Guide number 14Advent guides3 min read
When to Start an Advent Calendar: December 1 or Advent Sunday?
Start most advent calendars on December 1. Advent itself begins November 29, 2026. Here is how 24, 25 and 12-day calendars fit the dates.
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Start most advent calendars on December 1. A standard calendar has 24 doors, so the last one opens on Christmas Eve. Advent itself begins on Advent Sunday, which is November 29 in 2026. If you want a calendar that follows the church season, start that day and plan for 26 days, not 24.
Why most advent calendars start on December 1
Advent Sunday moves every year, but December 1 does not. Wikipedia’s entry on advent calendars notes that because the first Sunday of Advent falls anywhere from November 27 to December 3, many reusable paper and wooden calendars simply begin on December 1.
A fixed start date means one calendar design works every year, with one door for each day up to Christmas Eve. BrickNerd points out the same thing about LEGO’s calendars: they have 24 doors and start on December 1, which does not always match the church calendar.
When does Advent start?
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Wikipedia gives a simple way to find the date: add three days to the last Thursday of November.
| Year | Advent Sunday | Days to Christmas Eve |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 29 | 26 |
| 2027 | November 28 | 27 |
| 2028 | December 3 | 22 |
So the season runs from 22 to 28 days, depending on the year. Only when Advent Sunday falls on December 1 do the church season and a 24-door calendar line up exactly.
This applies to most Western churches. In the Ambrosian and Mozarabic rites, Advent starts two weeks earlier, on the Sunday after St. Martin’s Day (November 11). In Eastern Christianity, the Nativity Fast begins on November 15 and lasts 40 days.
Can I start a 24-door calendar on Advent Sunday?
You can, but in 2026 you will run out of doors two days early, on December 22. Here are three ways to handle the gap.
Add two “bonus” days. Mark November 29 and 30 with something outside the calendar, such as lighting the first Advent candle or a family outing. Then open door 1 on December 1 as usual.
Use a refillable calendar with extra pockets. A fabric or wooden calendar can hold as many small gifts as you like. Hang two extra small bags beside it for the first days.
Start on Advent Sunday and finish early. If the calendar is about the countdown, not the date on each door, open it on November 29 and let the last door fall on December 22.
Fabric pocket advent calendars you can refill each year
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24 doors or 25?
A 24-door calendar ends on Christmas Eve. A 25-door calendar adds Christmas Day, which suits families who open presents on the morning of the 25th.
Both kinds are common in 2026. Sephora Favorites, Lookfantastic and Jo Malone London have 25-item beauty calendars, while Revolution Beauty, L’Occitane and NYX list 24, according to ICanGWP’s tracker. Our beauty advent calendar guide compares them.
When to start 12-day and 7-day calendars
Shorter calendars have no fixed start date. Count back from the day you want to finish:
- 12 doors ending on Christmas Eve: start December 13.
- 12 doors ending on Christmas Day: start December 14.
- 7 doors ending on Christmas Eve: start December 18.
There is another option for 12-day calendars. The traditional Twelve Days of Christmas run from December 25 to January 5, ending on Twelfth Night, the evening before Epiphany. Opening one door each day after Christmas stretches the season into the new year. Wikipedia notes that some advent calendars also extend to Epiphany on January 6.
Is it too late to start an advent calendar?
No. If a calendar arrives after December 1, open the missed doors on the first day, or spread them over the next few days. Nothing breaks.
For next year, buy early. Popular calendars often launch in September and can sell out before the first door. Our checklist on how to choose an advent calendar covers timing and shipping.
Wooden advent calendars with 24 or 25 drawers
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Browse current wooden advent calendars on eBay, new condition only.
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A refillable calendar solves the date problem
A calendar you fill yourself can start on any day and run for any length. That makes it the easiest choice for families who follow Advent Sunday, or who want a 26-day countdown in 2026. Compare wooden, fabric and drawer styles in our reusable advent calendar guide.
Curious how the tradition started in Germany? Read the history of the advent calendar, or compare every kind of calendar in our best advent calendars of 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do you open the first advent calendar door on December 1?
Yes, for most store-bought calendars. They have 24 doors, one for each day from December 1 to Christmas Eve, so the first door is December 1.
When does Advent start in 2026?
On Sunday, November 29, 2026. Advent Sunday is the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and it falls between November 27 and December 3.
Should I open door 24 on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve. A 24-door calendar is designed to end on December 24. Calendars with 25 doors add Christmas Day.
When should I start a 12-day advent calendar?
Start on December 13 to finish on Christmas Eve, or December 14 to finish on Christmas Day. Some people instead open one door on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas, from December 25 to January 5.
What if I start my advent calendar late?
Open the missed doors on the first day, or spread them over the next few days. There is no rule against catching up.
Sources
- Advent calendarWikipedia
- Advent SundayWikipedia
- AdventWikipedia
- Twelve Days of ChristmasWikipedia
- 25 Years of LEGO Calendars... That Aren't Really AdventsBrickNerd
- 2026 Beauty Advent Calendars trackerICanGWP
Part of our guide to Best Advent Calendars of 2026: Fun, Useful and Unusual Picks.