Best Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars 2026: 14 Tested for Kids and Grown-Ups

Chocolate calendars are lovely, but plenty of us would rather skip the sugar before breakfast. If that sounds like your house, you’re in the right place. We’ve tested 14 non-chocolate advent calendars for 2026, from LEGO, Bluey and other toy advent calendars for the kids to coffee, tea and matcha for the grown-ups.

Every calendar here was opened, looked at up close and photographed, so you can see what’s really behind the doors before you buy. Seven are new for 2026 and the rest are still worth a look. Stock and prices can change quickly (the popular ones sell out early), so check the buy button for the latest.

Every Calendar We Tested for 2026:

We tested 14 non-chocolate advent calendars for 2026: nine for kids (toy advent calendars like LEGO, collectibles and building sets, plus two for babies and toddlers) and five for adults (three hot drinks, one beauty and one puzzle). None of them are chocolate calendars.

• Our top pick for kids: My 1st Years Personalised Christmas Advent Calendar House. The quality was better than we expected, and it’s a keepsake you can refill every year with things that suit your child’s age as they grow.
• Our top pick for adults: Holland & Barrett Beauty Advent Calendar 2026. Worth over £266 if you bought everything separately, with lots of full-size beauty and wellness favourites from bestselling brands rather than all minis.
• Star Wars fans: LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026
• Bluey fans: Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar
• Collectors: Mystery Dumplings, Sanrio Bitty Pop! Hello Kitty and Pocket POP! NFL
• Builders: Marble Labyrinth and Magna-Tiles microMAGS
• Babies and toddlers: Mamas & Papas and My 1st Years
• Coffee lovers: Rise Coffee
• Tea lovers: Twinings and Bird & Blend Matcha
• Beauty fans: Holland & Barrett Beauty
• Puzzle fans: Wasgij Christmas TV Special

What’s Trending in Advent Calendars This Year

Toy advent calendars are the big winner with kids this year. Collectibles are everywhere, from squishy characters to Funko Pop figures, and they’re easy to spot on the shelves. Building toys are still going strong too, with LEGO leading the way and magnetic and marble builds giving kids something to make each day. More parents are also choosing calendars without chocolate, which is where toys, tiny treats and hot drinks come in. For the grown-ups, coffee, tea and matcha calendars give you something to look forward to each morning. The popular ones tend to sell out early, so it’s worth ordering sooner rather than later.

How We Tested and Why We Picked These

We wanted a guide you can trust, so here’s how we chose our non-chocolate advent calendars for 2026.

• Hands-on testing: We opened every door and photographed what’s inside up close, then checked it against the box and the product page.
• Quality and play value: Does it feel well made, and is it something you’ll still enjoy or use once the doors are open? With toy advent calendars, we looked at whether kids would keep playing with it.
• Age and suitability: We’ve listed the age guidance for each one so you can pick the right fit.
• Price and value: We included a range of budgets, and each button shows the price at the time of writing.
• Variety: Some kids love building, some love collecting and some are still at the baby stage. The adults’ picks cover coffee, tea, matcha, beauty and a puzzle.
• Honest opinions: If something isn’t brilliant, we say so.

Best Non-Chocolate Advent Calendars for Kids 2026

Here are our nine non-chocolate advent calendars for kids, mostly toy advent calendars, with the newest for 2026 first and the two for babies and toddlers at the end.

LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026

£29.99 at LEGO Shop

This LEGO Star Wars advent calendar is a Mandalorian-themed countdown with 293 pieces and a brick-built surprise behind every door. You get seven mini build vehicles (including a festive X-wing and the Razor Crest), four creatures (the Blurrg, Mudhorn, Bantha and Dewback), and minifigures of the Mandalorian, Moff Gideon and Grogu in Christmas outfits.

Each door has its own little bag of bricks, and the build instructions are printed on the inside of the door flap, so you know exactly how to build that day’s pieces. We loved the tiny Yoda design on the Mandalorian’s Christmas jumper, and the box turns into a backdrop to play on once everything is built. If you’re choosing toy advent calendars for older kids, this is a safe bet because you know the quality you’re getting.

Why we picked it: The mini builds add loads of play value, and it’s the kind of calendar that gets played with long after December. Those minifigures will become treasured additions to a LEGO collection, which makes it a fantastic early Christmas present for Mandalorian fans.

Bluey Fuzzies Advent Calendar

£20 at Selfridges

This Bluey advent calendar has 24 gifts in total, including 8 mini figures and 4 foil trading cards. The figures are Bluey Fuzzies, a brand-new collectible line from Moose Toys with a soft, flocked finish that gives them their fuzzy feel. It comes in an illustrated case designed for multi-use, and there’s a collector’s guide you can download for these new fuzzies that were launched this year.

We loved how they feel, and they’re very cute. They’re small enough for little ones to pop in a pocket and take on their travels.

Why we picked it: A great start to a little one’s Bluey collection, and you can gift them more Fuzzies for Christmas Day itself.

