Advent calendars stopped being a cardboard sheet of waxy chocolate a long time ago. Now there is one for jam lovers, LEGO builders, skincare people, puzzle people and the friend who would rather open a tiny bottle of hot sauce every morning. The catch is timing: the best Advent calendars of the year launch in late summer and the popular ones sell out well before December 1.
These 33 Advent calendars are sorted by who they are for, so you can skip straight to the kid, the coffee drinker or the beauty lover on your list. Every pick is a 2026 edition or a year-round favorite that is still in stock as of this update. If you are shopping for the person who hosts every holiday, our hostess gift guide has ideas for them too.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Sweet Treats
The classic Advent calendar, upgraded. Jam, chocolate and shortbread that taste a lot better than the foil-wrapped squares most of us grew up with.
THE ONE THAT SELLS OUT
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar 2026
Twenty-four mini glass jars of limited-edition holiday spreads, with flavors like strawberry with Madagascar vanilla, milk caramel with dark chocolate and white fig. This is the calendar’s 10th anniversary year, and it is the one that tops almost every Advent calendar list and disappears from shelves first. The little gingham-topped jars are worth keeping long after the jam is gone.
GODIVA Limited Edition Chocolate Advent Calendar 2026
Twenty-four milk, dark and white Godiva chocolates behind 24 doors, in a gift-ready box.
Lindt TEDDY Chocolate Advent Calendar
Assorted Lindt chocolates in a teddy bear box, the easy, crowd-pleasing pick for kids.
Walker’s 2026 Shortbread Advent Calendar
Twenty-four Scottish shortbread cookies in holiday shapes, for the person who would take a cookie over chocolate.
Coffee & Tea
A new cup every morning in December. These are the most practical Advent calendars on the list, and nothing goes to waste.
Keurig K-Cup Advent Calendar
Twenty-four single-serve pods from different coffee brands, so every morning is a new roast.
Pukka Christmas Tea Advent Calendar
Twenty-four organic black, green and herbal teas, one to wind down with each night.
Tea Forte Warming Joy Advent Calendar
Twenty-four herbal teas in Tea Forte’s pyramid infusers, the prettiest box in this section.
LEGO & Building
A small build every day, and a whole scene by Christmas Eve. LEGO’s 2026 lineup is Star Wars, Marvel, City, Friends and Disney. There is no Harry Potter calendar this year, so do not hold out for one.
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026
Set 75456, 293 pieces built around The Mandalorian, with Grogu, IG-11 and holiday-sweater minifigures.
LEGO Marvel Advent Calendar 2026
Set 76340, the biggest LEGO calendar this year at 317 pieces, with six festive Marvel minifigures.
LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026, with Bonus Go-Kart
Set 60510, a Santa’s workshop calendar with seven minifigures, bundled here with a small go-kart set.
LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2026
Set 42698, a winter scene with three mini-dolls and six animal figures, for animal-loving builders.
LEGO Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026
Set 43298, with four Disney micro-dolls and a box that unfolds into a game board for up to eight players.
MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar
Thirty-four mini magnetic tiles and pieces, a building calendar for kids too young for small LEGO bricks.
Beauty
Beauty Advent calendars are the ones that sell out fastest, because they are usually the best value: a mix of full sizes and minis for less than the products would cost on their own. These range from 12 lip balms to 25 days of makeup and skincare.
Sephora Favorites 25 Days of Beauty 2026
Twenty-five full, mini and deluxe sizes across makeup, skincare, hair and body, from brands Sephora carries.
L’Occitane 24 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
Twenty-four travel sizes of L’Occitane skincare, hair, body and fragrance, including its famous hand creams.
No7 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar
Twenty-five No7 skincare and makeup surprises, a long-running bestseller in the UK.
e.l.f. 2026 Beauty Advent Calendar
Eighteen full sizes and six minis of vegan makeup and skincare, in a box you can color in yourself.
Revolution 24-Day Beauty Advent Calendar 2026
Ten full sizes, eight minis and six accessories for eyes, lips and face, all vegan and cruelty-free.
Catrice House of Gold Advent Calendar
Twenty-four days of limited-edition Catrice makeup, an affordable pick for teens and makeup beginners.
L’Oreal Paris 12 Day Beauty Advent Calendar 2026
Twelve days of drugstore favorites, including a full-size mascara plus complexion and lip makeup.
The Body Shop Advent Calendar
Twenty-four shower gels, body creams and hand balms, for the person who prefers bath time to makeup.
Burt’s Bees 12 Lip Balm Advent Calendar
Twelve beeswax lip balms in an Amazon-exclusive set, enough to stash one in every coat pocket.
Toys for Kids
Squishies are this year’s playground obsession, and the Squishmallows calendar is the one parents are hunting for. The rest are reliable favorites that turn into a small collection by Christmas.
Squishmallows Micromallows Advent Calendar
Twenty-four tiny holiday Squishmallows plushies, one of the most-wanted kids’ calendars this year.
Christmas Squishy Advent Calendar 2026
Twenty-four mini squishies shaped like holiday characters, for kids who love sensory toys.
Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar
Ten 1:64-scale cars, 14 winter-themed accessories and clips to hang the cars on the tree.
Pokémon Holiday Calendar 2026
Nineteen 2-inch Pokémon battle figures with a special holiday finish, plus five accessories.
Play-Doh Advent Calendar
Twenty-four cans of Play-Doh plus tools and holiday playmats, a good fit for kids three and up.
Littlest Pet Shop Deluxe Holiday Advent Calendar
A deluxe countdown of Littlest Pet Shop pets and accessories, for kids and the parents who remember them.
For Grown-Ups
Advent calendars for the adults who are hard to buy for: readers, puzzlers, campers and anyone who would rather open a candle than a chocolate.
FOR THE READER
Mini Book Advent Calendar 2026 for Book Lovers
Twenty-four tiny, readable editions of classic world literature that double as Christmas ornaments. It is one of the top sellers in Amazon’s Advent calendar category this year, and it suits the bookish adult or teen who has already read everything on their shelf. Once December is over, the books can live on the tree every year after.
FOR THE PUZZLER
National Park Puzzle Advent Calendar 2026
A 1,000-piece puzzle split into daily bags, with artwork in the style of vintage national park travel posters. Doing a few hundred pieces a week is a lot more manageable than a whole puzzle on one table, and it gives the family something to work on together each night. A good pick for teens and adults who like a slow, screen-free evening.
EXIT: The Game Advent Calendar
An escape-room story told in 24 daily puzzles, solo or with a group, from the makers of EXIT.
Yankee Candle 12 Days of Christmas 2026
Twelve mini votive candles in different holiday scents, a new one to light each night.
Survival Kit Advent Calendar 2026
Twenty-four pieces of camping and emergency gear, with a storage box to keep the kit together after.
Before You Buy an Advent Calendar
Order early: the most popular Advent calendars sell out by mid-November, and it needs to arrive before December 1. Check the day count too, since some are 12 days and some run 24 or 25. And make sure the listing says 2026, because last year’s edition is often still for sale right next to the new one.