Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, always on a Sunday between November 27 and December 3 in Western Christian traditions. In 2026, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29, and runs until Christmas Eve on December 24.

What Advent Is

Advent is a season of preparation and expectation before Christmas in many Western Christian churches. It looks both to the celebration of Jesus’ birth and to the hoped‑for return of Christ at the end of time.

General Rule for Start Date

  • Starts on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St. Andrew (November 30).
  • Is counted as four Sundays before Christmas, so its length varies between 22 and 28 days.
  • Therefore it can begin as early as November 27 and as late as December 3.

Upcoming Advent Dates (Example Years)

[9][5] [3][5][1] [5]
YearAdvent startAdvent end
2025Sunday, November 30Wednesday, December 24
2026Sunday, November 29Thursday, December 24
2027Sunday, November 28Friday, December 24

Advent vs Advent Calendars

Liturgical Advent follows the four‑Sundays rule above, but popular “Advent calendars” often start on December 1 and simply count down the days to Christmas. Both are tied to Christmas anticipation, but the church season’s start date depends on the Sunday pattern, not the civil calendar.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.