I grew up with the same Advent calendar every year, full of waxy chocolate where the biggest decision was whether I wanted Santa or Frosty on the front. These days I hunt down the most unique Advent calendars I can find every fall, and this year’s list has everything from Wisconsin cheese to hot sauce to role-playing loot.
Many of these aren’t meant for kids, as you can have fun with an Advent calendar at any age. You’ll find wine, cocktails, and chocolate that actually tastes good, along with calendars the younger crowd will love.
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to order. Some may have Black Friday deals, but many of these creative calendars sell out every year, and a few on this list have preorder deadlines in early November.
You can find these Advent calendars easily, most of them on the companies’ websites. Some brands you may have heard of, while others may be new to you, but I have collected and tested each one, and I would happily give any of these to friends or family, or keep them for myself.
I received many of these Advent calendars as samples from the brands, but I also bought some.
Some links in this article are affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them.
Vosges Grand Cacao Lodge Advent Calendar
If you want one splurge Advent calendar this year, make it this one. Vosges designs a new three-dimensional calendar every year, and the 2026 design includes a snowy ski lodge with copper foil, flocked snow on the roof, and tiny bottlebrush wreaths with red ribbons.
It lights up from inside and plays three holiday songs. It has an easy on/off switch and volume control. Even better, the charger comes with the Advent calendar so you don’t have to hunt one down.
I’ve loved Vosges since my early working days, when I’d walk to their shop once a week for a single truffle. Each drawer holds several pieces, not one tiny bite, with dark and milk chocolate, chewy caramels, toffee, and new creations you can only get in this calendar.
My favorite this year is the salted caramel. When it’s done right, this combination is something I can never resist, and Vosges is a master of Belgian chocolate.
The calendars start shipping in mid-November. If you have a calendar from another year, you can purchase a refill and use that calendar instead.
Where to get it: Vosges Haut-Chocolat
Cost: $385 for the full calendar or $195 for the refill and free shipping for either
12 Days of Hot Sauce Advent Calendar
GiveThemBeer.com makes my list every year because they keep coming up with fun themes that go far beyond the beer in their name. The hot sauce calendar is new for me this year, with 12 full-size bottles from different brands, including Bravado, Torchbearer, and Elijah’s.
The heat builds as you count down. The early doors focus on flavor with a gentle kick, while the last few are seriously hot, so this one’s for the person in your house who puts hot sauce on everything.
No two bottles repeat, which makes it a fun way to find a new favorite. Preorders ship in late October.
Where to get it: GiveThemBeer.com
Cost: $149 + shipping
LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
I’ve given my son the LEGO Star Wars Advent calendar every year for longer than I can remember, and he still gets excited to open it. This year’s theme is The Mandalorian, with Mando and Grogu in holiday sweaters, Moff Gideon, Carson Teva, a Jawa, IG-11, and a pit droid.
It has 293 pieces, and LEGO recommends it for ages 6 and up. My son opened it on his birthday and immediately assembled every minifig, so don’t count on this one lasting through Advent.
Where to get it: Amazon or other retailers like LEGO and Costco
Cost: Around $45
Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar
The sparkling wine calendar from GiveThemBeer.com is back, and it was my mom’s favorite surprise gift last year. You get 12 splits, the little 187 ml bottles, from brands like Chandon, La Marca, Freixenet, Mionetto, and Ruffino.
The mix covers Prosecco, Cava, brut, rosé, Blanc de Blancs, and French sparkling wine. Last year’s box introduced me to a Ruffino Prosecco rosé I never would have picked on my own, and I’m hoping this year turns up another surprise.
Add a pair of champagne flutes, and you have a gift ready to wrap. Order this one early, as it’s likely to sell out, and once it’s gone, they can’t restock.
Where to get it: GiveThemBeer.com
Cost: $139 + shipping
Adagio Teas Advent Calendar
Adagio’s tea calendar made my list again, no surprise, given that I have a tea cabinet and am always on the lookout for the best tea. Each of the 24 doors hides a different holiday flavor with enough tea to brew an eight-ounce pot.
