Candy Advent Calendars 2026: Gummy, Sour, Marshmallow and More

Yes, plenty of advent calendars hold candy instead of chocolate. Sour Patch Kids sells a 24-day sour gummy calendar, Sugarfina fills 24 drawers with gourmet candy, See’s Candies mixes lollypops with its chocolates, and XO Marshmallow counts down with 25 marshmallow flavors. Bokksu’s Japanese calendar holds candies and snacks. Check allergens, best-by dates and age advice first.

Candy advent calendars compared

Candy advent calendars range from cheap grocery-store boxes to gift drawers, and the table shows how the main ones differ.

Sour and gummy candy calendars

Sour and gummy calendars are the closest thing to a grocery-aisle candy calendar, and they tend to be the lowest-cost option.

Sour Patch Kids 24 Days of Mischief. Mondelez launched this limited-edition calendar in 2024. It puts two individually wrapped Sour Patch Kids Big Kids behind each door, 48 pieces in all. Two pieces a day makes it easy to share with a sibling or a desk mate.

Haribo in Europe. Haribo sells a 24-door calendar of mini bags in Germany, where Rossmann lists a 2026 edition. In the US it turns up mainly through importers and resellers, so check the year and the best-by date on the listing.

Gourmet candy drawer calendars

Gourmet candy calendars cost more but double as a keepsake box, which suits adults and older kids.

Sugarfina North Pole Toy Shoppe. Sugarfina’s 2026 calendar is themed as a toy shop at the North Pole. CB2, which sells it, lists 24 drawers with four artisan candies in each, and says to store it somewhere cool and dry, between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The candy mix changes each year, so read the current list if the recipient has favorites or allergies.

See’s Candies. Last season’s See’s calendar had 24 drawers holding a full pound of chocolates and candy, AOL reported. Lollypops sat alongside chocolates such as Dark Scotchmallow and California Brittle, so it is a mix rather than a chocolate-free box. Each piece was individually wrapped. Check this year’s box for the current lineup.

A marshmallow advent calendar for hot cocoa season

Marshmallows are a softer choice for someone who finds gummies too chewy or hard candy too sweet, and one dropped into a mug of hot cocoa turns each door into a warm drink.

XO Marshmallow 2026. This is the company’s eighth calendar, themed around après ski with an “ugly sweater” design. It holds 25 days of flavors, from December 1 to Christmas Day, mixing fan favorites with limited editions. Each compartment carries a clue, so the recipient can guess the flavor before tasting it.

XO Marshmallow says this is its first calendar made without artificial colors, and that every marshmallow is gluten-free and nut-free. That makes it easier to share in a home with a nut allergy, though you should still read the label for other allergens.

It sells as a preorder in a limited run, and the company says there will be no reorder. Order the calendar on its own: XO Marshmallow says orders that add other items ship together in mid-November.

Japanese candy and snack calendars

Bokksu’s calendars suit adults who like trying new flavors more than they like a familiar brand.

Bokksu Luminous Japan 2026. Bokksu Boutique’s 2026 calendar has 24 drawers of Japanese snacks and seasonal sweets, such as yuzu candies, matcha cookies and senbei rice crackers. Some drawers fold into small paper lanterns once empty. Bokksu adds keepsakes such as handmade pottery and figurines, and says the calendar is made in a limited run.

Candy calendar checks for allergies and kids

Candy calendars need the same label checks as any food gift, plus extra care for young children.

Allergens. The FDA lists nine major food allergens that labels must name: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame. A mix that includes chocolate, like See’s, can contain milk or nuts, so read the full box before buying for someone with allergies.

Age. KidsHealth says not to give hard candy to children under 4, and the CDC lists hard candy among choking hazards for young children. Lollypops and hard candies belong in an older child’s or adult’s calendar. For toddlers, our advent calendars for kids page has toy options sorted by age, and mini toy advent calendars swap sweets for small toys.

Best-by dates. Buy the current season’s calendar new. A sealed box from last year can look perfect but be past its date.

Filling your own candy calendar

A homemade calendar lets you pick only the sweets the person likes and leave out any allergen in the house. Individually wrapped pieces stay fresh through December and keep the label on hand. Fill it close to December 1, since candy kept in a warm room for weeks can soften or stick. Our DIY advent calendar ideas show how to build one from paper bags or boxes, and the advent calendar filler ideas mix candy with small non-food treats.

When candy is not the right calendar

Candy suits most teens and adults, but some households want less sugar. Chocolate fans have their own chocolate advent calendar guide, and our food and drink section helps you choose between tea, coffee and chocolate. Savory picks like ramen, cheese and jam are in the food advent calendar guide, and home bakers can pick from cookie cutter and sprinkle calendars in our baking advent calendar guide. Or browse the best advent calendars by type.