For nearly thirty years, Winter Jam Tour Spectacular has been one of the most popular live events in Christian music. Started in 1995 by NewSong, the annual tour was designed to make faith-based concerts accessible to everyone, offering a full arena show for just a small donation at the door. Over time, Winter Jam has become the largest yearly Christian music tour in the United States, featuring a mix of legendary artists, emerging talents, worship leaders, and a variety of musical styles—all sharing the same stage with one goal: pointing people toward Jesus through music. In this collaborative feature, several members of the NewReleaseToday (NRT) staff share their experiences at this year’s Winter Jam stops across the country, recounting the moments, songs, and worship experiences that made the nights unforgettable.
Raleigh, North Carolina
What I love about Winter Jam is that there's something for everyone. No matter your favorite music genre, you're bound to hear something you enjoy. I liked all the artists, but Christian greats Matthew West and Chris Tomlin stood out the most to me. I've enjoyed Christian music for 25 years, making these two artists childhood favorites, I continue to love. When it comes to worship music, Chris Tomlin has been well-known in this genre for years. His set felt like a complete worship experience. With each song, the crowd sang along and worshipped God. My favorite moments at Winter Jam are always the ones that give me small glimpses of what heaven will be like.
- Felicia Holt
Reading, Pennsylvania
This was my 16th time attending Winter Jam in Reading, Pennsylvania, and I always conduct behind-the-scenes interviews backstage before the show. This year, I listened to performances by NewSong, Matthew West, and Chris Tomlin, and I enjoyed all their sets, especially “Can’t Keep a Good Man Down,” “Truth be Told,” and “Holy Forever.” There’s always one moment at Winter Jam that gives me goosebumps and moves me to tears. This year, that happened when emerging artist Katy Nichole sang her song, “Healing Now.” I was deeply moved by her song and the way she asked the crowd to light up their phones if they had struggled with their mental health. It was very powerful and worshipful.
- Kevin Davis
Kansas City, Missouri
I caught Winter Jam when it came through Kansas City. It's become a tradition—kicking off the concert year with Winter Jam. There were many standout moments for me this year, but I'll highlight one. During Christian pop artist Hulvey's set, he performed his viral hit "Altar" and led the whole arena into a holy worship moment. Hearing and witnessing the crowd sing "Glory to the Father/You deserve the praise/Lead me to Your altar/Wash away my shame" repeatedly, with hands raised, was profoundly moving. Hulvey inspired us to sing and guided our attention toward Jesus. That moment really highlighted Hulvey's heart posture as an artist, and that worship to God can be expressed in any genre of Christian music.
And that's what makes Winter Jam such a unique show. You can experience every genre of music and hear from both up-and-coming artists and legends in Christian music, all in one concert. Each artist, in the unique way God has given them, speaks truth, brings hope, and leads people's hearts to Jesus in beautiful ways through their music. And I am grateful to every artist at Winter Jam this year for doing that.
- Jasmin Patterson
OpenAI's ChatGPT aided with this article. Assembled from all corners of North America and many other places in between, the NRTeam consists of staffers whose energy is equally devoted to loving and writing about the music they cherish.
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