Mariah Carey's Christmas Time

Mariah Carey's Christmas Time
Residency and tour concert by Mariah Carey
Promotional poster for the 2024 shows
LocationNorth America • South America
Associated albumMerry Christmas
Merry Christmas II You
Here For It All
Start dateNovember 6, 2024 (2024-11-06)
End dateNovember 21, 2026 (2026-11-21)
Legs3
No. of shows30
Mariah Carey concert chronology
Mariah Carey's Christmas tour chronology
Merry Christmas to All! / Merry Christmas One and All!
(2022–2023)		 Mariah Carey's Christmas Time
(2024–2026)
Mariah Carey concert residency chronology
The Celebration of Mimi
(2024–2025)		 Mariah Carey's Christmas Time
(2024–2026)

Mariah Carey's Christmas Time is an annual concert series by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. Originally launched as her fourteenth concert tour in 2024, the series began on November 6, 2024, in Highland, California at the Yaamava' Resort & Casino, and concluded on December 17, 2024, in New York City at the Barclays Center, with three scheduled dates cancelled due to illness.[1] In 2025, the series continued as a concert residency at Dolby Live in Paradise, Nevada and is scheduled to make its international debut in Brazil in 2026.[2]

Background

In August 2024, Mariah Carey announced Mariah Carey's Christmas Time, deemed as her largest holiday tour to date, via her social media channels.[3] The tour coincided with the 30-year anniversary of her first Christmas album and fourth studio album Merry Christmas (1994) and her song "All I Want for Christmas Is You", one of the best-selling digital singles of all time.[4]

On September 15, 2025, Carey announced that her holiday show would return as a concert residency at Dolby Live in Paradise, Nevada. The residency lasted for ten performances from November 28 through December 13, 2025.[5]

On May 26, 2026, Carey announced the first international shows of Mariah Carey's Christmas Time, playing two dates in Brazil in November.[6] This marks the third year in a row Carey is set to perform in the country, as well the first time Carey is going to perform a holiday show outside North America since the European leg of All I Want for Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity in 2018.

Critical reception

Critics felt the concert's Christmas theme came across effectively. In The Arizona Republic, Ed Masley viewed it as "sweet and old-fashioned and corny as hell in a way that was utterly entertaining, hitting all the notes you'd want this sort of Christmas show to hit".[7] Houston Chronicle critic Joey Guerra called the concert "a joy — equal parts Nutcracker fantasia, holiday pageant and TV variety show".[8] Referring to the presence of "reindeer, sleighbells, carolers, and even Santa Claus", DeVaughan Douglas described it as "a full Christmas production" in the Houston Press.[9] For The Desert Sun's Brian Blueskye, the show "brought out the traditional feels celebrating all the usual themes of family, giving and Christmastime love".[10] MusicRow's Sherod Robertson remarked that Carey's inclusion of her children "added a personal touch to the concert, emphasizing the themes of love and togetherness central to the holiday season".[11] Mars Salazar of the Austin American-Statesman and Desiree Gutierrez of the Dallas Observer said Carey evoked Christmas sentiments despite performing in November.[12][13]

Carey's vocals received praise. Jasmine Osby of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said she "delivered, showcasing her powerhouse singing and mind-blowing vocal range from beginning to end".[14] Blueskye agreed: her voice was "stunning and powerful from start to finish".[10] The Tennessean's Melonee Hurt thought Carey "showed the crowd she still possesses the five-octave vocal range that made her famous".[15] In The Boston Globe, Victoria Wasylak wrote that Carey's "sparkling five-octave vocal range allowed her to claim the title "Queen of Christmas".[16] Guerra said "she pulled it all out of the bag: whistle notes, belts, falsetto."[8] In USA Today, Melissa Ruggieri felt Carey "still lands those signature dog-whistle notes quite impressively".[17] Salazar thought her "powerhouse vocals were the highlight, with vibrato so effortless that it almost looked like she was lip syncing."[12] Writing for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Shaun Brady said "Carey sounded strong and for the most part seemed to be singing live, with little reliance on recordings and lip-synch".[18] According to Rodney Ho of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carey's "voice remained supple and smooth."[19] Fort Worth Star-Telegram contributor Stefan Stevenson suggested her "vaunted vocals, while still smooth and powerful, seemed muted at times, as if she was struggling with a throat issue of some kind."[20]

