Throughout December 2025, Sir Karl marked the festive season by conducting three concerts filled with music from his Christmas collections, Stella natalis and Joy to the World.

Sir Karl took to the rostrum for the series of festive concerts, accompanied by the writer and broadcaster John Suchet in the role of compère. The performances took place at Symphony Hall in Birmingham (21 Dec 2025), The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester (22 Dec 2025) and the Barbican in London (23 Dec 2025), and featured performers including soprano Lucy Crowe and trumpeter Philip Cobb with choral voices provided by Canzonetta and the Crouch End Festival Chorus. Also on the programme were perennial Jenkins favourites including Palladio, the Benedictus from The Armed Man and Healing Light from The Peacemakers.

The audiences were additionally treated to a festive surprise, Jenkins’ legendary Adiemus, gift-wrapped for Christmas! With a newly created seasonal text by Carol Barratt, the piece formed a musical greetings card celebrating holly, ivy and mistletoe, Santa and Rudolph in the snow, sleigh bells and Christmas pudding. It ends with the poignant “Dove of Peace, spread your wings and fly, bringing peace to all.” The sheet music for Happy Christmas, Adiemus can be purchased from Boosey & Hawkes here.

Stella natalis is a work in twelve movements celebrating different aspects of Christmastide - winter, the sleeping child, tidings of peace, thanksgiving - with words ranging from the psalms to new texts by Carol Barratt. Joy to the World consists of nine carol arrangements by Jenkins including In dulci jubilo, The First Nowell and We wish you a merry Christmas. Both collections can be heard on a recording originally released in 2009 (Decca 4817806) and vocal scores are available from Boosey & Hawkes. Stella natalis and Joy to the World have become regular repertoire for choirs programming Christmas concerts, with performances this year in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as in the UK.