I have the loose-leaf version, and the flavors are as creative as ever, from lychee rose green tea to raja oolong chai to white tangerine. Every packet tells you whether it’s caffeine-free or how much caffeine it has, so you can save the stronger ones for the morning.
You can also get it in teabags or decaf loose leaf. All the teas are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and vegan, which makes this an easy gift for friends with food allergies.
Where to get it: Adagio Teas
Cost: $34 with free shipping for purchases over $49
Little People, BIG DREAMS Advent Calendar
Each of the 24 doors holds a complete mini book from the Little People, BIG DREAMS series, and each tells the true story of someone who followed a dream. The lineup covers musicians, athletes, writers, and activists, from Freddie Mercury and Beyoncé to Harriet Tubman, Pelé, and Agatha Christie.
While I knew most of the names, I learned about a few people I hadn’t heard of before. And even for those I did know, I definitely didn’t know all the details the books shared.
The books are small with a decent amount of text, so grown-ups reading along may need their readers, but the illustrations are adorable. Since they’re real books, kids can keep reading them long after Christmas is over.
Where to get it: Amazon
Cost: Around $25, though the list price is $29.99
12 Days of Cheesemas Advent Calendar
We take our Wisconsin cheese seriously in the Midwest, and The Cheese Bros clearly do, too. I have a cheese drawer in my fridge that is almost always full of different varieties.
The 12 Days of Cheesemas calendar holds 12 full-size blocks and bags of Wisconsin cheese, each between five and eight ounces. These aren’t tiny sample cubes, and I can’t wait to enjoy them all.
You’ll find classic Wisconsin varieties alongside limited-edition extra-aged cheddars, so you basically have a holiday cheese board ready in your fridge. My personal favorite? The bourbon gouda, though I can’t wait to have friends over to try the chocolate chip cheese ball.
Since it’s real cheese, put the box in the fridge as soon as it’s delivered. Most cheeses last a year or more sealed, but I don’t think these’ll last that long.
Calendars ship between November 17 and December 7, but you can preorder now to avoid missing out.
Where to get it: The Cheese Bros
Cost: $120 and free shipping
12 Days of Loot DND Advent Calendar
If someone in your house runs the game every week (like my son!), this one’s for them. Julia the DM packs 12 wrapped, numbered parcels with gear a DND player will actually use, from a sharp-edged resin dice set and a jumbo D20 to a metal D20 spinner and a primed mini.
You’ll also find a dice bag, an enamel pin, an ornament, dice soap, and a finale dice holder made only for this box. You choose a Naughty or Nice colorway, with darker colors for Naughty and lighter ones for Nice.
Even better, use code HONESTANDTRULY to get 10 percent off your entire order. And yes, that applies to the DND Advent calendar or any other products she sells for your next campaign.
If you can’t decide on Naughty or Nice for your calendar, pick Surprise Me, and she’ll roll for it. I love my son, and he’s Chaotic Good, so of course I had to choose the Nice box for him.
Preorders close November 16, and calendars ship that week, so don’t hold off. I looked at a bunch of role-playing Advent calendars for my son, and this one had the most variety and the most interesting items inside.
Where to get it: Julia the DM
Cost: $114.99 for one list or $209.99 for both and free shipping
12 Nights of Cocktails Advent Calendar
Straightaway Cocktails is a craft cocktail company in Portland, Oregon, and this is the third year of their 12 Nights of Cocktails calendar. The box looks like an old holiday book and holds 12 ready-to-drink cocktails in 3.4-ounce servings.
Nine are Straightaway favorites, and three are brand new this year: a Marionberry Whiskey Sour, a Chile Mango Margarita, and a Passion Fruit Martini. These spirit-forward drinks range from 20% to 40% ABV, so one serving makes a solid nightcap.
I love a spicy margarita, and the bee’s knees was fabulous, as always. I shared these with friends last year, and everyone was thrilled to learn they could buy them at Costco.
They make many of their own spirits in-house and source ingredients from Pacific Northwest favorites like Stumptown Coffee and Jacobsen Salt. This year you can also find the calendar at Costco and on Instacart.
