Christmas advent calendars for kids have come a long way from the little chocolate calendars we grew up with! These days, kids can count down to Christmas with everything from LEGO and Hot Wheels to squishies, slime, animals, crafts and adorable little collectibles.
I rounded up 15 of the best Christmas advent calendars for kids in 2026, with options for different ages and interests. Whether your child loves building, sensory toys, animals or anything cute and collectible, there’s something here to make the countdown to Christmas even more exciting.
And I have to admit—the little Christmas dumpling squishies might be one of my favorite finds this year. 🥟🎄
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Christmas Advent Calendars for Kids: 15 Fun Picks for 2026
1. Christmas Dumpling Squishy Advent Calendar 🥟
Best for: Kids who love squishies, fidget toys and cute collectibles
Okay, this might be one of the cutest advent calendars I found this year. Instead of candy, kids get to open a new mini dumpling-shaped squishy each day as they count down to Christmas.
This calendar includes 24 mini squishies with different festive colors and holiday details. I especially like this one for kids who are obsessed with squishies and sensory toys because the surprises don’t disappear after Christmas—they’ll have a whole little collection to play with once the countdown is over.
Why it caught my eye: The tiny Christmas dumplings are just ridiculously cute, and this is such a fun alternative to the traditional chocolate advent calendar. 🥟🎄
👉 See the Christmas Dumpling Squishy Advent Calendar on Amazon
2. Axolotl Squishy Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids who love axolotls, squishies and sensory toys
If your child is going through an axolotl phase, this one is seriously cute. Instead of traditional Christmas characters, this advent calendar has 24 different colorful axolotl squishies to discover throughout the countdown.
The soft, slow-rising squishies can be played with long after Christmas, so this is another fun option if you’d rather give your child little toys instead of candy every day. I also love that the designs are different, which makes opening each day’s surprise a little more exciting.
Why it stands out: The bright colors and silly little axolotl faces make this one especially fun for kids who love collecting cute characters and sensory toys.
👉 See the Axolotl Squishy Advent Calendar on Amazon
3. LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026
Best for: Kids ages 5+ who love LEGO, building and imaginative play
For the LEGO-loving kid, this one is hard to beat. The 2026 LEGO City Advent Calendar has 24 days of mini builds and holiday surprises, giving kids something new to build each day leading up to Christmas.
This year’s set includes 252 pieces and 6 minifigures, along with festive mini builds and characters like Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves and a snowman. Even the box gets used—the calendar folds out into a Santa’s Workshop playmat so kids can play with everything they’ve collected throughout the month.
Why it stands out: Unlike an advent calendar that’s finished once the countdown is over, all of the LEGO pieces can become part of your child’s existing LEGO collection for year-round building and play.
👉 See the LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026 on Amazon
4. LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2026
Best for: Kids ages 6+ who love LEGO Friends, animals and imaginative play
The LEGO Friends Advent Calendar is another fun choice for kids who would rather build their way to Christmas. Behind the 24 doors are mini builds and characters inspired by cozy winter activities like building snowmen, taking sleigh rides and enjoying hot chocolate.
The 2026 set includes 211 pieces, 3 LEGO Friends minidolls and 6 adorable animal figures, including a pony, seal, polar bear and penguin. Kids can combine everything they collect throughout December to create their own little winter scenes and stories.
Why it stands out: I love the mix of building and pretend play in this one. The animals make it especially cute, and the pieces can be added to an existing LEGO Friends collection after Christmas.
👉 See the LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2026 on Amazon
5. Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar
Best for: Bluey fans ages 4+ who love mini figures and collectible surprises
If you have a Bluey fan at home, this advent calendar makes the Christmas countdown extra fun. There are 24 surprises to open throughout December, with a mix of Bluey-themed mini figures, accessories, trading cards, stickers and other little collectibles.
The calendar includes 8 exclusive mini figures, which is what really makes this one stand out. Instead of getting 24 versions of essentially the same toy, kids get a variety of surprises they can collect and play with throughout the month.
Why it stands out: This is such a cute option for younger Bluey fans, especially because the surprises aren’t all the same. The exclusive figures also make it feel a little more special than a standard toy countdown.
👉 See the Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar on Amazon
6. Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids ages 5+ who love horses, animals and pretend play
For the horse-obsessed kid, this might be one of the most exciting calendars on the list. The Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar turns the Christmas countdown into a growing horse-care playset, with a new figure or accessory to discover each day.
