Twas the Season

Arsenal Football Club’s 2026 Christmas campaign, “‘Twas the Season,” celebrates the pride, joy and togetherness of its global community, with Academy Award-winning actor and lifelong supporter Colin Firth leading the festivities. Set in the streets of north London around Emirates Stadium, the film also features players Alessia Russo, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhães, bringing the excitement of the club’s historic 2025/26 season into a Christmas story.

What begins as a familiar festive tale gradually reveals its distinctly Arsenal heart. As Firth leads viewers through Islington, the streets fill with supporters and members of the club community. His story of anticipation and togetherness turns out to be a celebration of Arsenal’s Premier League title win after 22 years and its victory in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. The film reaches its climax outside the club store, The Armoury, with supporters of all generations, Arsenal staff and community figures joining the celebrations.

Created by Arsenal’s in-house Creative Studio and directed by Si&Ad of Academy Films, the production aims to bring the unforgettable feeling of May into the festive season. Firth’s appearance also has a nostalgic connection to football cinema, having previously played an Arsenal supporter in the film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch. The filmmakers used hidden transitions and a 360-degree camera rig to create the film’s ambitious continuous-shot look.

The campaign launches a wider programme of festive community activity throughout November and December, including visits to north London hospitals, a Christmas Day lunch for care leavers and ongoing matchday mental health support through the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide campaign. The film will run across Arsenal’s digital and social channels, while a special Christmas card, available at The Armoury and through Arsenal Direct, will raise funds for The Arsenal Foundation’s community programmes.