Carey's stage presence garnered a mixed reception. Osby thought Carey "worked the stage like a catwalk" in lieu of dancing.[14] Similarly, Salazar said "she let her backup dancers do the heavy lifting throughout the performance, only walking back and forth around the stage."[12] Brady echoed these comments: Carey "comported herself perhaps too regally, pacing the stage slowly while relying on her dancers to supply the energy."[18] According to Guerra, "the band, backup singers and dancers provided a strong framework" for her nonetheless.[8] Gutierrez said "the dancers proved to be pivotal to the show" due to Carey's focus on singing.[13] Hurt felt Carey's lacking of dancing did not detract from the concert as audiences came to hear her sing.[15] Ho thought the tightness of her clothing and wearing of high-heeled shoes contributed to a lack of energy;[19] Wasylak suggested a cold might explain why she occasionally seemed less inspired than the audience.[16] Robertson said Carey established a connection with the audience by "sharing personal anecdotes about the holiday season and expressing her gratitude for their unwavering support over the years".[11] For Ruggieri, Carey's foray into the crowd to sign items showed how she is not necessarily a diva.[17]

Set list

2024

"The Christmas Princess" (book excerpt read by Monroe Cannon, contains elements of "All I Want for Christmas Is You")

Act I

"Sugar Plum Fairy" (Magical Christmas Mix)

  1. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)"
  2. "Joy to the World" (contains elements of the "Celebration Mix")
  3. "Silent Night"
  4. "O Holy Night"
  5. "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again"
  6. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

"Christmas Wrapping" and "Deck the Halls / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" (performed by Monroe Cannon and Moroccan Cannon)

Act II

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" intro

  1. "Oh Santa!"
  2. "Sleigh Ride"
  3. "Charlie Brown Christmas"
  4. "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)" (snippet)
  5. "When Christmas Comes"
  6. "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / House Top Celebration" (with Moroccan Cannon) (contains elements of "Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James)

"Fall in Love at Christmas" and "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (choir interludes)

Act III

"My All" (new version with Christmas-themed lyrics) (choir and background singers interlude)

  1. "Emotions"
  2. "Hero" (with extended outro)
  3. "Fantasy" (Bad Boy Fantasy)
  4. "Always Be My Baby"
  5. "We Belong Together" (contains elements of "Mimi's Late Night Valentine's Mix," followed by remix outro)
Encore

"Carol of the Bells" (contains elements from "Sing We Now of Christmas") (choir and dancers interlude)
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (crowd singalong)

  1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (with extended outro)

2025

"The Christmas Princess" (book excerpt, contains elements of "All I Want for Christmas Is You")

Act I

"Sugar Plum Fairy" (Magical Christmas Mix)

  1. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing / Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)"

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" intro

  1. "Oh Santa!"
  2. "Sleigh Ride"
  3. "Charlie Brown Christmas"
  4. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

"Lil Snowman" (dancers interlude)

Act II
  1. "Christmas Time Is in the Air Again"
  2. "Joy to the World" (contains elements of the "Celebration Mix")
  3. "Silent Night" (followed by band introductions)
  4. "When Christmas Comes"
  5. "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) / House Top Celebration" (contains elements of "Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James)
  6. "Fall in Love at Christmas"

"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" (choir interlude)

Act III

"My All" (new version with Christmas-themed lyrics) (choir and background singers interlude)

  1. "Jesus I Do"
  2. "Play This Song" (with Daniel Moore II)
  3. "In Your Feelings" (with extended outro)
  4. "Fantasy" (Bad Boy Fantasy)
  5. Medley:
    1. "Honey / Heartbreaker" (mashup)
    2. "Emotions"
    3. "Make It Happen"
    4. "Always Be My Baby"
    5. "Hero"
  6. "We Belong Together" (contains elements of "Mimi's Late Night Valentine's Mix")
Encore

"Carol of the Bells" (contains elements from "Sing We Now of Christmas") (choir and dancers interlude)
"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (crowd singalong)
"The Christmas Princess" (book excerpt)

  1. "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (with extended outro)

Tour dates

List of 2024 concerts[21][22]
Date (2024) City Country Venue
November 6 Highland United States Yaamava' Resort & Casino
November 8 Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl
November 10 Lincoln Thunder Valley Casino Resort
November 13 Thousand Palms[a] Acrisure Arena
November 15 Phoenix Footprint Center
November 17 Austin Moody Center
November 19 Houston Toyota Center
November 21 Dallas American Airlines Center
November 23 Atlanta State Farm Arena
November 25 Nashville Bridgestone Arena
November 27 Rosemont Allstate Arena
November 29 St. Louis Enterprise Center
December 1 Washington D.C. Capital One Arena
December 3 Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center
December 5 Boston TD Garden
December 7 Baltimore CFG Bank Arena
December 9 Raleigh Lenovo Center
December 17 Brooklyn Barclays Center
List of 2025 concerts[23]
Date (2025) City Country Venue
November 28 Paradise[b] United States Dolby Live
November 29
December 2
December 3
December 5
December 6
December 9
December 10
December 12
December 13
List of 2026 concerts[24]
Date (2026) City Country Venue
November 17 São Paulo Brazil Nubank Parque
November 18
November 21 Rio de Janeiro Área Externa da Farmasi Arena

