What Is Advent? Meaning, 2026 Dates and How to Observe It

Advent is the season of about four weeks before Christmas. In 2026 it begins on Sunday, November 29, and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24, which makes it 26 days long. Here is what the word means, how the dates are set, what the candles stand for, and how to keep the season at home.

What is Advent?

The word comes from the Latin adventus, “coming” or “arrival.” Advent is the first season of the church year, so the First Sunday of Advent is also the start of a new liturgical year.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes two sides to the season. It prepares for Christmas, when the church celebrates Christ’s first coming, and it turns hearts toward His Second Coming at the end of time. That is why Advent readings include the prophets’ promises of the Messiah and Jesus’ call to stay awake and watch.

When does Advent start in 2026?

Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday on or nearest to November 30. That puts it between November 27 and December 3 every year, and the season lasts 22 to 28 days. Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, so the fourth week has only 5 days. In 2027 Advent begins on November 28.

The Advent wreath and its candles

An Advent wreath is a ring of evergreens holding four candles. You light one on the first Sunday, two on the second, and so on until all four are burning on the fourth Sunday.

• Colors: Usually three purple candles and one pink or rose. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, called Gaudete Sunday from the Latin for “rejoice.” The United Methodist Book of Worship allows purple or blue for Advent, and the U.S. Catholic bishops note that all-white candles are also fine.
• Themes: Many churches name the four candles hope, peace, joy and love. Others call them the prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherd and angel candles.
• The Christ candle: Some wreaths have a white fifth candle in the center, lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

One verse for each week

If you want something short to read when you light the candle, here is one verse per week. These are also the verses on the free Advent copywork page.

Week 1: Hope

Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him. (Psalm 62:5, BSB)

Week 2: Peace

The LORD gives His people strength; the LORD blesses His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11, BSB)

Week 3: Joy

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4, BSB)

Week 4: Love

We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19, BSB)

Christmas Eve: the Christ candle

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7, BSB)

For fuller readings and a prayer for each candle, see Advent candle readings for 2026.

How to observe Advent at home

• Light a candle on Sundays. You do not need a wreath. One candle works, or four ordinary candles in a row, lighting one more each week. Read the week’s verse, then blow it out.
• Read or write one verse a day. There are 26 days from November 29 to December 24, and one verse takes less than 10 minutes.
• Read together as a family. Pick a set time, such as Sunday dinner. One person lights the candle and another reads. Children can mark off the day on the calendar.
• Use a paper calendar. Draw 26 boxes from November 29 to December 24 and check one off each day you read or write.

Write it out

The free Advent copywork page has the five verses above in the BSB, in Letter and A4 sizes. If you would like a verse for every day, the Advent scripture writing plan gives one verse a day for the four weeks, with the same hope, peace, joy and love themes, and you can reuse it every year.

Penned Grace lets you write scripture by hand, letter by letter, on iPhone, iPad or Android, with your finger or Apple Pencil. It is free to download. The app also has a free plan called Advent in 28 Days, which runs from Isaiah 9:2 to Luke 2:6–7 and John 1:14. Choose it in the Plans tab and the app remembers which day you are on. Its verses are different from the Advent scripture writing plan on this site.