Advent calendars have entered their main-character era. We’re talking Swedish candy, chili crisp, jam, tinned fish, Japanese snacks, spices, coffee, tea, wine, cocktails—and yes, plenty of chocolate. It’s basically a daily holiday treat-yourself moment, with a different delicious plot twist behind every door.
I, along with the other experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, taste-tested and rounded up the best food and drink advent calendars of 2026. As we sampled, we asked ourselves: Does it feel gift-worthy? Do the items inside feel special enough? Would we be delighted to open each compartment? Were the doors easy to open and the treats easy to remove?
But don’t wait until your group chat starts asking where you got yours: the buzziest calendars disappear fast. Case in point, Sockerbit’s calendar is already sold out on its own site, though you can still find it at [Nordstrom while supplies last].
For the Swedish-candy-obsessed. Sockerbit’s Scandi-cool packaging is filled with generous-size gummies and other Swedish sweets, plus a larger mixed bag every few days and occasional extras like stickers or cards. It’s a fun gift for anyone who’s been influenced by TikTok’s Swedish-candy craze.
Tasting panel comments:
“The packaging is so cute, with a very Scandi pastel vibe.”
“I like how you get a few gummy candies in a pouch for each day so you can take it on the go.”
This one is as much a design object as it is a chocolate calendar. Each unnumbered compartment holds two sophisticated chocolates in flavors like sea buckthorn and basil, so you can follow your cravings rather than a prescribed countdown. Even better, the compartments transform into ornaments you can hang on your tree.
Tasting panel comments:
“The chocolates are exquisite, with really flavors I’ve never had before.”
“The whole concept and design is so well thought out.”
The internet’s favorite jam calendar remains a hit—and it’s one that notoriously sells out fast. Each day reveals a mini jar of an exclusive spread, with dreamy flavors like mirabelle plum and pineapple with lemon verbena tucked into charmingly illustrated compartments.
Tasting panel comments:
“The jams are bright and unexpected. Even flavors I didn’t expect to like won me over!”
“I love saving the empty jars to store spices and syrups.”
A fiery, savory spin on the traditional advent calendar, housed in a festive box decorated with Fly by Jing’s adorable panda motif. Inside are noodles, sauces, spices and other flavor-packed surprises.
Tasting panel comments:
“The external packaging is so cute—I love the festive panda motif!”
“This is such a fun, savory take on the category.”
Calling all Fishwife Heads: This is a seriously fun statement-piece gift. Along with the brand’s signature tinned fish, you’ll find unexpected extras like sardine-shaped chocolates and a fish knife, giving the 12-day countdown enough variety to keep things interesting.
Tasting panel comments:
“This is an impressive gift for the tinned fish lover.”
“I love that you get non-tinned-fish surprises, too.”
A little taste of Japan in every drawer. Bokksu’s 2026 Luminous Japan calendar mixes Japanese sweets and savory snacks with fun keepsakes, including chopsticks and small trinkets, so the surprises go well beyond candy. It’s thoughtfully made, with enough variety to keep you guessing what’s coming next.
Tasting panel comments:
“It’s really beautiful and well-made. I liked that there was a good mix of sweet and savory.”
“I love the two pairs of chopsticks and a small ring dish with Fuji mountain on it!”
It’s like happy hour in a box, no shaker required. Straightaway’s countdown features 12 ready-to-pour canned cocktails in a retro-modern package, with three brand new unreleased cocktails: Marionberry Whiskey Sour, Chile Mango Margarita, and Passion Fruit Martini.
Tasting panel comments:
“The drinks taste like something you’d get from a bar.”
“It’s well-priced and the cocktails are actually strong.”
Finally, an advent calendar for the person who’d take a pickle over a piece of chocolate any day. This savory countdown goes beyond pickles in a pouch, with fun extras like pickle lemonade, pickle seasoning, and a pickle ornament for the Christmas tree.
Tasting panel comments:
“It’s great to have a savory calendar when most are full of sweets.”
“The pickle lemonade was shockingly good!”
A luxe countdown for the Nespresso devotee. The ornate green packaging feels elevated, and each door reveals a different Vertuo coffee along with a look at what’s inside. There’s even a tumbler included, though we wish it appeared earlier in the countdown.
Tasting panel comments:
“I know the exact coffee drinker this is perfect for.”
“I love that it tells you what’s inside once you open the door.”
For the licorice loyalists. This Danish brand transforms the divisive flavor into something downright chic, pairing its signature licorice with chocolate and unexpected flavor combinations. It’s a welcome change from usual candy calendars—and gives licorice devotees a countdown of their own.
Tasting panel comments:
“I became a fan of this licorice when I visited Denmark.”
“Not everyone loves licorice, but you know who they are. This calendar is made for them.”
For the KitKat fanatic who wants to take their break around the world, this Japanese-inspired countdown is packed with individually wrapped KitKat treats. Each day a chance to discover a different flavor, such as matcha, cherry blossom, and white strawberry.
Tasting panel comments:
“I used to ask friends visiting Japan to bring back seasonal flavors of Kit Kats and now I don’t have to.”
“My niece and nephew would love this for Christmas!”
Elegant, refined and famously quick to sell out, this chocolate advent calendar is as beautiful to display as it is to open. Shaped like a celestial winter wreath, its circular design features golden constellations and rich detailing, while each numbered drawer holds a different chocolate treasure, from pralines and ganaches to truffles and chocolate-covered nuts.
Tasting panel comments:
“Each box feels like opening a jewelry drawer.”
“Every chocolate feels like a tiny luxury.”
Testing the Advent Calendars
