Fortnum & Mason Unveils 2026 Christmas Display with 'Spirit of Christmas at Home' Theme
London's iconic department store launches its festive window displays featuring illustrations by Olaf Hajek and a new gold and champagne color palette.
Fortnum & Mason has officially launched its 2026 Christmas window display, embracing the theme of "the spirit of Christmas at home." The annual tradition at the luxury department store's Piccadilly branch in London features seven windows, each depicting a room in a house decorated for the holidays.
The displays are adorned with wooden furniture and windows offering views of a starry night sky, with walls decorated using the store's festive packaging. Each room is brought to life by a Christmas fairy, designed by German illustrator and painter Olaf Hajek, who also created the store's animal characters, including the well-known Fortnum & Mason Christmas mice.
The display incorporates subtle nods to the store's history, including jigsaw puzzles with pieces representing its address (181 pieces) and its 319-year existence (319 pieces). This year marks a departure from previous jewel-toned or traditional red, gold, and green color schemes, with Fortnum & Mason adopting a unified gold and champagne palette throughout the store and its decorations for the first time.
Sallie Smith, Fortnum & Mason's Head of Visual Presentation, stated that the windows "celebrate the warmth and nostalgia of Christmas at home," with the fairy and mice figures bringing traditions to life. She added that the scenes aim to capture the special essence of the season, evoking fond memories and inspiring new ones.
Inside, the store features a large Christmas tree and extensive decorations. The unveiling on October 30 follows a highly successful fantastical Christmas-themed display last year. In 2024, Queen Camilla visited the store, continuing a long-standing tradition of the Royal family shopping at Fortnum & Mason. The store was granted Queen Camilla's first royal warrant in May 2024. The late Queen Elizabeth II was also a patron, with her Christmas shopping often arranged months in advance.
The festive season at Fortnum & Mason began last week with the launch of advent calendars for beauty, feasting, and tea. Last year, the store welcomed nearly three million shoppers. Its Piccadilly branch will extend its opening hours to 9 p.m. from November 12 to accommodate late-night shopping.
Other London stores are also unveiling their Christmas displays. Selfridges on Oxford Street is showcasing global Christmas scenes, while Annabel's features a Narnia-inspired window.