Advent is the season when Christians prepare for Christmas. It lasts about four weeks, and its start date changes every year, which can confuse anyone planning church events, school programs, or family traditions.
This guide lists the dates of all four Sundays of Advent from 2026 to 2125. It also explains how the start date is worked out, what each Sunday means, and how Christians around the world count down to Christmas.
The short answer:
- Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026 and runs to December 24 [1].
- The four Sundays of Advent in 2026 are November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20.
- Advent starts on the Sunday on or closest to November 30, so it always begins between November 27 and December 3 [1].
- It always includes four Sundays and ends on Christmas Eve [1].
- Most Advent calendars run from December 1 to 24, which is not the same as the church season [2].
What is Advent?
The word Advent comes from the Latin “ad-venire,” meaning “to come to” [1]. For Christians, it is a time to get ready for Christmas, when they celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is also a time to look ahead to what Christians believe will be Christ’s second coming [1, 3].
Advent marks the start of the Church’s liturgical year [4]. The liturgical year is the cycle of seasons and feast days that churches follow in their worship, a bit like a school year with its own terms and holidays.
Advent is linked to the Western churches, such as the Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches [5]. Eastern Orthodox churches keep a related season called the Nativity Fast, explained further below [6].
How the start of Advent is worked out
The Catholic Church says Advent begins on the Sunday that falls on or closest to November 30 [1]. It covers four Sundays and the weekdays in between, up to Christmas [1].
A simple way to find the dates for any year:
- Find the last Sunday before December 25. That is the fourth Sunday of Advent.
- Count back three weeks (21 days). That is the first Sunday of Advent.
For example, in 2026 the last Sunday before Christmas is December 20. Three weeks earlier is November 29, so Advent starts on November 29.
Why Advent is sometimes shorter
Advent always has four Sundays, but the number of days changes depending on which weekday Christmas falls on.
- Longest Advent (28 days): when Christmas Day is a Sunday, Advent starts on November 27.
- Shortest Advent (22 days): when Christmas Day is a Monday, Advent starts on December 3. In those years, the fourth Sunday of Advent is Christmas Eve itself.
How long has Advent existed?
Advent is very old. One of the earliest records is a fast before Christmas set up by Bishop Perpetuus of Tours, in what is now France, who led the church there from 461 to 490 [5]. That fast began on November 11 [5].
In Rome, the season was shortened to four weeks, probably by Pope Gregory I in the late 500s [5]. The churches of Milan (in Italy) and Spain kept a longer six-week Advent [5].
The four Sundays and the Advent wreath
The Advent wreath is a ring of evergreen branches with four candles, one for each week of Advent [1]. One more candle is lit each Sunday until all four are burning.
The Catholic Church says three candles are ideally purple and one is rose (pink), although white candles are also acceptable [1]. Purple is the main color of the season and stands for prayer, penance (turning away from wrongdoing) and good works [1].
The third Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, a day of rejoicing [1]. (“Gaudete” is Latin for “rejoice.”) It marks the halfway point of Advent. The rose candle is lit, and the priest may wear rose-colored robes instead of purple [1].
Many churches also give each Sunday a theme, such as hope, peace, joy and love. These themes vary between churches and are a common custom rather than a fixed rule.
Where the wreath came from. The Advent wreath is usually credited to Johann Hinrich Wichern, a German Protestant church worker who ran a home for poor and orphaned boys in Hamburg, Germany [7]. In 1838, he lit a candle each day during Advent, using 23 lights in total [7]. The modern four-candle wreath developed later [7].
How Christians count down to Christmas
Advent calendars. These began in Germany in the 1800s, when Protestant families marked the days before Christmas with chalk marks or candles [2]. German publisher Gerhard Lang produced the first printed calendars in the early 1900s and added little doors in the 1920s [2]. Chocolate calendars appeared in the 1950s [2].
Most modern calendars run from December 1 to December 24 because the church season changes length each year [2].
Daily readings. Catholic weekday Bible readings in Advent come in two parts. Until December 16, they focus on prophecy and John the Baptist. From December 17 to 24, they focus on the events just before Jesus’s birth [3].
