Best men's advent calendars for 2026, ranked and reviewed
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journalism → rank → readers
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‘Advent calendar’ used to mean a flimsy piece of cardboard filled with chocolate that tasted mostly of the box – but those days are gone.
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days → use → box
Today, it’s become a proper gift.
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The kind that makes you look forward to getting up every day during December – even on the days that feel more of a struggle (it is party season, after all).
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it → make → struggle
And, if you think about it, buying 24 presents for the price of one is a complete no-brainer on the value-to-happiness ratio.
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buying → think → ratio
It’s not just a rinse-and-repeat situation, where every guy ends up with the same gift.
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guy → ’ → gift
There are loads out there, so you can find one that’s perfectly suited to whoever you’re shopping for.
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you → be → whoever
Some are packed with cocktails (the good ones, not the kind you’d find on three for two in Sainsbury’s), while others are filled with bathroom staples (cleansers, skincare, shampoo, body wash – the works).
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others → pack → staples
Best men’s advent calendars at a glance
Best for coffee lovers – Grind Ground Coffee Advent Calendar
Best for whisky drinkers – Drinks By The Dram The World Whisky Advent Calendar
Best for grooming – Lookfantastic grooming advent calendar
Best for homebodies – Fortnum’s Tea & Biscuits Sharing Advent Calendar
Best chocolate countdown – Hotel Chocolat Everything Advent Calendar
Then there are some which feel more unique, whether it’s for sharing tea and biscuits 25 times over or a daily protein bar, and, of course, the classics: look out for Hotel Chocolat for the latter.
So, we’ve pulled together the 14 best advent calendars for men that cover loads of categories – creative types, coffee drinkers, timeless gents, gym bros, the whisky obsessed…
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You name it, there’s probably a calendar to match.
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You → name → it
And, trust me, none of them tastes like the box.
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How we chose
First rule of thumb: don’t judge a calendar by its box.
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Sure, it plays a big part – no one wants a hunk of junk sitting amongst their curated festive decor in the run-up to Christmas – but what’s inside matters more.
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’s → play → Christmas
I’ve spent years working at magazines, specifically on shopping desks that receive every kind of advent calendar you can think of [sex toy calendar joke here].
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you → spend → calendar
While that means I’ve opened more than I care to admit, it also means I know how to spot the good ones fast, and the ones padded out with fluff even faster.
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ones → mean → fluff
So, after passing the does-it-look-good-on-the-side test, every calendar here was judged on what’s actually behind the doors.
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what → pass → doors
Where I could, I got hands-on – opening doors, sniffing candles, tasting truffles and pouring the odd dram (strictly for research, naturally).
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I → get → research
The rest come from brands I’ve tried and trusted for years, and I went through the contents line by line to check the contents add up.
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Then, I thought about who each one’s really for, which is why every pick comes with an easy-access ‘best for’ – and, to be honest, I fit every one on the list because I’d be happy with the whole bunch.
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I → think → bunch
★★★★☆
Best: Coffee advent calendar
What we love: Grind’s trademark playful packaging, given a festive twist, and flavours you won’t find in the supermarket
Whoever came up with the coffee pod advent calendar at Grind deserves a raise – has anything ever made more sense?
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Sure, a chocolate truffle or mini moisturiser is a nice way to start the day, but opening the door to a new speciality blend coffee every morning is what he’ll actually want at 7am – especially after a Christmas party.
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he → start → party
From the outside, it looks like a festive door, but open it up, and there’s a beautifully designed deli inside, with a little hatch for each day.
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it → look → day
He’ll work through 17 flavours, from the classic house blend to my favourite, sweet miso, so it’s a great way for him to find which he likes best – and
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he’ll find
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Consider it research for his next birthday present – as well as brain-training for the coffee round at the pub quiz.
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it → consider → quiz
What’s inside: 26 Nespresso-compatible home-compostable pods (two on Christmas day) that span 17 speciality blends
Fortnum’s Tea & Biscuits Sharing Advent Calendar
★★★★★
Best: Advent calendar for the proud homebody
What we love: It’s Fortnum’s, so it’s already a treat, but the pairings are properly considered rather than drinking a random tea with the dregs of the biscuit tin
While some guys like the social side of December, others prefer using the 4 pm sunset as an excuse to stay in – and they’re the ones who’d love nothing more than this tea and biscuit advent calendar by Fortnum & Mason.
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It could be mandarin green tea with stem ginger biscuits or Assam with salted caramel (a personal highlight) – either way, they’re the kind of flavours that make cancelling plans feel completely justified.
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If you want to go all out, though, there’s the full feasting calendar that contains everything from tea to gin, jams, chocolate and a tea towel.
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that → want → gin
- What’s inside: 24 tea and biscuit pairings that include two tea bags per day and 88 biscuits
Pen Store Advent Calendar 2026
★★★★★
Best: Advent calendar for the creative chap
What we love: Serious artist-grade brands rather than the stuff you’d find in a kids’ craft set
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If you’ve been to Stockholm, you might know Pen Store – it’s the Swedish capital’s go-to for artists, illustrators and designers.
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So, naturally, its advent calendar is for guys with a creative streak – the ones always doodling on napkins or making pieces for their own walls.
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calendar → doodle → walls
Or maybe they just took art at school and would love to pick up a brush again – this is more my speed.
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Either way, it includes paints, markers, pencils, modelling clay and paper, so it’s a full taste test.
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Consider it a tasting menu for the art cupboard, just without the wine pairing.
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- What’s inside: 24 artist-grade supplies from brands including Schmincke, Posca, Copic and Sennelier, plus three paper pads
Selfridges Christmas Cottage 3D Pop-Out Advent Calendar
★★★☆☆
Best: Advent calendar for the sentimental man
What we love: The nostalgia – it’s the kind of advent calendar your nan would’ve had above the fireplace, just a little chicer
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Not every guy wants more to eat, drink or find space for – some would rather have something that makes the home feel festive.
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home → want → something
It’s an illustrated, festive Dutch house with a seasonal picture behind each of its 25 doors, plus 3D details like floral arrangements and a couple of dogs which stand up in front.
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At £16, you can’t go wrong.
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- What’s inside: An illustrated 3D pop-out cardboard calendar with 25 doors, each hiding a festive picture
Drinks By The Dram The World Whisky Advent Calendar
★★★★☆
Best: For the one who loves a nightcap
What we love: The world tour of whisky before committing to the full bottle – that can be next year’s gift
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…and 46 more, not listed.
The Aporia
