The best food and drink advent calendars for Christmas 2026

Wine, cocktails, coffee, tea, popcorn, shortbread and jelly beans are among the goodies hiding behind the doors this Christmas, alongside protein treats for the fitness fans.

We’ve tried a selection of the food and drink advent calendars on offer for Christmas 2026.

Alcohol

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Laithwaites Wine - The 2026 Wine Advent Calendar - £99.99

As a wine lover, this feels like a fun way to count down to Christmas, with 23 mini bottles followed by a full-size bottle of Prosecco for Christmas Eve. We tried the mixed version, which offers a good variety of reds and whites, although there are also red-only and white-only options if you much prefer one over the other.

I liked that the mini bottles provide a generous glass rather than just a tiny tasting measure, making each door feel like a proper treat.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

MOTH: Cocktail Advent Calendar - £79

This is a really fun option for cocktail lovers, with 24 cans featuring a great mix of flavours. They have a high alcohol content, with most being 14.9%, and there are plenty of favourites, including espresso martini, margaritas, mojito, cosmopolitan and piña colada. I really liked the convenience of having them ready to serve straight from the can.

A particularly nice touch is that each door has its own little message or joke, which adds some personality to the countdown.

It would also be a brilliant calendar to share with someone, especially if you fancy turning December evenings into cocktail nights.

Fitness

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Myprotein Advent Calendar 2026 - £67.99

This is a great healthier alternative for fitness lovers, swapping the usual chocolate countdown for 24 days of protein snacks, supplements and training essentials.

I liked the amount of variety, with everything from protein bars and cookies to shakes, hydration products, creatine and even accessories such as running socks and a shaker. It’s also a good way to try different flavours and products without committing to full-size versions, with festive options including gingerbread protein and spiced apple cookies.

For someone who takes their fitness seriously, it feels really useful while still having the fun of opening something different every day.

Tea and coffee

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Grind Coffee - Ground Coffee Advent Calendar - £29.95

This is a great choice for coffee lovers who like trying something different, with 12 single-origin coffees offering a mini tasting tour through December.

I tried the ground coffee version, but there are also whole bean and pod options to suit how you make your coffee at home.

The box itself is really pretty and refreshingly different from the typical advent calendar design, so it feels like a nice gift. Each ground coffee sachet makes one cup, and I liked the idea of discovering different flavours and origins each day rather than simply drinking your usual morning coffee.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Bird & Blend Tea Advent Calendar 2026 - £39.50

This is the kind of calendar that instantly gets you into the Christmas mood, with its colourful festive box making you want to curl up with a warm cup of tea. I particularly like that you get two tea bags behind every door, giving you 48 cups in total and the option to share each day's flavour with someone else.

There’s a really good variety too, from classic black and green teas to rooibos, herbal and fruit infusions, so it’s a nice way to discover teas you might never normally choose.

For a tea lover, it’s a cosy Christmas countdown that feels perfect for cold December evenings. I got the regular calendar, but there are also special edition and caffeine-free options.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Teapro Zero Waste Loose Tea Advent Calendar

The 24-day advent calendar is perfect for tea fans, featuring a variety of loose-leaf teas and herbal blends.

It's a lovely calendar to enjoy on cold winter mornings in the lead-up to Christmas, especially with some festive spiced infusions in there.

The brewing instructions on the back of each pouch are handy to make sure you brew the tea correctly.

The tea comes in compostable brown pouches, with jute string and pegs provided if you want to hang it up. It's not the most festive or visually pleasing advent calendar, but it means there's very little waste. You can order it to come ready-to-hang or choose the self-assembly option.

The standalone calendar is priced at £46-£56, which is less than £2 per pouch of tea. Since each portion of tea leaves can be steeped up to four times, it's not overpriced for the quality.

Sweet treats

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Joe & Seph's Classic Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendar - £35

This is a fun alternative to the usual chocolate advent calendar, with 24 small bags of gourmet popcorn and a huge range of flavours. The bags are a great size for slipping into your bag and taking to work for a little snack. The 19 different flavours include everything from classic salted caramel to Christmassy choices like gingerbread, candy cane, toffee apple and cinnamon.

I also loved the presentation: the box opens up like a Christmas storybook, revealing a snowy scene.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Hotel Chocolat Advent Calendar for Two - £29.95

For chocolate lovers who still want the feel of a traditional advent calendar, this is a lovely upgrade on the usual options. You get two matching mini truffles each day, with flavours including Madagascan vanilla and raspberry rush, so there’s plenty of variety.

I shared mine with my husband and really liked that we could try the same flavour each day and compare favourites. That said, I certainly wouldn’t blame anyone for buying it for themselves!

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Walker's Shortbread Advent Calendar - £21

This feels like the perfect calendar for cosy December evenings, with a piece of shortbread to dunk into your tea. It's not just your standard shortbread; there’s enough variety to keep things interesting, including chocolate chip, salted caramel and more.

It still gives you that little daily sweet treat, but makes a nice change from the usual chocolate advent calendar. For anyone who loves a cuppa and a biscuit, this is a simple but very Christmassy countdown.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Mr Jelly Belly Jumbo Advent - £18

My mum is a huge Jelly Belly fan, so this was one we opened together, and it delivers exactly what fans of the brand will want. Behind the 24 doors are individual bags in different flavours, giving you a different sweet treat to look forward to each day, with an extra surprise flavour for Christmas Eve.

It’s still a classic sweet-filled advent calendar at heart, but a nice change from the usual daily piece of chocolate.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

Pringles 12 Days Advent Calendar - stocked at B&M - £11.99

Not everyone has a sweet tooth, and this Pringles 12 Days Advent Calendar is made for those who would pick crisps over chocolate every time.

The brightly coloured festive box immediately caught my eye, and each of the 12 doors hides a handy mini tub of Pringles. There are four familiar flavours, including sour cream and onion and Texas BBQ sauce, so there’s enough variety to keep the countdown interesting.