When is Advent 2026?
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026, the first Sunday of Advent. It always starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas – the Sunday between November 27 and December 3 – so the date changes every year. The other Advent Sundays 2026 are Sunday, December 6, Sunday, December 13 and Sunday, December 20.
34 days until the first Sunday of Advent
That’s 4 weeks and 6 days – or 34 sleeps.
First Sunday of Advent 2026: Sunday, November 29, 2026.
Advent 2026: key dates
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026
- First Sunday of Advent: Sunday, November 29, 2026
- First door of the Advent calendar: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
- Second Sunday of Advent: Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday): Sunday, December 13, 2026
- Fourth Sunday of Advent: Sunday, December 20, 2026
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
All four Advent Sundays 2026 and 2027
| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 |
| 2027 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 |
First Sunday of Advent in the next years
| 2026 | Sunday, November 29 |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Sunday, November 28 |
| 2028 | Sunday, December 3 |
| 2029 | Sunday, December 2 |
| 2030 | Sunday, December 1 |
| 2031 | Sunday, November 30 |
More countdowns
Pin your Advent countdown
In Miracal you can pin any event as a countdown at the top of your calendar – the first Sunday of Advent, a trip or a birthday – right above your events, tasks and birthdays. Free for iPhone and Android.
Also on your home screen: the Countdown widget.
Free download · iPhone & Android
Frequently asked questions
When does Advent start in 2026?
On Sunday, November 29, 2026. Advent lasts until Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026. In 2027, the first Sunday of Advent is Sunday, November 28, 2027.
How is the first Sunday of Advent calculated?
Count back four Sundays from Christmas: the fourth Sunday of Advent is the last Sunday before December 25 (December 24 itself when Christmas Eve is a Sunday). That puts the first Sunday of Advent between November 27 and December 3 – it’s the Sunday closest to St Andrew’s Day, November 30.
Does the Advent calendar start on the first Sunday of Advent?
Most Advent calendars don’t: they have 24 doors and always start on December 1, whatever day of the week it is. The Advent season itself begins on the first Sunday of Advent.
What do the Advent wreath candles mean?
An Advent wreath has four candles, and one more is lit on each Sunday of Advent. In many churches three are purple and one is pink – the pink one is for the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday. Some wreaths add a white Christ candle in the middle for Christmas.
Is the first Sunday of Advent the start of the church year?
Yes. In the Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, the liturgical year begins on the first Sunday of Advent.