When does Advent start in 2026 and when to open the advent calendar

When does Advent start in 2026

Advent 2026 starts on Sunday, 29 November, the first Sunday of Advent. Advent always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, so the date moves every year: the earliest is 27 November, the latest 3 December.

When to open the advent calendar

The first door of an advent calendar is opened on 1 December and the last, the twenty-fourth, on Christmas Eve. The church season of Advent lasts between 22 and 28 days depending on the year, while a calendar needs a fixed number of doors, so calendars count the days of December rather than the days of Advent.

Most calendars have 24 doors, but some have 12 with larger gifts, or 25 and more with a final door for Christmas morning. It is worth checking how many doors your calendar has before you buy.

When to buy so it arrives in time

To open the first door on 1 December, order your calendar in November. There are two reasons:

• The most popular calendars sell out first. They are made for one season only, so by late November the choice of LEGO, Kinder or beauty calendars is much smaller.
• Parcel volumes peak before December. Couriers are at their busiest in the last days of November, so order with time to spare.

If the calendar is a gift, add a few more days: you need to receive it and hand it over before 1 December. You will see the exact delivery time next to each product.

A few calendars people choose most often this season:

Advent traditions

• The Advent wreath. It holds four candles: one is lit on the first Sunday of Advent and one more each Sunday after. When all four are burning, Christmas is only days away.
• The advent calendar. The tradition comes from Germany. The first printed calendars with doors appeared in the early 20th century, and chocolate calendars became common only decades later.
• Christmas Eve. 24 December closes Advent, and it is also the day the last door of the calendar is opened.

Which calendar to choose

It mostly depends on who it is for. For children, chocolate and LEGO calendars work best; for women, beauty, tea or chocolate calendars are the usual choice; for men, tools, snacks or collectible models. Find more ideas in our guides to advent calendars for women and advent calendars for men, or browse all advent calendars.

Frequently asked questions

When does Advent start in 2026?

The first Sunday of Advent in 2026 is 29 November. Advent ends on 24 December, Christmas Eve.

When do you open the first door of an advent calendar?

On 1 December. Calendars are numbered 1 to 24, so the last door is opened on Christmas Eve, whichever day Advent started.

How many Sundays of Advent are there?

Always four. In 2026 they fall on 29 November and 6, 13 and 20 December.

What if the calendar arrives after 1 December?

Open the missed doors at once and carry on by date. With small children you can start from door one and finish a few days later.

When is the best time to buy an advent calendar?

In November. The choice is widest then, and the calendar will arrive well before 1 December.