Ollēdi’s 5 Favourite Advent Calendars for Christmas 2026
CHRISTMAS 2026SHOPPING & GIFT GUIDES
From fine teas and festive make-up to wooden dinosaurs and a gingerbread house full of hidden treats, this year’s best advent calendars have something for every member of the family. We’ve narrowed the crowded shelves down to five favourites, with picks to delight little ones and a few that give parents and carers a small moment of their own each morning in the busy run-up to Christmas.
For many families, the advent calendar is one of the first signs that Christmas is on its way, and watching little ones race to open the next door is part of the magic. The best children’s calendars go beyond a daily chocolate, offering something to play with, build on or keep long after the decorations come down, and a name added to the front makes them feel truly their own. Yet the grown-ups who keep the festive season running, from nativity costumes to late-night present wrapping, rarely get a countdown of their own, and a calendar made with adults in mind turns a few quiet minutes each day into something to look forward to. Rather than an exhaustive round-up, we’ve chosen five that each take a different approach, whether you are drawn to a calming cup of tea, a touch of festive sparkle, a daily dose of self-care or a personalised keepsake for a child.
With its warm, cosy gingerbread design, this table-top advent house from My 1st Years has 24 little drawers, one for every day of the countdown. Each small compartment can be filled with treats and goodies for your little one to discover, so the surprises can be tailored to your own family. A child’s name can be laser engraved on the house free of charge, adding a personal touch that makes the season feel even more special. Made from MDF, plywood and pinewood and standing 44cm tall, it looks just as at home on the family mantelpiece as it does in a nursery, although it is designed as a decoration rather than a toy.
French tea house Mariage Frères imagines the wait for Christmas as a piece of music played out in 25 beats, and this very limited edition calendar has a window for every day up to and including Christmas Day. Each one opens to reveal a cotton muslin of tea or herbal infusion, ranging from Grand Crus to the house’s own exclusive blends, so there is a new cup to discover every morning. The vivid orange calendar is tied with a white satin ribbon, and once the final window has been opened it becomes a keepsake box that can be opened and closed whenever you like.
For anyone who loves make-up, KIKO Milano’s festive calendar holds 24 surprises running from 1 to 24 December, mixing full-size products with handy travel minis. Inside are treats for lips, eyes, face and nails, along with skincare such as energising eye patches, a mini eau de parfum and a few pretty accessories, including a mirror, a hair comb and a jewelled hair tie. Christmas Eve brings a nine-shade eyeshadow palette in matte, pearly, metallic, marbled and sparkly finishes. The gold-detailed case, with its handle, buckle clasp and two pull-out drawers, is designed to live on afterwards as a jewellery box or make-up case.
Young dinosaur fans can build their own prehistoric world one December day at a time with this calendar from Meri Meri, available personalised through My 1st Years. Each day reveals a brightly coloured wooden dinosaur, a scenic setting or a piece of lush foliage, with 20 wooden dinosaurs and three foliage pieces in the set. When playtime is over, everything packs neatly into a suitcase printed with watercolour dinosaurs, ready for more adventures long after Christmas. A child’s name can be added to the front to make it a keepsake gift, and the calendar is made using FSC mix paper. It is recommended for ages eight and up.
Wellbeing brand NEOM has filled each of its 24 doors with a favourite from its range, chosen to help with better sleep, lower stress, more energy or a lift in mood. Ten of the products are full size, among them the Perfect Night’s Sleep Mist, the Real Luxury Essential Oil Blend, a Christmas Wish scented candle and a pair of calming and energy pens. Alongside them sit body washes, a bath oil, magnesium body butters, body milks and a ceramic shooting star. The products are powered by 100% natural fragrance and naturally derived ingredients, making each morning’s door a small pause in a hectic month.
Whichever you choose, an advent calendar is a lovely way to make the countdown special for everyone in the family, including the people who make Christmas happen for everyone else.
Ollēdi © 2026
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