The best art advent calendar for 2026 for most painters and crafters is the MEEDEN Christmas Advent Calendar 2026: 24 individually packed painting, drawing and holiday craft gifts, with a QR code to a day-by-day tutorial page. Below it are five other 2026 calendars worth a look, each for a different person: Ohuhu’s marker box, Grabie’s 12-day Nutcracker, a budget acrylic set from DIYDEC, a kids’ craft calendar from ArtSkills and a mini-gallery calendar for art lovers who don’t paint.
Research-based, not hands-on tested. Contents come from each maker’s 2026 listing. Stock checked October 31, 2026: MEEDEN’s US, UK, EU and Australian stores, ohuhu.com, and each Amazon listing with a New York (10001) delivery address. My method.
The short answer
- Best overallthe MEEDEN advent calendar 2026 (BM-0105) mixes watercolor and acrylic painting, oil pastels, markers, brushes, paper and Christmas crafts over 24 days, with MEEDEN’s day-by-day video tutorials. In stock at all four MEEDEN stores. My full MEEDEN advent calendar 2026 guide covers what’s inside and who should skip it.
- For marker fansthe Ohuhu advent calendar 2026 centers on Ohuhu alcohol and acrylic markers. ohuhu.com has sold out, but the Amazon US listing is in stock, sold by Ohuhu.
- For fewer, bigger projectsGrabie’s 12-day Nutcracker calendar has five guided projects and a box that stays out as décor.
- On a budget, or for kidsDIYDEC’s acrylic calendar adds up to a beginner painting kit; ArtSkills’ 25-day craft calendar is ornaments for children.
2026 art advent calendars compared
| Calendar | Days | Main media | What the maker lists inside | Where to buy in the US | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEEDEN 2026 | 24 | Watercolor, acrylic, oil pastel, markers | Paints, oil pastels, acrylic markers, fineliners, brushes, paper, Christmas craft kits, QR tutorials | MEEDEN’s own store | Painters and crafters who want variety |
| Ohuhu 2026 | 24 | Alcohol and acrylic markers | Markers, glitter pens, sketchbooks, paint by number, ornaments, tote and pouch | Amazon (ohuhu.com sold out) | Marker illustrators and coloring fans |
| Grabie Nutcracker | 12 | Alcohol markers, watercolor | 5 projects with QR video tutorials, 3D Nutcracker box | Amazon | Adults who want guided projects |
| DIYDEC acrylic | 24 | Acrylic | 24 paint tubes, brushes, easel, palette knives, canvases | Amazon | Beginner acrylic painters on a budget |
| ArtSkills | 25 | Crafts | 25 ornament and decoration crafts | Amazon | Kids and families |
| Mini Brands Masterpieces | 20 | None (collectible) | 14 mini famous paintings, a statue, accessories | Amazon | Art lovers who don’t paint |
Stock checked October 31, 2026. Seasonal calendars are single production runs, so any of them can sell out between checks.
MEEDEN advent calendar 2026
The MEEDEN advent calendar 2026 (model BM-0105) is my top pick because it covers the most ground: flat painting at a table, drawing and coloring, and handmade Christmas decorations, one individually packed gift a day from December 1 to 24. It is the only calendar here that mixes wet media (watercolor and acrylic) with drawing tools and crafts, which makes it the safest choice when you don’t know exactly which medium the recipient prefers.
What’s inside the MEEDEN advent calendar 2026
MEEDEN keeps each day’s gift a surprise and names the supply types instead of a door-by-door list. Per MEEDEN’s US listing, checked October 31, 2026:
- Paintwatercolor and acrylic painting materials.
- Drawing and coloringoil pastels, acrylic markers and fineliners.
- Brushesbrushes and art accessories for different techniques.
- Paperpaper and other surfaces for drawing, painting and decorating.
- Holiday craftsDIY materials for handmade Christmas decorations.
- Tutorialsa QR code opens MEEDEN’s online tutorial page, organized by day, so each project shows after you open that day’s gift without spoiling the next.
- Boxa double-door gift box holding 24 numbered gifts; 44.5 × 33.5 × 16 cm and 3.9 kg.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
It suits a casual painter, a teen, a couple or a family craft table that wants a short creative session each evening in December. Skip it if the recipient works in one medium with brands they already chose; for them, open-stock supplies from my gifts for artists guide go further. My MEEDEN advent calendar 2026 guide goes deeper on the tutorials, the partner code and how it compares with Ohuhu and Grabie. To paint cards with the watercolors after December 24, my gouache and watercolor Christmas cards guide has five easy ideas.
Where to buy it
The Shop at MEEDEN button below opens the calendar on the MEEDEN store for your country: the US store for the US, Canada and most countries, plus MEEDEN’s UK, EU and Australian stores. All four had it in stock on October 31, 2026.
