This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep the site running. All opinions are my own. Written by Molly, mum of two. Last updated: 22 October 2026.
Advent calendars sell out. Every year without fail, the LEGO one is gone by mid-November and everyone’s suddenly scrambling for whatever’s left on the shelf at Tesco. So if you’re even vaguely thinking about Christmas countdown calendars, now’s the time, not the first week of December.
I’ve rounded up the best advent calendars for kids this year, from toddler-safe ones with no tiny bits, to toy calendars they’ll actually keep playing with, to a few that cost less than a coffee. Prices were checked in October 2026, but they jump around a lot in the run-up to Black Friday, so click through for today’s price.
In a Hurry? Quick Picks
- Best for toddlers (18 months+): Happyland Advent Calendar
- Best for Bluey fans: Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar
- Best for Peppa fans: Peppa Pig Peppa & Evie’s Advent Calendar
- Best non-chocolate (and reusable): Bluey: Hooray, Christmas! Advent Book Bundle
- Best creative pick: Play-Doh Holiday Advent Calendar 2026
- Best for reception age (5+): LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026
- Best splurge: MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar
- Best budget pick: supermarket and M&S chocolate calendars from £2.75
| Calendar | Age | Price | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happyland | 18 months+ | £20.99 (RRP £34.99) | Toddlers | M&S |
| Bluey Fuzzies | 4+ | £19.99 | Bluey fans | Check price |
| Peppa & Evie | 3+ | Check price | Peppa fans | Check price |
| PAW Patrol Holiday Rescue | Preschool | £20 | Vehicle lovers | Argos |
| Bluey advent book bundle | 3+ | £25 | No chocolate, reusable | Check price |
| Play-Doh Holiday | 3+ | Around £20 | Crafty kids | Check price |
| LEGO City 2026 | 5+ | £22.99 | Reception age | Check price |
| MAGNA-TILES microMAGS | 3+ | £39.99 | A calendar that lasts | Check price |
| Chocolate calendars | All ages | From £2.75 | Tight budgets | Supermarkets |
Why Buy Now, Not in December
The licensed toy ones (LEGO, Bluey, PAW Patrol) are limited stock and they genuinely do sell out, it’s not just marketing hype. If there’s a specific one your child has their heart set on, order it this month. Chocolate and supermarket calendars restock right through December, so you’ve got more breathing room there.
What to Look For in a Kids’ Advent Calendar
- The age on the box: most toy calendars are 3+ because of small parts. For under-3s, stick to ones made for toddlers, or fill your own.
- Will they play with it after Christmas? Calendars that build into one set (Happyland, LEGO, MAGNA-TILES) get far more use than 24 random trinkets.
- Cost per door: a £20 calendar works out at about 83p a day. That’s a handy way to compare it with filling your own.
- Allergies: check chocolate calendars for nuts and milk, and note that Play-Doh contains wheat.
- Sibling peace: if you’ve got two, either buy one each or pick a calendar that builds one shared scene and take turns opening doors.
The Best Advent Calendars for Kids in 2026
Happyland Advent Calendar
This is the one I’d go for with a young toddler. It’s one of the few toy calendars made for little ones, suitable from 18 months, and each door has a chunky Christmas Happyland figure. By Christmas Eve you’ve got a whole set for small-world play, so it doesn’t end up in the recycling.
- Suitable from 18 months, which is rare for a toy calendar
- Builds into a full set of festive figures to play with all year
- Works with any Happyland sets you already have
- Good to know: older preschoolers may find it a bit babyish
Price: £20.99 at M&S when I checked (RRP £34.99).
Best for: 18 months to about 4, and anyone wary of small parts.
Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar
The new Bluey calendar for 2026, and the box is shaped like Bluey’s head, ears and all, which is half the appeal. Behind the 24 doors are 8 exclusive flocked (fuzzy) figures plus 4 trading cards and accessories.
- 8 exclusive fuzzy figures you can’t get elsewhere
- The Bluey-shaped box looks great on a shelf
- Good to know: it’s 4+, so it’s one for preschoolers rather than toddlers
- Good to know: the Bluey Classic Christmas calendar (Bluey, Bingo, a mini tree and accessories) is an alternative if this one sells out
Price: £19.99.
Best for: Bluey-obsessed 4 and 5 year olds.
Peppa Pig Peppa & Evie’s Advent Calendar
Hasbro’s 2026 Peppa calendar builds a Christmas scene one door at a time: a tree one day, stickers to decorate it the next, then a table, a gingerbread house, stockings to hang and presents. Two of the doors hide Peppa and baby Evie in their Christmas pyjamas and crowns.
- Builds one complete scene, so the pieces belong together
- Lots of stickers, which most 3 year olds love
- Good to know: only two of the doors are figures, the rest are accessories and stickers
Price: it’s usually one of the cheaper character calendars, so check the latest price.
Best for: 3 to 5 year olds, especially if there’s a new baby sibling in the house.
PAW Patrol Holiday Rescue Advent Calendar Playset
A good-value one for PAW Patrol fans. You get 10 figures, 7 vehicles, 4 accessories and 3 sticker sheets across the 24 days, so it’s a proper little playset by the end rather than a pile of bits.
