When Does Advent Start in 2026?
🕯️ All 4 Advent Sundays in 2026: Dates, Themes & Candle Colors
🗓️ Advent Calendar 2026: Day-by-Day December Countdown
Most advent calendars open December 1 through December 24 (24 doors), though liturgically Advent begins before Nov 29 in most years. Here's how 2026 maps out:
🎁 Best Advent Calendar Ideas for 2026
Beyond the traditional chocolate advent calendar, there's now an extraordinary range of options for every age and interest:
People Also Ask: Advent 2026 FAQs
When does Advent 2026 start?
Advent 2026 begins on Nov 29 — the first Sunday of Advent. It runs for 28 days until Christmas Eve (Nov 29). The four Advent Sundays in 2026 fall on: Nov 29, December 6, 2026, December 13, 2026, and December 20, 2026.
What is the first Sunday of Advent 2026?
The first Sunday of Advent 2026 is Nov 29. This is calculated as the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew (November 30) that falls before it. In 2026, this lands on Nov 29. Families light the first purple (Hope) candle on their Advent wreath on this day.
How many days is Advent?
Advent is always exactly 28 days long — four complete weeks of seven days each. It begins on the first Sunday of Advent and ends on Christmas Eve (Nov 29). Note: advent calendars (which run December 1–24) are not the same as the liturgical Advent season, which often starts in late November.
Is Advent the same as the Christmas season?
No — in strict liturgical terms, they are separate. Advent is the preparatory period before Christmas (4 weeks). The Christmas season (Christmastide) begins on Christmas Day itself and runs through Epiphany (January 6) or Candlemas (February 2). In popular culture, they're often treated as the same "Christmas season."
Why is the third Sunday of Advent pink?
The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday — from the Latin "Gaudete" meaning "Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). It marks the midpoint of Advent, a moment to rejoice that Christmas is drawing near. The pink (or rose) candle represents joy in contrast to the penitential purple of the other three Sundays. In 2026, Gaudete Sunday falls on December 13, 2026.
What is an Advent wreath?
An Advent wreath is a circular arrangement of evergreen branches (symbolizing eternal life) holding four candles around the outside and one white candle in the centre. Three purple, one pink, one white. One new candle is lit each Advent Sunday (an additional candle each week) until all five are lit on Christmas Day. The wreath tradition originated in 16th-century Germany with Lutheran communities.
When should you open advent calendar doors?
Advent calendar doors are traditionally opened on the morning of each day, December 1 through December 24. Most families open them at breakfast as a morning ritual. Some households allow children to open the door the night before (Christmas Eve = door 24 opened December 23 evening). Liturgically, the calendar "belongs" to the Advent season but the Nov 29–24 format is the overwhelming commercial and popular standard.