The 34-piece set includes 3 horses, a poseable figure and plenty of horse-care accessories, including grooming tools, feed and hay. As kids open the doors throughout December, they can gradually build an entire little horse scene and start playing with the pieces along the way.
Why it stands out: This feels more like building a complete toy set throughout December than collecting random little surprises. It’s especially cute for kids who already love horses or have other Schleich animals they can add to the scene.
👉 See the Schleich Horse Club Advent Calendar on Amazon
7. Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids ages 3+ who love Hot Wheels, cars and collecting
For the kid who always has a Hot Wheels car nearby, this advent calendar turns the Christmas countdown into a growing collection of cars and winter-themed accessories. There are 24 surprises to open throughout December, so kids get something new to add to their play each day.
The 2026 calendar includes 10 Hot Wheels vehicles in the classic 1:64 scale plus 14 winter-themed accessories. It also comes with 10 ornament clips, so the cars can even be displayed on the Christmas tree during the holidays.
Why it stands out: I love that the cars aren’t just tiny advent-calendar fillers—they’re actual Hot Wheels vehicles that can join the rest of a child’s collection after Christmas. The ornament clips are a really fun bonus, too.
👉 See the Hot Wheels 2026 Advent Calendar on Amazon
8. Slime & Charms Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids and tweens who love slime, sensory play and creating their own combinations
For kids who can’t get enough slime, this advent calendar gives them something a little more hands-on to do during the Christmas countdown. Instead of simply collecting a tiny toy each day, they’ll gradually build up a collection of colorful slime and fun mix-ins they can use to create their own combinations.
The calendar includes 12 scented slime pots along with more than 50 charms, sprinkles and other mix-ins spread throughout 24 days of surprises. There are lots of different colors, textures and Christmas-inspired designs, so each day’s surprise adds something new to their slime collection.
Why it stands out: I like that this one gives kids an activity to actually do instead of just another small toy to open. They can mix, decorate and customize their slime throughout December, which could keep them entertained longer than the few minutes it takes to open each door.
Note for parents: The slime is not edible, so make sure little ones know it’s for playing only.
👉 See the Christmas Slime Advent Calendar on Amazon
9. W7 Beauty Blast Makeup Advent Calendar
Best for: Older kids and teens who are already interested in makeup and beauty products
For the older kid or teen who’s much more excited about makeup than toys, a beauty advent calendar can make the Christmas countdown feel a little more grown-up. The W7 Beauty Blast calendar has 24 individually numbered boxes, with a different beauty surprise to discover each day.
Inside is a mix of 24 mini and full-size W7 products for the face, eyes and lips, giving them a chance to experiment with different colors, formulas and finishes throughout December.
Why it stands out: This gives us a completely different option from the toys and collectibles on this list, and I especially like it for an older kid or teen who’s starting to enjoy experimenting with makeup.
Parent note: Since this isn’t specifically marketed as a children’s cosmetic set, I’d consider your child’s age, skin sensitivity and your family’s rules around makeup before choosing this one.
👉 See the W7 Beauty Blast Makeup Advent Calendar on Amazon
10. Flower Building Advent Calendar
Best for: Older kids and tweens who love building, crafts and flowers
This is such a pretty alternative to the traditional toy advent calendar. Instead of opening candy or a small collectible each day, kids get a new flower-building project to put together as they count down to Christmas.
The calendar includes 24 different flower bouquet building kits, with instructions for assembling each design. As the month goes on, the individual flowers can be collected together to create a colorful bouquet that can actually be displayed after Christmas.
Why it stands out: I love that there’s a finished project at the end of this countdown. Kids get the fun of building something new each day, and by Christmas they’ve created an entire bouquet instead of ending up with a pile of random little advent-calendar toys.
👉 See the Flower Building Advent Calendar on Amazon
11. Gingerbread House Building Advent Calendar
Best for: Older kids who love building sets and Christmas crafts
This advent calendar turns the entire Christmas countdown into one big holiday building project. Instead of opening 24 unrelated surprises, kids uncover a new mini building set each day and gradually create their own festive gingerbread house Christmas village.
The calendar contains 24 numbered building sets that come together throughout December to create a larger holiday scene, complete with gingerbread-style houses, a Christmas tree, train and other festive details. The finished village even includes lights, making it something kids can display once they’ve completed the countdown.
Why it stands out: I love the idea of watching one Christmas scene grow a little bigger every day. It gives kids something to look forward to each morning while also creating a finished project they can be proud of on Christmas Eve.
