Sam Fender covers the Rolling Stones for the 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert

[TripleH19]

The John Lewis Christmas advert has arrived, and it has a big soundtrack. NME reports that Sam Fender has recorded a cover of The Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want for the 2026 advert

The advert stars Dame Kristin Scott Thomas as a grandmother hunting for gifts. Fender is joined by the choir of his old school, John Spence Community High School in North Shields, and brass from the Easington Colliery Band

The single will come out on seven inch vinyl and CD, with Fender's 2020 cover of Lindisfarne's Winter Song as the B side, its first physical release. Profits from sales through his online store go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, and from John Lewis store sales to Action for Children

Fender said it was a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band, and Mick Jagger said he thought Fender had done a great job with it. Last year's advert used Alison Limerick's Where Love Lives

Using his old school choir and a colliery brass band is a lovely nod to Fender's North East roots. The John Lewis advert has become a Christmas tradition, and its songs often climb the charts. Raising money for two charities makes it even more worthwhile

What do you think of this year's John Lewis advert? And which John Lewis Christmas song has been your favourite?

Sam Fender soundtracks 2026 John Lewis Christmas advert with cover of The Rolling Stones' 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'www.nme.com