Editors’ Pick: the best advent calendars of 2026

First pickDouglas Exclusive Beauty Highlights 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 5.6× the box price · 24 doors€79.99→Runner-upLookfantastic Beauty 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 5.5× the box price · 25 doors£120→Also worth itFlaconi 24 Love Brands 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 5.0× the box price · 24 doors€129.95→

Twenty-two brands with Estée Lauder, MAC and Clarins among them, the full list printed, and a 450 EUR valuation for 79.99 make it the best-value beauty box in Germany this year. The prestige names come as 5 to 15 ml minis.

Douglas Exclusive Beauty Highlights 2026 · Rated 4.5/5 · €79.99 · contents worth 5.6× the price · 24 doors

First pickAnkerkraut Premium 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors€69.90→Runner-upBonne Maman 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · 24 doors$55.99→Also worth itCadbury Dairy Milk Adult 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors£10→

The 75 cm lighthouse is the best box in the food category this year, and twelve cork jars plus the recipe booklet make a proper kit for 70 EUR. Half the doors are refill sachets, and Ankerkraut still won't say which blend sits where.

Ankerkraut Premium 2026 · Rated 4/5 · €69.90 · 24 doors

First pickBeer52 Craft Beer 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 1.4× the box price · 24 doors£69.99→Runner-upDrinks by the Dram Premium Whisky 2026Our rating 4/5 · 25 doors£199.95→Also worth itHard To Find Scotch Whisky 2026Our rating 4/5 · 25 doors£134.95→

Twenty-four beers brewed only for this box, a glass and free delivery for 70 GBP is fair. It ships from 9 November and the list is still being revealed, so you're buying on Beer52's record.

Beer52 Craft Beer 2026 · Rated 4/5 · £69.99 · contents worth 1.4× the price · 24 doors

First pickJurassic World Island Visitor 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors$32.39→Runner-upLEGO City 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors$34.99→Also worth itPlay-Doh 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors$19.99→

Nineteen dinosaurs, a fence and a Visitor Center to put them behind, for under 30 GBP, and the box is the scene. Mattel doesn't name the species, and its own shops weren't taking orders yet when I checked, though Amazon was.

Jurassic World Island Visitor 2026 · Rated 4/5 · $32.39 · 24 doors

First pickLookfantastic Grooming 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 5.2× the box price · 25 doors£90→Runner-upFlaconi 24 Love Brands Men's Edition 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 5.1× the box price · 24 doors€109.95→Also worth itBosch DIY 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors€59.99→

Fifteen full sizes for 90 GBP with the list printed, and Shiseido, Elemis and ESPA in it; the men's calendar I'd point most people to. A comb and a shaving brush are doing some of the counting, and the good skincare is 10 to 15 ml.

Lookfantastic Grooming 2026 · Rated 4/5 · £90 · contents worth 5.2× the price · 25 doors

First pickRituals Classic 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 1.9× the box price · 24 doors$180.23→Runner-upThe White Company 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 1.7× the box price · 25 doors£195→Also worth itYankee Candle 12 Days of Christmas 2026Our rating 3.5/5 · 12 doors$69.99→

The pop-up house is the best-looking box under 100 GBP this year, and Rituals prints the full list, which is rarer than it should be. Two full sizes in 24 doors is the catch, so buy it for the minis and the candles rather than the value.

Rituals Classic 2026 · Rated 4/5 · $180.23 · contents worth 1.9× the price · 24 doors

First pickCult Pens Stationery 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 2.0× the box price · 24 doors£100→Runner-upPapier 24 Day 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 1.9× the box price · 24 doors$195→Also worth itLittle Golden Books Countdown to Christmas 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors$29.99→

A 100 GBP box that ends with an exclusive fountain pen, in a harlequin case worth keeping. The doors are a secret beyond a rough spoiler, so it's a purchase on trust; of the stationery calendars, it's the one I'd buy.

Cult Pens Stationery 2026 · Rated 4/5 · £100 · contents worth 2.0× the price · 24 doors

First pickLEGO Disney Princess 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors$44.99→Runner-upNivea 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors€49.95→Also worth itPlaymobil Dino Expedition 2026Our rating 4/5 · 24 doors€29.99→

Four princesses, four sidekicks and a box that folds into a game board, for under 30 GBP on Amazon. No Frozen this year, and the builds are small scenes rather than vehicles.

LEGO Disney Princess 2026 · Rated 4/5 · $44.99 · 24 doors

First pickDouglas Luxury 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 5.0× the box price · 24 doors€199→Runner-upVogue Festive 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 4.7× the box price · 25 doors$525→Also worth itJohn Lewis Beauty 2026Our rating 4.5/5 · contents worth 4.6× the box price · 25 doors£250→

Retail-size Olaplex, Nuxe, Paula's Choice and Caudalie for 199 EUR would already be a fair box; the La Mer, Augustinus Bader and Jo Malone minis are the reason to pick it over the 79.99 one. Germany only, and four of the doors are fragrance vials.

Douglas Luxury 2026 · Rated 4.5/5 · €199 · contents worth 5.0× the price · 24 doors

First pickAmorelie Original 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 3.8× the box price · 24 doors€129.99→Runner-upLovehoney Couple's 2026Our rating 4/5 · contents worth 3.3× the box price · 24 doors$219→

Nine real toys for 129.99 EUR, and it works for couples and for one. You take the door list on trust, and it ships only to Germany and Austria.

Amorelie Original 2026 · Rated 4/5 · €129.99 · contents worth 3.8× the price · 24 doors