Mystery Dumplings Advent Calendar

£11.97 at Amazon

This calendar has 24 windows, each hiding a random squishy sensory squeeze ball. Some are standard dumpling squishies and others are character dumplings with Santa hats, reindeer ears and festive lights.

Dumplings are very much on trend right now, so this is a squishy take on it. We love how cute they are, and the squeeze is satisfying for stress relief. The surprise unboxing suits collectors, and 24 squishies feels like good value.

Why we picked it: A fun pick for squishy collectors who like not knowing what’s behind the next window, and a nice way to skip the sweets.

Sanrio Bitty Pop! Hello Kitty Advent Countdown Calendar

£25 at Funko

This Hello Kitty and Friends 24 day countdown hides 10 Bitty POP! collectibles, 9 stackable display pieces, 3 holiday accessories and 2 keychain cases behind its tiny doors. Each figure comes in a hard acrylic case with a detachable bottom lid that doubles as a base, and the keychain cases fit all standard Bitty POP! cases.

Each figure is only about 2.3cm (0.9 inches) tall, but the detail is impressive. The quality is spot on, as you’d expect from official Funko products. These are fab collectibles that will last, not flimsy toys. The stackable display pieces are a nice touch too, and by the end of December you’ll have a whole Hello Kitty collection arranged together.

Why we picked it: Perfect for kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) who love Funko Pops, adore Hello Kitty and enjoy collecting and displaying their favourite characters.

Pocket POP! NFL Advent Countdown Calendar 2026

£39.95 at Magic Madhouse

This countdown has 24 Pocket POP! vinyl figures behind its tiny doors, including NFL Santa, Saquon Barkley, Aidan Hutchinson and Ja’Marr Chase. Each figure is about 5cm tall.

The detail is class, with team names and logos on the helmets and the player’s number and name on the back of each shirt. They look great displayed on a shelf, and they’re fun to play with too, because the box doubles as a field.

Why we picked it: Awesome for any NFL fan or collector, and one of the more grown-up toy advent calendars on our list, so ideal for sports loving teenager.

24 Days Build Your Own Marble Labyrinth Advent Calendar

£25 at Menkind

Instead of unwrapping a treat each day, kids build a fully working marble labyrinth piece by piece, ready for the whole family to play on Christmas Eve. It’s two games in one: the classic maze, where push and pull tabs guide your marble through traps and obstacles, then Marble Frenzy mode when you flip it over.

Everything slots together with no glue and no mess. Each day’s step takes about 5 to 10 minutes, so it’s not too fiddly for younger ones but still keeps older kids (and parents who fancy joining in) interested. It’s made from sustainable cardboard with zero plastic.

Why we picked it: Perfect for kids aged 8 and up who love making things, enjoy a challenge or are into STEM. You end up with an actual game to keep, instead of 24 empty doors.

MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Advent Calendar

£39.99 at Amazon

This 34-piece magnetic set is Magna-Tiles’ first ever advent calendar. It has holiday-themed tiles, a Santa and a Conductor figure, and a microChassis that rides on the track inside the back cover of the box.

We think the size is perfect for little hands. The Santa and Conductor are fab and so cute, and the quality is exactly what you’d expect from Magna-Tiles, so you’re not losing anything by it being in an advent calendar. It’s a lovely Christmas twist on their standard tiles, and magnetic building helps with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Why we picked it: Great for little ones and Magna-Tiles fans, and a good choice if you want toy advent calendars that are about building.

Mamas & Papas Christmas Advent Calendar

£30 at Mamas & Papas

This is a calico fabric wall hanging with 24 embroidered pockets and 12 hand-illustrated festive activity cards. You can add your child’s name for a personal touch, and it comes with a red cord to hang it up.

We were really impressed with the quality, and it feels cost-effective for something you’ll use for many Christmases. The red cord is sturdy, so you can hang it at your child’s height, and the pockets without cards can be filled with treats that change as your child grows. It’s soft fabric with nothing sharp or hard, and the picture cards look easy for small hands to pop in and out. If you’ve got a child under 3, keep an eye on the small cards and anything you tuck into the pockets, like treats or tiny toys.

Why we picked it: Mamas & Papas are known for good quality and this doesn’t disappoint. We think parents will see it as an investment that will last year after year.

My 1st Years Personalised Christmas Advent Calendar House

£62 at My 1st Years

This is a painted wooden advent calendar house in red and green, with a pointed roof, a sweet chimney and 24 drawers decorated with festive illustrations like a penguin, a gingerbread man and a sleigh. “Merry Christmas” is painted across the top below a string of fairy lights, and cheeky Santa is hiding in the chimney waiting to be found on Christmas Eve. You can personalise it with your child’s name.

We were so impressed with the quality. The name is carved into the wood, so there’s no worry about it wearing off over the years. You choose what goes in each drawer to match your child’s favourite things, and we appreciated the larger drawer for number 24. It’s easy to clear out too.