If you have a cocktail fan on your list, check out my guide to The Best Gifts for Cocktail Lovers, too.
Where to get it: Straightaway Cocktails, Costco, or Instacart
Cost: $59.95 on their website and free shipping
Bonne Maman Advent Calendar
I look forward to the Bonne Maman calendar every year, and I’ve learned to order mine early because I missed out in 2024 and was so sad. Each of the 24 doors hides a 30-gram jar of jam, fruit spread, honey, caramel, or chocolate spread, and many flavors appear only in this calendar.
However, fan favorites from the Advent calendar can make it into full production, as guava did. If you fall in love with a flavor, tell them and maybe it will be on the grocery store shelves next year.
This year’s lineup includes strawberry with Madagascar vanilla, lemon with lavender, white fig, raspberry with dark chocolate, and mango with ylang-ylang. I’m most excited about the milk caramel with dark chocolate even though it’s technically not a jam.
The 2026 box has a new illustrated design covered in ornaments and ribbon, and every jar sits in its own little gift-tag box. I’m saving those boxes for stocking stuffers once the jars are empty.
The jars stay fresh until June 2027, though I doubt mine will last past New Year’s.
Where to get it: Amazon or Bonne Maman
Cost: $55.99 on the Bonne Maman site and free shipping for purchases over $75
Worldwide Buddies Around the World Advent Calendar
For a kids’ calendar that skips the candy, Worldwide Buddies takes your kids to a different country every day. Each window holds a buddy figurine that doubles as a tree ornament, plus a card with a holiday fun fact and a craft, challenge, or activity inspired by that country’s traditions.
Nothing inside spoils or tears, so you can use it again every year. For kids with allergies or food restrictions, this is a great option that includes them and gives them something to look forward to.
The activities for each day are fun for kids (and adults) and range from learning to say Merry Christmas in a variety of languages to learning about a Buche de Noël (and sharing a recipe to make your own). I also learned a lot of traditions I hadn’t known about before reading them.
Where to get it: Worldwide Buddies
Cost: $17.99
Door County Coffee Advent Calendar
I gave my husband this calendar last year, and it became one of his favorite gifts. He even stretched the bags so the coffee would last past December.
Door County Coffee is a woman-owned roaster in Wisconsin, and I fell in love with their coffee when I visited Door County last year. Each of the 24 doors hides a pre-measured bag that brews a full pot, so you don’t have to scoop or measure before your first cup.
The mix includes holiday flavors like Candy Cane, Jingle Bell Java, and Mistletoe Mocha, along with everyday favorites like Highlander Grogg and Turtles in a Cup. Four coffees are new or only available in the calendar, including Carrot Cake, Peppermint Mocha, and Melekaliki Mocha.
They also make 12-day versions with single-serve cups or hot cocoa packets if that suits your coffee lover better. I don’t know how they do it, but the flavors taste exactly as they promise, without a fake or chemical aftertaste.
For a coffee lover, the Door County Coffee calendar is a favorite, and you’ll find more ideas in my gifts for coffee lovers.
Where to get it: Amazon or Door County Coffee
Cost: $65.99 and free shipping
Delicious Foods Delivered California Advent Calendar
Delicious Foods Delivered fills each Advent calendar with treats from small local businesses, and the California version features 24 makers from across the state. You’ll find bonbons from Coco Tutti, vanilla chai from David Rio, apricot jam from Lala’s Jam Bar, and churro chocolate from Chuao Chocolatier, plus plenty of caramels, brittle, and savory snacks.
California isn’t the only option, either. They make calendars for 34 states, regions, and cities in both 12-day and 24-day versions, plus a gluten-friendly box, so you can send someone a taste of home with shelf-stable products.
My family vacationed in California before we headed out on our Alaska cruise, so this was perfect for me to relive some of those vacation memories. These are also a perfect Advent calendar if you’ve moved from one state to another or have a college kid far from home.
Yes, they offer an Illinois box, and every state is covered by at least one box. Buy yours quickly, though, as the Route 66 Advent Calendar is already sold out for the year.