👉 See the Gingerbread House Building Advent Calendar on Amazon
12. Mermaid Princess Dress-Up Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids who love mermaids, princesses, dress-up and pretend play
For the kid who spends half the day dressed like a princess anyway, this advent calendar turns the Christmas countdown into an entire dress-up collection. Each day reveals another piece they can add to their mermaid-princess look, so the surprises can actually be used together instead of becoming 24 unrelated little toys.
The calendar includes 24 dress-up surprises, with pieces such as a sparkly skirt, crown, jewelry, hair accessories and other mermaid-themed accessories. Kids can mix and match the pieces as they open them throughout December and use everything for pretend play long after Christmas is over.
Why it stands out: This one feels more like gradually opening a complete Christmas gift. Instead of getting one tiny trinket every day, the surprises work together to create a full dress-up experience — especially fun for kids who are already obsessed with princesses, mermaids and imaginative play.
👉 See the Mermaid Princess Dress-Up Advent Calendar on Amazon
13. Rubber Duck Advent Calendar
Best for: Younger kids who love silly little toys, bath time and collecting things
Sometimes the simplest advent calendars are the most fun. This one gives kids a different rubber duck to discover every day leading up to Christmas — and the designs are seriously cute.
The calendar includes 24 different rubber ducks, with 18 Christmas-themed designs plus 6 novelty ducks. There are snowmen, Santa-inspired ducks, reindeer, Christmas trees and plenty of other colorful characters to collect throughout December.
And unlike some advent calendar fillers that may get forgotten after Christmas morning, these can keep getting used for bath time, water play or imaginative play long after the countdown is finished.
Why it stands out: It’s simple, silly and actually useful after Christmas. I also like this one as an option for younger kids who may not be ready for complicated building sets or craft projects but still want the excitement of opening something every morning.
👉 See the Christmas Rubber Duck Advent Calendar on Amazon
14. 3D-Printed Animal Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids who love animals, collectibles and fidget toys
If your kid is always collecting tiny animals or loves anything they can bend, move and fidget with, this is such a fun alternative to a traditional advent calendar. Behind each day is a different mini 3D-printed animal to discover and add to their collection.
The calendar includes 24 mini 3D-printed animal figures with cute oversized eyes and flexible, articulated designs. The collection includes all kinds of animals, from penguins and lions to turtles, giraffes and more, giving kids a completely different surprise each day.
Why it stands out: These aren’t just little figures to look at. The flexible designs make them fun to move and fidget with, and kids end up with an entire animal collection they can continue playing with after Christmas.
Parent note: The listing recommends this calendar for children ages 6 and up.
👉 See the 3D-Printed Animal Advent Calendar on Amazon
15. Christmas Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar
Best for: Kids who love jewelry, crafts and making something they can actually wear
This advent calendar combines the excitement of a daily Christmas surprise with a jewelry-making activity. Instead of ending December with a collection of random little toys, kids gradually collect everything they need to design their own Christmas charm bracelets.
The calendar includes 22 Christmas-themed charm beads and two bracelet chains, giving kids 24 surprises to open throughout the countdown. The charms include festive designs like Christmas trees, presents, stockings, snowflakes, wreaths and candy canes, with no duplicate designs according to the listing.
As December goes on, kids can add their new charms to the bracelets and watch their Christmas jewelry come together piece by piece.
Why it stands out: I love that this one combines an advent calendar with a creative activity — and the finished bracelets become something kids can actually wear or keep after Christmas. It’s a fun choice for kids who enjoy crafts but aren’t necessarily interested in another toy or building set.
👉 See the Christmas Charm Bracelet Advent Calendar on Amazon
How to Choose the Best Christmas Advent Calendars for Kids
With so many fun Christmas advent calendars for kids available in 2026, there really is something for every personality. Whether your child loves LEGO, squishies, animals, crafts, pretend play or anything they can collect, an advent calendar can make the countdown to Christmas feel even more exciting.
When you’re comparing Christmas advent calendars for kids, think about what your child already loves.If your kid loves sensory toys, the dumpling and axolotl squishy calendars are adorable options. LEGO fans have several fun countdowns to choose from, while creative kids may love building a flower bouquet or making their own Christmas charm bracelets. And for younger kids, simple surprises like Bluey characters or Christmas rubber ducks can make every morning in December feel special.
Whichever one you choose, I’d order earlier rather than later. Christmas advent calendars for kids can change in price or availability as December gets closer, especially the popular character and toy options.
Happy counting down to Christmas! 🎄
More Holiday Ideas for Families
Looking for more seasonal fun? Check out my Halloween Advent Calendars for Kids for another fun way to make the countdown to a holiday extra special.
