as with Tame Impala and Jennie’s “Dracula” returning to the Top 5, so a brand-new holiday song from one of pop’s biggest stars has a real shot at sticking around through December.
FAQ
What time does Olivia Rodrigo’s Christmas song come out?
“take me home (4 christmas)” is out Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, which is 1 a.m. GMT and 9 a.m. in Manila on Friday, Nov. 6.
Is there a music video?
Yes. The official video premieres at the same time as the song and stars Rodrigo with Cynthia Nixon and Ben Marshall.
Who produced “take me home (4 christmas)”?
Dan Nigro produced it, and he co-wrote it with Rodrigo and Amy Allen.
Is there a vinyl?
Yes. A 7-inch vinyl hits stores on Friday, Nov. 6, and an exclusive cassette is on pre-order at oliviarodrigo.com. The physical releases include the B-side “miss this christmas.”
Is this Olivia Rodrigo’s first Christmas song?
Yes. Rodrigo herself called it “my first Christmas song,” and it’s her first original holiday single.
This article was published before the song’s release and will be updated once “take me home (4 christmas)” and its video are out.
Featured image: Olivia Rodrigo performing at Lollapalooza Argentina 2025, frame from a video by Live Shows & Concerts!, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
