In recent years, Advent calendars have become quite the phenomenon. From beauty-based options to over-the-top luxury curations, it seems like there’s an Advent calendar on the market for everyone — including your little ones.
Gone are the days of candy brands dominating the Advent calendar shelves for kiddos. Now, toy brands like Lego, American Girl and Play-Doh have joined in on the fun. Are they a bookworm or always on the hunt for their next sweet treat? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there, too. No matter their interest, there’s an Advent calendar on the market for every kid. And we’ll be sure to continue updating this list as more become available the closer to the holiday.
Unveil "charm"ing accessories$27.50$55.00
For the puzzle obsessed$24.99$26.99
For building and rebuilding$undefined$39.99
Best kids Advent calendars available for pre-order
A quality option for any child who craves sweets on a regular basis, this Williams-Sonoma 12-day Advent calendar — made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the modern holiday classic “Elf” — features festive treats behind every door. Prepare ahead of time for the sugar rush to come — peppermint taffy, mini maple syrup and twisty caramels await!
Order it now and the brand says it’ll ship when available and the weather starts to cool down.
Williams Sonoma elevates the OG chocolate Advent calendar with this assortment of five of their classic flavors: peanut butter cups, peppermint truffles, sticky paws, milk chocolate caramels and dark chocolate caramels.
Just like the “Elf” calendar above, this one will start to ship when the weather cools down.
Kids and adults alike are fans of the viral mystery dumpling blind boxes. Now, take that fun and multiply it by 24! This Advent calendar has 23 minis and one big dumpling for an extra surprise. It is currently expected to begin shipping on September 6.
Best toy Advent calendars for kids
For more hands-on play that will keep them occupied for more time than a figurine set, opt for this Advent calendar play set from Play-Doh. While there are 24 flaps to open, there are more than 24 items hidden behind them, including Play-Doh, molding shapes, stick-on accessories and instructions on how to create snowmen, reindeer, a gingerbread man and a festive star.
If they’re Bluey-obsessed and can’t seem to get enough of the Aussie-born show, 24 accessories, action figures and stickers await them in this Advent calendar. Once it’s all said and done, the action figures and accessories can come together to create a Bluey Christmas scene, complete with presents underneath a tree.
What kid doesn’t love Lego? This Advent calendar will be the highlight of each day. It’s loaded with seasonal mini builds and several characters, including Santa, Mrs. Clause, a baby reindeer, three elves and a snowman! Plus, once all of the pieces are out, they can unfold the playmat on the box to reveal Santa’s workshop and use their imagination to play out different scenarios.
This year’s Lego Friends Advent calendar is winter wonderland-themed features over 200 pieces that can be used long after the holiday season is over. Recommended for kids ages 6 and up, they’ll have a blast with this countdown calendar that’s a gift that keeps on giving.
More Lego Advent calendars to shop:
- Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026, $44.99
- Lego “Star Wars” Advent Calendar 2026, $44.99
- Lego Marvel Advent Calendar 2026, $44.99
They’ll be having so much fun with this Advent calendar, they won’t even realize they’re learning! Inside, they’ll find the pieces to make the One through Five characters from the show, alongside some accessories to make them a bit more festive. There’s even a board game built in to the packaging.
Unveil a new Playmobil accessory each day leading up to the holiday to build a mini Christmas market. Pieces include a booth with sweet treats, a Christmas tree, a standing table with mugs and several attendees — including Santa himself!
One of the most exciting new kids’ Advent calendar launches this year comes from the acclaimed building brand Magna-Tiles. While their sets are usually on the pricier end, this 34-piece iteration featuring Santa’s new ride, exclusive figures and more surprises as you count down to Christmas comes in at a more affordable $40.
If her American Girl Doll is her best friend, you can get them in on the Advent calendar fun with this one that’s loaded up with 24 days’ worth of accessories specifically for the dolls. Inside, they’ll find various accessories and winter-themed treats including (plastic) cookies and cocoa mugs.
Best sweets and candy Advent calendars for kids
If they have a sweet tooth, they’ll love this Advent calendar that’s filled with Swedish-style candy. They can expect flavors across a range of profiles, including strawberry-pomegranate, mini sour strawberries, sour strawberry-apple rings and more.
Best book Advent calendars for kids
This unique take on an Advent calendar will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they wait to reveal a new chapter each day and try to figure out what exactly is happening on Elliot’s family’s reindeer farm.
If they can’t stop talking about princesses, opening this Advent calendar will be the highlight of their days. Not only are there traditional storybooks, there’s also activity-based books where they can solve mazes, test their princess knowledge with quizzes and test their observation skills with spot-the-difference puzzles.
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or a house that may have fallen on you), the final installment of the Broadway adaptation of “Wicked” released last year and was followed by plenty of gravity-defying merch and drops, including this Advent calendar with 25 days of surprises and delights inspired by the tale of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship.
Unique Advent calendars for kids
Introduce your children to different countries and cultures with this advent calendar, that includes information cards as well as “buddy ornaments” for them to decorate a tree with. Each information card includes prompts, a craft or an activity inspired by that country’s holiday traditions.
The advanced puzzler will enjoy this 12-day Advent calendar. By the end, you can choose to keep the puzzles separate or you can join them all together to make one big cozy scene.
Gift your child an Advent calendar whose contents they can enjoy for years. This ballerina-themed Advent calendar from Meri Meri comes with a charm bracelet and loads of charms to decorate it with. Whether in the dance studio or at home, your little ballerina will love this special way to anticipate the holidays.
Unlock their inner archeologist with this National Geographic 24-day Advent calendar. They’ll open up each box to a new, fun surprise, including a large pyrite they’ll have to dig out for themselves on the final day.
Abracadabra! If you have a budding Penn & Teller in your midst, they’ll be blown away by the mesmerizing magic tricks and science experiments in National Geographic’s newest Advent calendar.
For 25 days, you and your child can unveil a cardboard character that they have to put together, along with a story that will continue over the course of the month. You can choose to include a customized message within or opt to leave it blank.
For the STEM-loving kiddo, this Advent calendar will quickly become the thing they look forward to most each day. It’s filled with 24 days’ worth of easy-to-execute experiments that will keep them so entertained, they won’t even realize they’re learning.
This Advent calendar is loaded up with everything they need — including 16 charms — to design two bracelets by the last day. Scattered throughout the days, they’ll also find six stick-on tattoos; a fun surprise they won’t be expecting.
One of the most beloved Christmas traditions is adorning the tree with ornaments new and old. This DIY-style Advent calendar gives kids the chance to put their own touch on the year’s decorations with felt and sticker crafts leading up to the big day.
KiwiCo is beloved for their age-specific bundles that help children to learn through play, whether it be crafting recipes in the kitchen or tinkering with STEM toys. Their Advent calendar proves to be no different, as children have to create a winter wonderland. From a motorized sledding hill to a wooden house, each day brings with it a new part to piece together.
How we chose the best Advent calendars for kids
The Shop TODAY team works hard to find the best products and coolest gifts out there. We use our own personal experiences with brands and shopping to find the best Advent calendars for kids that are sure to surprise them all month long.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find every type of Advent calendar including beauty, options on Amazon, picks under $25 and more.