MEEDEN Christmas Advent Calendar 2026
Best overall
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Days
- 24 numbered, individually packed gifts
- Contents
- Watercolor and acrylic paint, oil pastels, acrylic markers, fineliners, brushes, paper and DIY craft materials (per listing)
A 24-day Christmas countdown of painting, drawing and holiday craft projects, one individually packed gift a day, per MEEDEN's listing.
The widest mix of the six: painting, drawing and Christmas crafts across 24 days, with a tutorial for each day.
Good fit if
- Gift buyers who want a 24-day December countdown with painting and holiday craft supplies in one box
- Mixed-media hobbyists and families who enjoy both flat painting and handmade ornaments
Skip it if
- You want an itemized color and tool list before buying; the listing keeps each day's gift a surprise
- The recipient works strictly in one medium and prefers choosing individual artist-grade supplies
All maker specs
- Days
- 24 numbered, individually packed gifts
- Contents
- Watercolor and acrylic paint, oil pastels, acrylic markers, fineliners, brushes, paper and DIY craft materials (per listing)
- Tutorials
- QR code to MEEDEN's day-by-day online tutorials (per listing)
- Box
- Double-door gift box, 44.5 × 33.5 × 16 cm, 3.9 kg (per listing)
- Audience
- Art lovers, crafters, DIY fans and families (per listing)
- Model
- BM-0105
Worth knowing
- Advent calendars are meant to open starting December 1, so order in November before seasonal stock runs out.
- Because the 24 gifts are surprise unboxings, the listing names supply types rather than every individual piece.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 31, 2026 for this exact variant: 24-day countdown calendar with art and craft supplies (model BM-0105, 2026 edition).How I pick
MEEDEN ARTUp to 12% OFF with my code: HOONGANA
These are partner links and codes: I earn from purchases made with them.
Ohuhu advent calendar 2026
The Ohuhu advent calendar 2026 (Ohuhu Christmas Craft Advent Calendar 2026) is the one to pick for someone who colors or illustrates with markers. Per Ohuhu’s listing, its 24 numbered boxes hold Ohuhu alcohol markers (Honolulu and Kaala series), acrylic markers and glitter pens, with sketchbooks, paint-by-number projects, Christmas ornaments, a canvas tote and a zippered pouch.
Where to buy it: ohuhu.com showed the calendar as sold out on October 31, 2026, and Ohuhu says on its own channel that seasonal calendars are not restocked. The Amazon US listing was in stock the same day, sold by Ohuhu Direct and shipped by Amazon. If it sells out there too, an Ohuhu 48-color brush marker set puts the whole budget into markers used all year. For card and ornament ideas with acrylic markers, see my acrylic marker Christmas cards guide.
Research-basedOhuhu Christmas Craft Advent Calendar 2026
For marker fans
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Days
- 24 individually numbered boxes
- Contents
- Ohuhu alcohol markers, acrylic markers, glitter pens, sketchbooks, paint-by-number projects and Christmas ornaments (per listing)
A 24-day marker countdown from Ohuhu: alcohol and acrylic markers, glitter pens, sketchbooks and small coloring and ornament projects, plus a canvas tote and zip pouch, per Ohuhu's listing.
The marker calendar: Ohuhu alcohol and acrylic markers with coloring and ornament projects, plus a tote and pouch that outlast December.
Good fit if
- Coloring fans and marker illustrators who want Ohuhu markers in a countdown box
- Gift buyers who want a calendar with a useful tote and pouch left over after December
Skip it if
- The recipient paints with a brush more than they draw with markers
- You want a full open-stock marker set; the listing does not say how many markers or colors are inside
All maker specs
- Days
- 24 individually numbered boxes
- Contents
- Ohuhu alcohol markers, acrylic markers, glitter pens, sketchbooks, paint-by-number projects and Christmas ornaments (per listing)
- Extras
- Canvas tote and zippered pouch (per listing)
- Tutorials
- DIY project videos (per listing)
- Audience
- Adults (per listing)
Worth knowing
- Ohuhu's own store has sold out of the calendar in every region, and Ohuhu says seasonal calendars are not restocked.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 31, 2026 for this exact variant: 24-day countdown, 2026 edition (Honolulu 2B, Kaala B and APM-13 markers per listing).How I pick
Grabie Nutcracker 12-day advent calendar
Grabie’s 2026 calendar runs 12 days, not 24, and builds them into five guided projects: alcohol marker shading, a diamond-art postcard, watercolor on cotton paper, a magnetic desk piece, and a painted nutcracker and shrink-plastic bookmark. Each project has a QR-code video tutorial, and the double-layer 3D Nutcracker box is designed to stay out as holiday décor.