Why we picked it: Our top pick for kids. It’s an investment you can reuse every year, from baby to teenager, and you have the freedom to fill it with things that suit their age as they grow.

Advent Calendars for Adults 2026: Hot Drinks, Beauty and a Puzzle

Here are our five non-chocolate advent calendars for adults: three hot drinks, one beauty calendar and one puzzle for a bit of festive fun.

Rise Coffee Advent Calendar

From £42 at Rise Coffee

This calendar has 24 specialty coffees in 17g pouches (enough for 1 to 2 cups each), picked by founders Alice and Ben from 18+ origins. You can choose whole bean or ground to a medium-coarse grind, and it suits cafetière, filter, pour over, AeroPress, Chemex and moka pot. Whole bean also works in a bean to cup machine. Daily QR codes link to videos and stories from the founders.

We tried the whole bean version, ground in our own coffee machine, and the coffees were lovely. We drank them mainly black, with a few with milk. The roasts are generally medium to medium-dark, with tasting notes from hazelnut and dark chocolate (Brazil) to blueberry (Ethiopia) and blackcurrant and grapefruit (Kenya). We also love the ethos, as Rise is a B Corp and gives 1% of sales to a fund that supports coffee-growing communities. Rise say it sold out at John Lewis in 2024 and 2025.

Why we picked it: A delicious treat for coffee lovers who like trying something different each day, with enough in every pouch for a second cup.

Twinings Limited Edition Advent Calendar: 24 Days of Festive Warmth

£13.99 at Twinings

This Twinings calendar has 24 teabags covering fruit, herbal and green teas. There are wellness teas for sleep, immune support, digestion, focus and calm, plus classics like pure camomile, pure peppermint, lemon and ginger, and strawberry and raspberry.

It looks elegant, so it’s ideal for gifting, and you know what you’re getting from Twinings. The teabags are biodegradable and plant-based, and they’ll break down within 6 months in a council compost caddy (slower in garden compost). A few of the teas are green tea or matcha, so not every bag is caffeine-free.

Why we picked it: The affordable option in our tea picks, and a good value way to try something different each day.

Bird & Blend Matcha Advent Calendar

£55 at Bird & Blend

This calendar has 24 tins of ceremonial grade matcha in 24 flavours, making 48 cups of matcha and hojicha. It mixes limited edition flavours like Mince Pie, Eggnog, Hazelnut Praline and Toasted Marshmallow with fan favourites like Banana, Cinnamon Bun and Salted Caramel. This year it includes a hojicha for the first time. It’s plastic free and vegan friendly, and may contain traces of nuts.

We love the dinky tins, and we’ll definitely be washing them and reusing them to hold other things after Christmas. It’s great to start every day with a different flavour. Our favourite was Banana Matcha with cold fizzy lemonade, followed by warm Cinnamon Bun Matcha, which really gives Christmas vibes. There wasn’t one we didn’t like, so we chose which to have hot and which cold. Bird & Blend say it’s worth £80, and it’s on sale for £55.

Why we picked it: A fun, flavour-packed countdown for matcha fans, with no sugar rush according to the brand. It sells out fast every year, so heads up don’t leave it too late.

Holland & Barrett Beauty Advent Calendar 2026

£60 at Holland & Barrett

This calendar has 25 doors hiding 28 beauty and wellness products, including 18 full-size treats from brands like Cetaphil, Dr Organic, Weleda, Q+A, Aveeno and Faith in Nature. Some days have two products in one box. Holland & Barrett say it’s worth over £266.

First off, the box is heavy, but we were seriously impressed. We love that so many products are full size, and that it’s focused on skincare, hair and body care with more natural options instead of makeup. Most of the products are vegan, but a few aren’t vegetarian (such as the Holland & Barrett Bovine Collagen 3000mg tablets), so check the labels if that matters to you. With every beauty calendar there will be an odd item or two you gift on, but here it was only one or two, and the majority was kept and used. These aren’t cheapy products either, and if you shop at Holland & Barrett regularly you’ll recognise a few from your wish list.

Why we picked it: Our top pick for adults. It’s worth over £266 if you bought everything separately, with lots of full-size beauty and wellness favourites from bestselling brands rather than all minis.

Wasgij Advent Calendar: Christmas TV Special

£32.99 at Happy Puzzle

This Wasgij calendar has 24 doors, each with its own 54-piece puzzle inside. Use your imagination to piece together Santa’s trip around the Hollybush Studios, from chaotic cook-offs to glittery game shows.

We love that it can be a family affair or done by one person. Because it’s 24 puzzles, you could share it out and give each person one door through December, which can also help cut costs on advent calendars. The quality of the pieces is lovely and, yet again, Wasgij didn’t disappoint.

Why we picked it: A fun, different pick for puzzle fans, and one that works for solo puzzlers or the whole family.

Non-Chocolate Advent Calendar FAQs

More Christmas Ideas

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