Sufjan Stevens Releases First New Christmas Song in 15 Years: 'On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)'

Indie folk composer Sufjan Stevens released a new original Christmas song, 'On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),' on November 2–3, 2026, marking his first new holiday composition in approximately 15 years. The song is the lead single from Worst Christmas Ever!, a 16-track compilation album due November 6 via Asthmatic Kitty Records. The album brings together 15 fan-favourite selections from Stevens' sprawling Christmas back catalogue — drawn from his 2006 box set Songs for Christmas and the 2012 follow-up Silver & Gold — alongside the brand-new single. Classic tracks included are 'Sister Winter,' 'Put The Lights On The Tree,' and 'That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!' Stevens began making Christmas records in 2001, gifting homemade holiday EPs to friends and family before releasing the box sets. The new song is built around themes of apology, self-assessment and the hope for forgiveness, and it was accompanied by a rare live appearance in which Stevens performed it on stage with musician Meg Lui. Music publications including Pitchfork, Paste, Stereogum and The Needle Drop covered the release extensively on November 3, 2026, noting the emotional weight and intimacy of his first return to Christmas songwriting since Javelin, his 2023 album that followed a period of serious illness.