- Lots of figures and vehicles for the money
- Great for kids who love rescue role play
- Good to know: check the age on the box, as PAW Patrol calendars contain small parts
Price: £20 at Argos.
Best for: preschoolers who are all about the pups and their vehicles.
Bluey: Hooray, Christmas! Advent Book Bundle
My favourite non-chocolate option. It’s 24 mini Bluey books, one per window, with a special Christmas story for Christmas Eve. Once December’s done you pop the books back in the windows and use it again next year. It also turns the advent door into a little bedtime story, which is a win in my house.
- No sugar, no small parts
- Reusable every year
- Good to know: if your child is more Peppa than Bluey, the Peppa Pig Advent Calendar Book Collection works the same way and is £19.99
Price: £25 RRP.
Best for: allergies, sugar-free households and bedtime-story lovers aged 3+.
Play-Doh Holiday Advent Calendar 2026
For the kids who’d rather make something than collect something. Behind the doors are tubs of Play-Doh and tools, plus a playmat for building wintry scenes. It’s a ready-made rainy afternoon activity every day of December.
- Keeps them busy far longer than a chocolate
- The tools get used long after Christmas
- Good to know: Play-Doh contains wheat, so skip it if there’s a wheat allergy
- Good to know: it’s messy. A splat mat helps
Price: usually around £20.
Best for: creative 3 to 5 year olds.
LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026 (60510)
The classic, and the one that sells out first. It’s aimed at 5+, so it’s perfect for reception age. There are 252 pieces with Santa, Mrs Claus, three elves, a snowman and a baby reindeer, and the build instructions are printed inside each window so little ones can mostly do it themselves.
- Easy mini builds with instructions inside each door
- Works with any LEGO City sets they already have
- Good to know: lots of tiny pieces, so keep it well away from babies and toddlers
- Good to know: older siblings might prefer LEGO Friends (6+, £22.99) or the Disney, Marvel or Star Wars calendars (£29.99 each)
Price: £22.99 RRP, and it’s already been spotted for around £18 in deals.
Best for: 5 year olds who are just getting into LEGO.
👉 Check price on Amazon or check The Entertainer
MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar
The pricey one, but if your kids already love magnetic tiles it’s the calendar most likely to still be in the toy box next Christmas. There are 34 festive microMAGS pieces, including a Santa and a train conductor figure, plus a little chassis that runs on a track inside the back of the box.
- Works with all other MAGNA-TILES sets
- Open-ended play, no instructions needed
- Good to know: microMAGS are the smaller tiles, and the set is 3+
Price: £39.99.
Best for: families who’d rather spend more on one calendar that lasts. It also doubles as a Christmas present.
Best Budget Advent Calendars (Under £5)
You really don’t need to spend £20+ to do this properly. M&S chocolate calendars start at £2.75 this year (including a Wallace & Gromit one), and the Cadbury and supermarket own-brand calendars are usually under £3 and often on offer. Honestly, most toddlers are just as thrilled opening a door as they’d be with something ten times the price.
If dairy’s an issue, Moo Free makes a dairy-free chocolate calendar, but always check the label for your child’s allergy.
Best Reusable Advent Calendars to Fill Yourself
Wooden calendars with little drawers cost more upfront, but you use them every year, so they work out cheaper over time and look far nicer on the mantelpiece than cardboard. The M&S Wooden Advent Townhouse is £25 this year, or browse my reusable advent picks on Amazon.
This is also the best option for under-2s and for allergies, because you decide exactly what goes in. A few ideas that work well:
- Stickers, hair clips and crayons
- Board books you already own, wrapped up again
- A note for a free activity: hot chocolate, a Christmas film, a walk to see the lights
- Small toys from my stocking fillers for babies under 2 and stocking fillers for kids 3-5 guides
Advent Calendar FAQs
When should I buy a kids’ advent calendar?
By mid-to-late October for anything LEGO, licensed or toy-filled, as these are limited stock. Chocolate and supermarket calendars restock through December, so you can leave those later.
What’s the best advent calendar for a 2 year old?
The Happyland Advent Calendar, as it’s suitable from 18 months. Otherwise, go for a reusable calendar you fill yourself with stickers and board books.
Are toy advent calendars safe for under 3s?
Most aren’t. LEGO, Play-Doh, MAGNA-TILES and most character calendars are labelled 3+ or older because of small parts. Always check the age on the box, and keep older siblings’ calendars out of reach.
What’s the best non-chocolate advent calendar for kids?
For 3+, the Bluey or Peppa advent book collections are brilliant and reusable. For toy lovers, Happyland, LEGO or MAGNA-TILES. For any age, a reusable calendar you fill yourself.
Chocolate or toy calendar, which is better value?
Toy calendars cost more per door but the contents last far longer than a chocolate square that’s gone in two seconds. If budget’s tight, a £3 chocolate calendar is completely fine, or go reusable and mix chocolate with small toys.
Planning the rest of December? See my easy Elf on the Shelf ideas, Christmas Eve box ideas, best gifts for 2 year olds and 3 year olds, Black Friday toy deals and Christmas on a budget guide, or head to my full Christmas hub.
Leave a Reply