There are five LEGO advent calendars in 2026. You only need one, and the choice is less arbitrary than it looks.
The short version: Star Wars (75456) for collectors and ages 7+, City (60510) for anyone up to age 9 without a specific theme preference. Disney Princess (43298) is new this year, replacing Frozen. Friends (42698) has the smallest piece count but the tightest thematic fit if your child already has a Friends collection.
| Set | Pieces | RRP | Theme | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75456Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 | 293 | € 34.99 | Star Wars | 6+ |
| 76340Marvel Advent Calendar 2026 | 317 | € 34.99 | Marvel | 7+ |
| 60510City Advent Calendar 2026 | 252 | € 26.99 | City (Christmas) | 5+ |
| 42698Friends Advent Calendar 2026 | 211 | € 26.99 | Friends | 6+ |
| 43298Disney Princess Advent Calendar 2026 | 290 | € 34.99 | Disney Princess | 5+ |
Gift planning without the last-minute scramble
Seasonal LEGO buying is more about timing than ordinary theme guides. A good price helps, but near the deadline reliable delivery matters more. Work with a hard decision date: by two weeks before you need the gift, choose the set; after that, only buy what is clearly in stock.
| Situation | Best approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gift must arrive on time | Buy from available stock with a clear delivery date | Saving a few euros is not worth a late gift |
| Set is for yourself | Set a price alert and wait for a dip | Seasonal sets often drop shortly after peak demand |
| Budget is fixed | Choose size and age first, theme second | It stops a familiar licence eating the whole budget |
From the sets in this guide, I would track 75456 Advent Calendar 2026, 76340 LEGO ǀ Marvel Advent Calendar 2026 and 60510 LEGO City Advent Calendar 2026 first. Not because those are automatically the best deals, but because a price move on a larger or more giftable set changes the buying decision fastest.
75456 Star Wars: the collector’s choice
Star Wars advent exclusives are attractive for a clear reason: LEGO doesn’t release these minifigs anywhere else. A Darth Vader in a Christmas jumper, a Mandalorian with Christmas tree decoration, a Stormtrooper with pine branches. These figures appear only in the calendar and consistently reach two to four times the purchase price on the secondary market.
For an 8-year-old Star Wars fan, this is the calendar. For an adult collector, too.
The 293 pieces spread across 24 windows include mini-vehicles (X-Wing, TIE Fighter, AT-AT in miniature), seasonal builds and 5-6 minifigs depending on the edition.
76340 Marvel: most pieces, fewer exclusive figures
With 317 pieces, Marvel is the chunkiest calendar of 2026. Spider-Man, Avengers and X-Men characters sit across the 24 windows. The catch for collectors is that most Marvel minifigs also turn up in cheaper smaller sets. The calendar isn’t the only way to get a Spider-Man figure.
For a child who cares more about building than minifig rarity, Marvel wins on piece count. For the collector, Star Wars stays ahead.
60510 City: the safe choice
No licence theme, no collecting pressure, 252 pieces. The City calendar is the best option when you don’t know the child’s exact theme preference, or when you want one calendar for multiple children to open together. Small vehicles, Christmas-themed mini-scenes, a few mini-figures. Works universally for ages 5 to 9.
42698 Friends: only if Friends is already the theme
The Friends calendar is the smallest of the five (211 pieces). Heartlake City characters, small shops, animals. My recommendation: only buy it if the child already has a Friends foundation. As a standalone calendar without that context, it delivers less than City at the same price.
43298 Disney Princess: new, replacing Frozen
Frozen doesn’t return in 2026. Disney Princess fills that gap with 290 pieces and characters from multiple princess films: Belle, Ariel, Rapunzel, Mulan and Jasmine. That’s broader coverage than Frozen alone had, a plus for anyone who already owns multiple Disney princess sets. For children aged 5 to 8 with that preference, this is the direct choice.
When to buy: the hard deadline
LEGO advent calendars appear each year in September or October. Here is how the pricing typically moves:
| Period | Situation |
|---|---|
| September–October | Full selection, RRP price |
| November | Still in stock, first light price drops at Amazon.nl and Bol.com |
| Black Friday week (late November) | 15-20% off, but Star Wars and Marvel go fast |
| 1 December onwards | Sold out or back to RRP, no advantage left |
Order advice: before 20 November for certainty. For the Black Friday price drop, buy as soon as the deal goes live and set a price alert on the Star Wars theme page. That calendar goes first.
My pick in 30 seconds
Child with Star Wars preference, age 7 or over: 75456 Star Wars. Child without a strong theme, ages 5 to 9: 60510 City. Child with a Friends collection: 42698 Friends. Child with Disney Princess preference: 43298 Disney Princess. Child who collects Marvel but cares more about building than minifigs: 76340 Marvel.
Buying the calendar for yourself as a collector? Star Wars, no question. The Marvel calendar has more pieces but no minifigs that justify the secondary-market resale value.
Current prices tracked for Amazon.nl, Bol.com, Intertoys, Wehkamp and LEGO.com. Piece counts and RRP based on LEGO.com catalogue data, May 2026.
The five 2026 calendars
Star Wars, Marvel, City, Friends and Disney Princess - the full 2026 advent calendar line.
Which advent calendar fits your situation?
The four picks from this guide that make the most difference depending on recipient, purpose and budget.
Star Wars consistently has the most sought-after advent exclusives. If you're buying one calendar and the recipient is 7 or older, this is the choice you'll rarely regret.
Marvel is the safest pick when you don't know the exact theme. Spider-Man and Avengers land with children who've never specifically asked for Marvel.
City has no licence pressure. The 24 mini-scenes sit on a windowsill without needing any context to justify them.
Disney Princess is new in 2026 and market demand is still unknown. If the price moves before the season, this is the calendar that changes the buying decision fastest.