Where to get it: Delicious Foods Delivered
Cost: $169 with free shipping on preorders
DM Snacks 24 Days of Nuts and Snacks Advent Calendar
I always set out more snacks during the holidays while I wrap gifts and whenever friends or family come over. This calendar gives you 24 savory bites to share instead of another cookie.
Each numbered door hides a sealed one-ounce foil bag, and the flavors are a lot more interesting than plain mixed nuts. Spicy fans get the most love, with Pineapple Heatwave Chips, Lemon Blaze Chickpeas, Wasabi Taproom Mix, and Buffalo Blue Blaze Stix.
You’ll also find smoky barbecue mixes, Truffle Umami Pretzels, Dilly Ranch Corn Stix, plus a few maple snacks for anyone who likes a little sweet with their salty. My personal favorite is the Buttery Bliss Bites, which are just rich enough without being too indulgent.
The box opens like a book and has a gold band around the outside, so it looks great sitting on the counter all month. If you order directly from DM Snacks and want it to arrive closer to December, add a note at checkout requesting a later ship date.
If you’re buying these as gifts, DM Snacks drops the price on its own site the more calendars you order, down to $55.25 each when you buy four or more. Who doesn’t love a deal?
Where to get it: Amazon or DM Snacks
Cost: Around $65
Funko Pocket Pop! Pokémon Advent Calendar
I bought this calendar for my son’s birthday (yes, he got two), and it turned out to be one of those gifts he didn’t know he needed. Each of the 24 doors hides a different Pokémon Pocket Pop! figure up to two inches tall, so he could build a little collection one day at a time.
Or, in his case, he opened the whole box right away and has them in little vignettes. They are adorable and include the most popular Pokémon, plus some I didn’t know by name (he knew them all, of course).
They have the same quality you expect from full-size Funko Pops in a size that fits on a desk. My daughter stole the Piplup right away, since she’s obsessed with penguins.
Nothing about it says December, so it’d make a fun birthday countdown, too.
Where to get it: Amazon
Cost: Around $50
WSJ Wine Advent Calendar
WSJ Wine is The Wall Street Journal’s wine club, and many wine lovers wait all year for its Advent calendar. The 2026 calendar looks like a little house (so did last year’s), so it doubles as a centerpiece, and behind the 24 windows are 24 different wines in 187 ml glass bottles.
No two wines repeat, and they come from all over the world. You’ll find a white Bordeaux, which I fell for in France, along with Austrian Grüner Veltliner, Lodi Zinfandel, Argentine Malbec, Prosecco, and a little extra treat on Christmas Eve.
The tasting booklet is my favorite part. It walks you through each wine with tasting notes and a food pairing, plus tips on how to serve and taste each style so you enjoy every glass more.
Where to get it: WSJ Wine
Cost: $159.99 with free delivery
eat2explore Christmas Around the World Advent Calendar
This one turns the countdown into cooking together. Every four days, you scratch off an ornament on the calendar card to reveal a mystery country, then open that country’s box to make a holiday recipe and learn how people there celebrate Christmas.
As much as I love baking, especially with my family, this is a perfect gift for bringing people together around the holidays. I have so many great memories of spending time with my gram making holiday cookies, and this reminds me of that.
This Advent calendar has six country boxes, and a QR code in each unlocks recipes, desserts, drinks, crafts, and music and movie ideas for that country. The Family Edition keeps things kid-friendly, while the Adult Edition adds a pairing guide with cocktail, mocktail, wine, and beer picks for date night or dinner with friends.
You’ll buy the fresh ingredients for each recipe yourself. In the Sweden box, for example, we received sauce packets for three savory dishes, which is perfect since I’m already making so many sweets this time of year, and I rounded out the recipes with the different meats and fresh ingredients.
Where to get it: eat2explore
Cost: $180 for the Family Edition or $200 for the Adult Edition
A DIY Advent Calendar for Your Pets
Don’t forget the furry members of the family. My DIY Pet Advent Calendar comes with a free printable, so your cats or dogs can count down to Christmas with a treat each day, too.
I’ve also found some pretty cool pet Advent calendars at Costco, Chewy, and even Target. They’re everywhere, but my foster kittens don’t have one of their own (yet)!
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