Disney Princesses, Pokémon, Harry Potter, and More 2021 Advent Calendars You Can Buy Right Now
by Sabrina Rojas Weiss and Bethany Braun-Silva
Image Credits: Amazon
Advent calendars sell out long before you think they will, so it’s not too early to order them now!
By their very design, advent calendars are for people (kids and adults) who simply cannot wait until Christmas, so it’s no surprise they’re popular every year. If you think your kids might want a 2021 Disney advent calendar, or any other popular theme, the time to buy them is right now: The most popular toy advent calendars for kids tend to sell out very quickly.
Publisher Igloo Books once again has made its popular advent calendars: The Disney Princess Storybook Collection, the Marvel Storybook Collection, and the Disney Storybook Collection, are now available for preorder on Amazon. Even if you’re not the type to fill a closet with holiday gifts before Thanksgiving, this is an easy step to take right now.
In addition to Disney, there are so many other themes kids will love. An American Girl doll set includes supplies to bake cookies for Santa, and preschoolers can revel in a new set of Thomas and Friends trains or a Playmobil royal picnic set. Lego, Pokémon, and Harry Potter fans can open their own collectible toys all through December, and L.O.L. Surprise and Barbie Color Reveal dolls combine the unboxing experience with the advent calendar tradition.
If you’ve yet to jump on the advent calendar bandwagon, we think we know why they generate so much excitement. Instead of giving a kid all of their treats on Christmas Day, you get to distribute them gradually, over the course of 12 or 24 days. Whether it’s the old-fashioned chocolates, a miniature storybook, or a small toy, each tiny gift builds excitement for the coming holiday. Rather than overwhelming kids with a bunch of gifts all at once, they get to appreciate each of these on their appointed day, while also picturing the big holiday to come.
Below are some of the best advent calendars for kids available to buy now. Because most advent calendars don’t have a year on them (or the days of the week), some of these came out in 2020 or earlier, but they’re still every bit as fun.
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
1 of 21 Image Credits: Amazon
Disney Princess: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar 2021
Celebrate the 24 days leading up to Christmas by giving your princess-loving little one a small paperback fairy tale every day. Ages 3 and up. (Available for pre-order before October 26 release.)
2 of 21 Image Credits: Amazon
Lego Marvel Avengers 2021 Advent Calendar
This Lego advent calendar comes with 24 surprises, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain Marvel, Thanos, and Nick Fury mini figures, plus buildable accessories to create some festive holiday scenes. Ages 7 and up.
3 of 21 Image Credits: American Girl
American Girl: A Dozen Delicious Days Countdown Set
The 12 gifts in this American Girl set provide everything a doll (and her human) needs to bake cookies for Santa Claus, including a real sugar cookie recipe, an apron, miniature baking supplies, and more. Ages 6 and up.
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Disney: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar 2021
Like the Disney princess version, this advent calendar features 24 paperback storybooks individually packaged in festive sleeves. We love the idea of kids looking forward to unwrapping a new book every day. Ages 3 and up. (Available for pre-order before October 26 release.)
5 of 21 Image Credits: Amazon
Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends Minis Advent Calendar
Each day, Thomas fans will reveal one of 24 push-along Mini train engines from the island of Sodor, all dressed in their holiday finest. Ages 3 and up.
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Barbie Color Reveal Advent Calendar
Begin this 25-day countdown with a Color Reveal Barbie that kids dip into warm water to reveal her features. The next 24 gifts include clothing accessories, hair extensions, a pet husky, a polar bear, and other winter-themed surprises. Ages 3 and up.
7 of 21 Image Credits: Walmart
Nickelodeon: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar
This is a collection of 24 miniature hardcover storybooks featuring favorite Nickelodeon characters such as Spongebob, the Paw Patrol pups, Dora the Explorer, and more. Ages 3 to 5 years.
8 of 21 Image Credits: Amazon
Funko Pop! 2021 Harry Potter Advent Calendar
Find 24 Pocket Size (that’s the 2-inch version) Funko Pop! characters from the Wizarding World in this calendar and let your little Harry Potter fan set up their own mini Hogwarts at home. Ages 6 and up.
9 of 21 Image Credits: Amazon
L.O.L. Surprise 2021 #OOTD Advent Calendar
This year’s L.O.L. Surprise calendar comes with a limited-edition Jet Set Q.T. doll, plus enough outfits and accessories to make 25 total surprises counting down to Christmas. Ages 4 and up.
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Marvel: Storybook Collection Advent Calendar 2021
Books about Hulk, Thor, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, and other Marvel superheroes are ready to greet your superfan in December. Ages 3 and up. (Available for pre-order before October 26 release.)
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Lego Friends 2021 Advent Calendar
Among the 24 gifts in this Lego Friends calendar are five dolls, a dog, a cat, a sleigh, a snowboard, a sled, a piano, a robot, and more buildable toys that kids can arrange on the included mat. Ages 6 and up.
12 of 21 Image Credits: Amazon
Playmobil Royal Picnic Advent Calendar
Kids can gradually add to this pleasant Playmobil scene that features a royal family, their poodle and horse, a boat, picnic goodies, and some other animal friends for a total of 24 surprises. Ages 4 and up.
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Pokémon 2021 Holiday Advent Calendar
Behind each of the 24 doors of this calendar is either a 2-inch shiny Pokémon character (Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Eevee, and more) or a holiday-themed toy. Ages 4 and up.
14 of 21 Image Credits: Walmart
Lego City Advent Calendar
We’re excited just picturing how fun it will be to unwrap a new Lego minikit or minifigure each day, gradually building an entire city scene. Ages 5 and up.
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Oriental Cherry Fluffy Slime Advent Calendar 2021
This advent calendar includes 12 containers of slime and 22 containers of slime accessories, like glitter, beads, and ornaments, all counting down to Christmas. Ages 4 and up.
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Alex Toys Craft Crafty Advent Calendar
Kids can get crafty creating this advent calendar, then parents can fill it with fun surprises in the pre-sewn pockets. Ages 5 and up.
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Barbie Dreamtopia Advent Calendar
Kids are gifted a full-size Barbie on the first day of December, then unwrap special clothes and accessories to go with their new toy on the rest of the days leading up to December 25. Ages 3 to 7.
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Disney Frozen Arendelle Advent Calendar
This show-stopping advent calendar is right out of a storybook, literally. It includes 24 Frozen surprises, all housed in a sturdy castle that can be used for years. Ages 3 and up.
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Playmobil Advent Calendar - Santa's Workshop
Kids can construct their very own toy workshop with the help of this Playmobil Advent calendar. It includes a backdrop and everything they need to make a magical holiday scene. Ages 3 and up.
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LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar
This popular advent calendar features six mini-figures and plenty of classic Star Wars icons. Kids can build a mini Millennium Falcon, droids, and more, all with a Christmas twist. Ages 6 and up.
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Hatchimals Colleggtibles - Advent Calendar
This calendar features over 50 surprises for kids to unwrap, leading up to Christmas Day. Plus, each can be a craft project that kids can build to create their very own winter wonderland. Ages 5 and up.