Cancelled shows

List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, venue and reason of cancellation
Date (2024) City State Venue Reason
December 11 Pittsburgh United States PPG Paints Arena Flu[25][26]
December 13 Newark Prudential Center
December 15 Elmont[c] UBS Arena

Notes

  1. ↑ Billed as Palm Springs.
  2. ↑ Billed as Las Vegas.
  3. ↑ Billed as Belmont Park.

References

  1. ↑ Braun-Silva, Bethany (December 14, 2024). "Mariah Carey cancels 2 more Christmas concerts as flu derails holiday tour". ABC News. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Mariah Carey to Take Christmastime Special International With Her First-Ever Brazil Holiday Shows". ..::That Grape Juice.net::.. - Thirsty?. 2026-05-27. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Mary Pat (August 2, 2024). "Mariah Carey announces festive 20-city Christmas tour". ABC News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Mariah Carey Hit With $20 Million Lawsuit for 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' – Is Nothing Sacred?". Forbes. Jun 7, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ Levy, Matt (September 16, 2025). "Mariah Carey announces Christmas 2025 Las Vegas residency. Get tickets". New York Post. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Rainha do Natal, Mariah Carey vem ao Brasil com show temático; veja preços". CNN Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 May 2026. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  7. ↑ Masley, Ed (November 16, 2024). "Mariah Carey Spreads Joy – and Sizzle – in Her Phoenix Christmas Tour Concert". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Guerra, Joey (November 20, 2024). "Mariah Carey Makes Houston's Wish Come True with a Concert of Merry Christmas Classics and Pop Hits". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Douglas, DeVaughan (November 20, 2024). "Mariah Carey Brings Christmas Time to the Toyota Center". Houston Press. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  10. 1 2 Blueskye, Brian (November 14, 2024). "Mariah Carey Brings Sparkling Christmas Show with High Production Value to Acrisure Arena". The Desert Sun. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Robertson, Sherod (November 26, 2024). "'It's Tiiiiiiime!' Mariah Carey Brings Christmas to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena". MusicRow. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Salazar, Mars (November 18, 2024). "Snowflakes, Sleighs and Glitter Galore: Mariah Carey Kicks Off Christmas at Moody Center". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Gutierrez, Desiree (November 22, 2024). "Mariah Carey's Christmas Time Tour Dazzles with Good Tidings and Cheer". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on November 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Osby, Jasmine (November 20, 2024). "Mariah Carey's Christmas Tour Shines at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  15. 1 2 Hurt, Melonee (November 25, 2024). "Is Mariah Carey Still the Queen of Christmas? How She Gave Her Nashville Audience Exactly What They Came For". The Tennessean. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Wasylak, Victoria (December 6, 2024). "Even When She Seems to Have a Cold, Mariah Carey's Voice Can Fill TD Garden". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  17. 1 2 Ruggieri, Melissa (December 2, 2024). "Mariah Carey Ushers in Christmas on Holiday Tour: Inside the Songs, Elegance and Joy". USA Today. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Brady, Shaun (December 4, 2024). "Mariah Carey's Christmas Tour Transforms Wells Fargo into a Winter Wonderland". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Ho, Rodney (November 24, 2024). "In Concert, Mariah Carey Cements Status as Queen of Christmas". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ Stevenson, Stefan (November 22, 2024). "Review: Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey Makes Holiday Tour a Family Affair in Dallas Show". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  21. ↑ William, Chris (August 2, 2024). "Mariah Carey Returning With 2024 Christmas Tour in 20 Cities". Variety. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  22. ↑ Zavaleta, Jonathan (November 8, 2024). "Merry Mariahmas: Where to Buy Tickets to Mariah Carey's Christmas Time Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  23. ↑ Walker, Justin (September 17, 2025). "It's almost time: Mariah Carey brings 'Christmastime' to Las Vegas". Fox 5. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Rainha do Natal, Mariah Carey vem ao Brasil com show temático; veja preços". CNN Brasil. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  25. ↑ Papalia, Alexis (December 11, 2024). "Mariah Carey's PPG Paints Arena Concert Canceled". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  26. ↑ Longmire, Becca (December 13, 2024). "Mariah Carey Cancels 2 More Christmas Concerts Due to Flu: 'I'm Really Devastated About It'". People. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
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