John Lewis opens anticipated 2026 Christmas shop early following surge in demand

There's only 119 more sleeps left to go.16:48, 28 Aug 2026There might still be 119 sleeps left to go, but John Lewis already has Christmas on its mind. To get into the holiday spirit, the department chain's festive online shop is officially open.‌As of today (Friday, August 28), there are 17 Fridays left to go until the big day. While it might seem a little while away, there's no denying that, like every year, the holidays can sneak up on you.‌Nevertheless, the high street retailer said that its decision to launch early comes amidst a surge in interest. Following a summer dominated by football thanks to the 2026 World Cup, customer searches for 'Christmas' were said to be up by over 33 percent.‌Read more: Home Bargains' sneak peek of new launch divides shoppersRead more: Festive fun return