Best Football Advent Calendars for Kids 2026

In short

• The one card advent calendar confirmed for this season is the Match Attax UEFA Club Competitions 2026/27 calendar, listed at £26.99.
• A 2026/27 Topps Premier League calendar had not been announced when we wrote this. The “2026” one on sale now is last season’s (25/26).
• For younger fans who would rather play than collect, SoccerStarz figures (ages 4+) are the pick.
• Club chocolate calendars suit younger fans, and fact-booklet calendars suit readers.
• Pair the calendar with one keepsake present, so December builds to something they will keep.

A football advent calendar turns the countdown to Christmas into 24 mornings of match-day excitement. The catch? The popular ones sell out early, and the naming is confusing enough that it’s easy to buy last season’s by mistake. Here’s what’s actually out for Christmas 2026, which suits which age, and how to make sure you’re getting the right edition.

Prices below are as listed by each retailer on 24 September 2026. Stock and prices change quickly from October, so check before you buy.

What’s the best football advent calendar for 2026?

The best football advent calendar for most kids aged 7 to 12 this year is the Match Attax 2026/27 calendar, because it’s the only current-season card calendar confirmed so far. For younger children, a figure calendar or a club chocolate calendar is usually the better fit.

Here is the quick version:

If the advent calendar is one of several small presents, our stocking fillers list has more ideas at the same price level, and our guide to gifts for boys splits ideas by age.

Which football card advent calendar should you buy this year?

Buy the Match Attax UEFA Club Competitions 2026/27 calendar if your child collects cards. It’s this season’s set, featuring players from the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League. The rest of the range launched on 10 September, and the calendar itself is due in October 2026.

Inside there are 24 packs of four cards. According to the published box breakdown, that includes 10 Festive Edition Snow Globe cards, one guaranteed Infinity card and one rare base parallel. Smyths already lists it at £26.99.

Why do the years look wrong?

Card makers name some sets after the year the season ends, and others after both years. So “2026” can mean the 2025/26 season, while “2026/27” means this one. That’s also why people are still searching for the football advent calendar 2025: they are chasing the same product from a different angle.

The simple rule: look for “26/27” or “2026/27” on the box. If it only says “2026”, check the small print.

Is there a Premier League advent calendar for 2026/27?

Not yet. When we checked on 24 September 2026, Topps had not announced a 2026/27 Premier League advent calendar. The one widely on sale as the “Topps Premier League 2026” calendar is last season’s.

The Premier League’s own shop labels it the “25/26 Festive Calendar”. It has 24 windows with five cards each: 96 Festive Parallel cards and 24 transparent Festive Freeze cards. Topps UK has listed it at £24.99.

It’s still a fun calendar, and it can suit a collector who’s finishing last season’s set. Just buy it knowingly, not because you assumed it was this year’s. If a 2026/27 Premier League advent calendar is announced, we will update this guide.

Football figure advent calendars: is SoccerStarz worth it?

A football figure advent calendar suits younger fans who would rather line players up on the carpet than sort cards into binders. SoccerStarz is the best-known option in the UK.

The SoccerStarz calendar has 24 figures, each about 5cm tall, with a mystery gold figure behind the Christmas Eve door. SoccerStarz describes them as officially licensed collectibles, and the calendar is marked suitable for ages 4+. The official shop lists it at £54.99.

That’s roughly double the card calendars, so it makes most sense when the calendar is a main part of the Christmas budget rather than a small extra. Figures are packed at random, so expect a mix of clubs rather than one team.

Can you get a football advent calendar for your child’s club?

Yes. Many bigger clubs sell their own chocolate advent calendar through their official store, and it is the simplest way to get their club on the calendar.

For example, a Liverpool football advent calendar is easy to find: Liverpool FC’s official store sells an LFC chocolate advent calendar. Check your own club’s official shop first, then its matchday store. Designs usually change every year, and smaller clubs may not make one at all.

Club calendars are ideal for younger fans who care more about the badge than the contents. They also work as a second calendar if a card calendar is the main one.

Football advent calendars for younger readers

Not every football fan wants cards, figures or chocolate. For children who love facts and quizzes, a booklet calendar gives them something to read each morning.

Shoot’s 24 Days of Football calendar has a new booklet behind each door, with facts, quizzes, profiles of football legends and top scorer lists. Check which edition you’re buying, as listings don’t always make the year clear.

Be careful with some online puzzle-book advent calendars. A lot of them are written for American football, which is a very different game to explain on Christmas morning. Look for UK clubs and players in the preview before you buy.

How much does a football advent calendar cost?

Most football advent calendars cost between £20 and £30 for trading cards, and around £50 or more for figures. Club chocolate calendars vary by club and change every year, so check your club’s store for this season’s price.

Based on the retailer listings above:

• Card calendars: £26.99 for Match Attax 2026/27 and £24.99 for last season’s Topps Premier League calendar.
• Figure calendars: £54.99 for SoccerStarz at the official shop.
• Booklet calendars: prices vary by edition and seller, so compare a couple of listings.

Watch the price per door as well as the headline price. A card calendar at £26.99 works out at just over £1 a day, while the figure calendar is closer to £2.30. Neither is a bad deal, but it helps to know what you’re paying for each morning.

If a price looks far higher than these, it’s probably a reseller cashing in on a sold-out calendar, so check another retailer first.

Where to buy a football advent calendar in the UK

The easiest places to buy a football advent calendar are toy shops like Smyths, the official Topps UK store, the Premier League shop and your club’s official store. Smyths is the one many parents search for by name, with click and collect as well as delivery.

A few habits save a lot of hassle:

• Buy in October, not late November. Popular calendars can sell out before December arrives.
• Check the season on the box. “26/27” is what you want on a card calendar, and it matters most when you’re buying from a marketplace seller rather than a shop.
• Watch for mark-ups once a calendar sells out.
• Check the age guidance. Small figures and cards aren’t ideal for very young children.

Pairing the calendar with the big present

An advent calendar is a brilliant build-up, but it’s 24 small surprises. Plenty of families pair it with one bigger present that lasts well beyond December, saved for Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.

That’s where a personalised book comes in. They’re not reading about the star player. They are the star player, scoring for their own club, and we cover every league, not just the big six: the Premiership, the Championship and League 1.

Choose their name, their look, their club. We do the rest, down to their hair colour, skin tone and eye colour, plus a personal message on the inside cover.

Every illustration is hand-drawn by a real artist. No AI, ever. After a month of cards and chocolate, it’s the gift they’ll read, and read, and read again, long after the calendar has gone in the recycling.

For more ideas at this time of year, see our guide to Christmas football gifts. When you’re ready, personalise theirs at fantasyfootballer.co.uk.