Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming: the Christmas truck campaign that became cultural tradition
Coca-Cola launched 'Holidays Are Coming' Christmas truck advertisement in 1995. The 60-second ad features red Coca-Cola trucks driving through snowy landscapes with twinkling lights bringing Christmas atmosphere to towns. The campaign has run annually globally for 30+ years becoming cultural Christmas tradition particularly in UK where 'the Coca-Cola truck' marks Christmas season start. The case is studied as canonical multi-decade holiday campaign.
- Story: Coca-Cola launched 'Holidays Are Coming' Christmas truck ad 1995. 60-second ad with red trucks, snowy landscapes, twinkling lights, custom 'Holidays Are Coming' jingle. 30+ years annual global runs. Cultural Christmas tradition particularly in UK. Christmas truck tours supplement TV.
- Why it matters: Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming is canonical multi-decade holiday campaign case — demonstrating consistency over decades transforms advertising into cultural tradition.
- Takeaway: Multi-decade consistency can transform advertising into cultural tradition.
- Takeaway: Custom-composed music creates ongoing brand recognition.
- Takeaway: Physical brand activations supplement digital/TV advertising.
Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming — the four-step story
Holidays Are Coming by the numbers
Quick facts
The 1995 launch and longevity
Coca-Cola launched 'Holidays Are Coming' Christmas truck ad in 1995. The 60-second ad features red Coca-Cola trucks lit with twinkling lights driving through snowy landscapes delivering Christmas atmosphere. Custom-composed 'Holidays Are Coming' jingle became iconic.
Through 1995-2024+ the ad has run annually globally with various regional variations. In UK particularly the Christmas truck arrival each November marks Christmas season start. Coca-Cola also operates physical Christmas truck tours of UK cities producing community events.
How RGM thinks about multi-decade holiday campaigns
When clients ask about long-running holiday campaigns or about cultural tradition-building, the Coca-Cola Holidays Are Coming case is canonical reference. The lessons: multi-decade consistency can transform advertising into cultural tradition; custom-composed music creates ongoing brand recognition; and physical brand activations (Christmas truck tours) supplement digital/TV advertising.
Frequently asked questions
How long has the campaign run?
30+ consecutive years annually globally since 1995. One of the longest-running annual holiday advertising campaigns in history. Has become cultural Christmas tradition particularly in UK where 'the Coca-Cola truck arrival' marks Christmas season start.
What is the Christmas Truck tour?
Physical Coca-Cola Christmas Truck tours of UK cities each November-December. The Christmas Truck visits towns producing community events. Combined with the 'Holidays Are Coming' ad, creates physical brand activation supplementing TV advertising.
Sources & references
- Coca-Cola Christmas Campaign — Coca-Cola UK campaign information.