The Edit — Art & Décor
Advent Calendars Worth Buying for 2026
Six calendars for children and adults: 24 jars of Bonne Maman jam, 2 LEGO builds for 2026, Stash tea, Playmobil and Kinder. The chocolate ones rate lowest, and owners say why.
This guide is research-led: we have not handled these units ourselves. If you buy through our links we may earn a commission — it never changes a pick. How we choose
No calendar here was opened or handled. The page reads each listing and what owners report, ranked by rating and then by how many owners rated it on 1 October 2026, as How we choose describes.
Best for Adults who like breakfast
Watch for No toy behind the door
Best for Star Wars fans aged 6 and up
Watch for New listing, few ratings yet
Best for A first LEGO calendar from age 5
Watch for New listing, few ratings yet
Best for Tea drinkers, no sugar
Watch for Familiar teas for Stash regulars
Best for Children who play with scenes
Watch for Nothing to build
Best for 2 children, 2 calendars
Watch for Small pieces, little variety
Buy by 30 November, because the first door opens on 1 December
An advent calendar is the rare gift with a hard deadline. The usual calendar counts 24 days from 1 December to Christmas Eve, so one bought on 2 December starts behind.
| Calendar | Ratings | Behind the doors | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonne Maman | 4.8, 5,030 | 24 mini jams | Adults |
| LEGO Star Wars 2026 | 4.8, 39 | 293 pieces | Ages 6 and up |
| LEGO City 2026 | 4.7, 52 | 252 pieces | Ages 5 and up |
| Stash | 4.6, 342 | 24 tea bags | Tea drinkers |
| Playmobil | 4.5, 2,119 | Baking scene | Younger children |
| Kinder | 4.3, 2,753 | Chocolate, 2 calendars | Children |
Bonne Maman is the adult calendar owners rate highest
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar 2026, 24 Mini Jam Jars
5,030 ratings at 4.8 for 24 mini jars of jam, jelly and spreads, one flavour a day.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Behind the doors | 24 mini jars, 24 flavours |
|---|---|
| Owners praise | Variety, quality, looks |
| Suits | Adults, breakfast people |
5,030 ratings at 4.8. Owners love the range of 24 flavours, the size of the jars for a daily taste and the look of the box. Many buy it as a gift and describe opening a new spread each morning as the point.
It is a breakfast calendar, not a treat calendar. For an adult who would leave chocolate uneaten, this is the one.
Buy it if
- An adult who would rather taste than eat chocolate
Don't buy it if
- A child who wants a toy behind the door
The 2026 LEGO calendars are new, so the ratings are thin
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 75456
39 ratings at 4.8 on a new 2026 listing, with 293 pieces and Mandalorian themes.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Pieces | 293 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 6 and up, stated by LEGO |
| Listing | New for 2026, few ratings yet |
39 ratings at 4.8. LEGO states 293 pieces and ages 6 and up, with themes for fans of The Mandalorian. It appeared on Amazon’s Toys & Games New Releases list on 1 October 2026.
Buy it if
- A Star Wars fan aged 6 or more
Don't buy it if
- You want a long owner record before buying
LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026 60510
52 ratings at 4.7 on a new 2026 listing, with 252 pieces from age 5.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Pieces | 252 |
|---|---|
| Ages | 5 and up, stated by LEGO |
| Listing | New for 2026, few ratings yet |
52 ratings at 4.7. LEGO states 252 pieces and ages 5 and up, a year younger than the Star Wars calendar. Both are 2026 editions, so the ratings are early and will move. The pieces stay as toys after Christmas, which is the case for LEGO over chocolate.
Buy it if
- A 5-year-old's first LEGO calendar
Don't buy it if
- A child who already owns a lot of City sets
Stash and Playmobil are the gentler alternatives
STASH Tea Advent Calendar 2026, 24 Bags
342 ratings at 4.6 for 24 black, green and herbal tea bags, which owners call a good alternative to chocolate.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Behind the doors | 24 tea bags |
|---|---|
| Teas | Black, green and herbal |
| Owners praise | Variety, looks more expensive than it is |
342 ratings at 4.6 for 24 bags of black, green and herbal tea. Owners call it a fun alternative to chocolate, single out the Toasted Vanilla Caramel blend, and say the calendar looks more expensive than it is.
Buy it if
- A tea drinker, or anyone avoiding sugar
Don't buy it if
- Someone who already drinks Stash every day
PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar, Christmas Baking
2,119 ratings at 4.5 for a Christmas baking scene with figures and kitchen accessories that owners say gets played with after December.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Theme | Christmas baking |
|---|---|
| Owners praise | Detailed figures, lasting play value |
| Suits | Younger children who play with scenes |
2,119 ratings at 4.5. Owners describe a Christmas baking scene with plenty of figures and detailed kitchen accessories, and say children keep playing with it long after December. It suits a younger child who plays with scenes rather than builds them.
Buy it if
- A child who plays with figures rather than builds
Don't buy it if
- A child who wants to build something
Chocolate calendars rate lowest, and melting is why
Kinder Chocolate Countdown 2026 Advent Calendar, 2 Pack
2,753 ratings at 4.3 for 2 chocolate calendars children love, with owners noting small treats and little variety.
Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.
| Contents | 2 calendars |
|---|---|
| Owners praise | Children's favourite chocolate |
| Mixed reports | Small pieces, little variety |
2,753 ratings at 4.3. Owners say it is their grandchildren’s favourite chocolate and a reliable children’s gift. The mixed notes are size and variety: the treats are small, and there are only a couple of different pieces.
Buy it if
- 2 children who each need a calendar
Don't buy it if
- Anyone hoping for a range of chocolates
The Lindt Teddy calendar, 4.3 across 1,777 ratings, did not make the list. Owners like the teddy-shaped chocolates, then report calendars arriving melted, and chocolate that looks old with a white coating. Ship chocolate to a cool address, or choose jam, tea or LEGO.
For the rest of December, Christmas light fire safety covers the decorations, and stocking stuffers covers the small gifts that go alongside a calendar.