Chocolates are all well and good, but these days there are plenty of Advent calendars that hide something a little exciting — or unexpected — behind their little cardboard doors. Fans of tiny little beauty products or miniature candles are well catered for, but what about the nerds, hmm?
I’ve had a good old hunt around for what I think are the best nerd-friendly Advent calendars you can buy. Lego’s advent calendars are an established annual delight, but I discovered that Funko Pop also makes a wide range of calendars with dinky figurines to suit various fixations. There are calendars for stationery addicts, Japanophiles, and puzzle-breakers.
While snack preferences can transcend social groups, I couldn’t ignore the appeal of 12 days of artisan cheese (and associated condiments), nor the lure of Red Bull’s Advent calendar variety pack. The latter contains a standard can for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas — although it’s perhaps advisable to spread out the drinking a bit more than that.
Scroll down for 12 days of Advent calendars for every kind of nerd.
Countdown time
Funko
Pocket Pop! Universal Horror Countdown Advent Calendar
sugoimart
30 Nights of Japan Advent Calendar
Red Bull
Variety Pack Advent Calendar
Funko
Pocket Pop! Pokémon 24-Day Countdown Calendar
Met
Museum Favorites Advent Countdown, Second Edition
Joyfy
Countdown to Christmas Rubber Duck Advent Calendar
Papier
24 Day Stationery Advent Calendar
Murray’s
12 Days of Cheese countdown calendar
Lego
Star Wars Advent Calendar
Funko
Pocket Pop! Marvel Advent Countdown Calendar
McSweeney’s
2026 Advent Calendar