Simbang Gabi in the Philippines. In the Philippines, many Catholics attend Simbang Gabi, a series of nine Masses from December 16 to December 24 [8]. The custom dates to 1669, during Spanish rule, when Masses were held early so farmers could attend before work [8].
Many people believe that completing all nine Masses means their wish or prayer will be granted [8]. This is a popular belief, not official church teaching.
Africa’s growing role. Advent is now observed by huge numbers of Christians outside Europe and North America. As of 2020, sub-Saharan Africa was home to 31% of all Christians in the world, more than any other region [9].
Advent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition
Eastern Orthodox churches keep the Nativity Fast, a 40-day period that runs from November 15 to December 24 [6]. During this time, believers fast (avoid certain foods) and prepare for Christmas through prayer.
The tables in this article follow the Western church calendar used by Catholic, Anglican and most Protestant churches.
Advent dates 2026 to 2125 (full table)
All dates below follow the rule that Advent starts on the Sunday closest to November 30 and includes four Sundays [1]. “Days of Advent” counts the days from the first Sunday of Advent up to and including Christmas Eve.
| Year | 1st Sunday | 2nd Sunday | 3rd Sunday (Gaudete) | 4th Sunday | Christmas Day is a | Days of Advent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2027 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2028 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2029 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2030 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2031 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2032 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2033 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2034 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2035 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2036 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2037 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2038 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2039 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2040 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2041 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2042 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2043 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2044 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2045 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2046 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2047 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2048 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2049 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2050 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2051 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2052 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2053 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2054 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2055 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2056 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2057 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2058 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2059 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2060 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2061 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2062 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2063 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2064 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2065 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2066 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2067 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2068 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2069 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2070 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2071 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2072 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2073 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2074 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2075 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2076 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2077 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2078 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2079 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2080 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2081 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2082 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2083 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2084 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2085 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2086 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2087 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2088 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2089 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2090 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2091 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2092 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2093 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2094 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2095 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2096 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2097 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2098 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2099 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2100 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2101 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2102 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2103 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2104 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2105 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2106 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2107 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2108 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2109 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2110 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2111 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2112 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2113 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2114 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
| 2115 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2116 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2117 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2118 | Nov 27 | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 18 | Sunday | 28 |
| 2119 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2120 | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 | Wednesday | 24 |
| 2121 | Nov 30 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 21 | Thursday | 25 |
| 2122 | Nov 29 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 20 | Friday | 26 |
| 2123 | Nov 28 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 19 | Saturday | 27 |
| 2124 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 | Monday | 22 |
| 2125 | Dec 2 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Tuesday | 23 |
Myths vs facts
| Claim | Verdict | What the evidence says |
|---|---|---|
| Advent always starts on December 1 | Myth | It starts on the Sunday closest to November 30, anywhere from November 27 to December 3 [1] |
| Advent always has four Sundays in the Western church | True | The season covers four Sundays and the days up to Christmas [1] |
| Advent has always lasted four weeks everywhere | Myth | Milan and Spain kept a six-week Advent [5] |
| All Advent wreath candles must be purple and pink | Myth | Three purple and one rose is ideal, but white candles are also acceptable [1] |
| The Advent wreath goes back to the early church | Myth | It is usually credited to Johann Hinrich Wichern in 1830s Germany [7] |
| Completing all nine Simbang Gabi Masses grants a wish | Unproven | It is a popular belief in the Philippines, not something that can be proven [8] |
Bottom line
Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 and always includes four Sundays before Christmas. In 2026, it starts on Sunday, November 29, with the other Sundays on December 6, 13 and 20. Because the rule never changes, the table above gives you reliable dates for planning many years ahead.
Disclaimer: This article is for general education only and does not replace guidance from your own church or religious leaders, whose customs and calendars may differ. If you notice an error or would like to send feedback or corrections, please contact us.
References
[1] What is Advent?, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
[2] Advent calendars, explained: Where they came from and why they’re everywhere now, NPR
[3] Advent, Liturgy Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
[4] Advent, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
[5] History of the church year, Encyclopaedia Britannica
[6] Nativity Fast begins November 15, St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church
[7] Advent wreaths, Weihnachtsmuseum (German Christmas Museum)
[9] How the global Christian population changed from 2010 to 2020, Pew Research Center