Research-basedGrabie Christmas Advent Calendar 2026, 12 Days (3D Nutcracker)
12-day pick
$79.99List Price: $89.99Save 11%
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:36 UTCDetails
Price and availability show on Amazon.
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Days
- 12
- Projects
- 5: alcohol marker shading, a diamond-art postcard, cotton-paper watercolor, a magnetic desk piece, and a nutcracker and shrink-plastic bookmark (per listing)
A shorter, 12-day countdown built around five guided art projects with QR video tutorials, in a 3D Nutcracker box that stays out as a holiday decoration, per Grabie's listing.
Fewer, bigger projects with video tutorials, in a box that doubles as a decoration.
Good fit if
- Adults who want fewer, more guided projects across markers and watercolor
- Gift buyers who want the box itself to double as Christmas décor
Skip it if
- You want one door for each of the 24 days before Christmas
- The recipient wants one medium in depth rather than five small projects
All maker specs
- Days
- 12
- Projects
- 5: alcohol marker shading, a diamond-art postcard, cotton-paper watercolor, a magnetic desk piece, and a nutcracker and shrink-plastic bookmark (per listing)
- Tutorials
- QR-code video tutorials (per listing)
- Box
- Double-layer 3D Nutcracker box with two guard figures, kept as holiday décor (per listing)
Worth knowing
- It covers 12 days, not 24; start it on December 13 to open the last box on Christmas Eve.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 31, 2026 for this exact variant: 12-day countdown in a 3D Nutcracker box, 2026 edition.How I pick
Budget pick: DIYDEC acrylic advent calendar
DIYDEC’s calendar stays in one medium. Over 24 days it adds up to a basic acrylic kit: 24 tubes of 12 ml acrylic paint, brushes, palettes, palette knives, cotton canvases and a folding tabletop easel. It is the budget way here to start acrylic painting with a daily reveal; for a full set chosen on its own merits, see my acrylic paint sets for beginners.
Research-basedDIYDEC Advent Calendar 2026, Christmas Acrylic Painting Set
Budget acrylic pick
$37.99List Price: $40.99Save 7%
as of Nov 3, 2026, 11:36 UTCDetails
Price and availability show on Amazon.
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Days
- 24
- Paint
- 24 acrylic tubes, 12 ml each (per listing)
A one-medium countdown: 24 days that add up to a basic acrylic painting kit of tube paint, brushes, palette knives, canvases and a small tabletop easel, per DIYDEC's listing.
A one-medium countdown that leaves a beginner acrylic kit, easel included, by Christmas Eve.
Good fit if
- A beginner who wants to start acrylic painting and likes the daily reveal
- A smaller-budget calendar that leaves a usable painting kit behind
Skip it if
- You want a mix of drawing, marker and craft projects
- The painter already owns a full acrylic set; the listing does not name a paint line or grade
All maker specs
- Days
- 24
- Paint
- 24 acrylic tubes, 12 ml each (per listing)
- Tools
- Brushes, a folding wooden tabletop easel, palettes and palette knives (per listing)
- Surfaces
- 100% cotton canvases (per listing)
- Age
- Over 6 (per listing)
Worth knowing
- The listing calls it a set for beginners and novice artists; it does not name a pigment line.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 31, 2026 for this exact variant: 24-day acrylic painting countdown, 2026 edition (part DIYDEC-US-XM895M1P1).How I pick
For kids: ArtSkills 25-day craft calendar
For children, a craft calendar works better than an art-supply one. ArtSkills’ 2026 calendar has 25 bags, each one holiday craft (ornaments and decorations, including diamond art and paint by number) with its instructions printed on the bag. For year-round kits by age, see my art kits for kids.
Research-basedArtSkills 25 Day Christmas Craft Advent Calendar 2026
For kids
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Days
- 25 craft projects, one bag a day
- Crafts
- Ornaments and holiday decorations, including diamond art and paint by number (per listing)
A kids' countdown of 25 small holiday crafts, mostly ornaments and decorations to hang once they are done, each with its instructions on the bag, per ArtSkills' listing.
One small ornament or decoration craft a day for kids, through Christmas Day.
Good fit if
- Kids and families who want a quick craft together each evening in December
- Parents who want finished ornaments for the tree rather than art supplies
Skip it if
- The recipient is a teen or adult who wants real paints and markers to keep
- You want open-ended art time; each bag is one set project
All maker specs
- Days
- 25 craft projects, one bag a day
- Crafts
- Ornaments and holiday decorations, including diamond art and paint by number (per listing)
- Instructions
- Printed on each day's bag (per listing)
- Age
- All ages (per listing)
- Model
- PA-9451
Worth knowing
- It runs 25 days, so the last bag is Christmas Day.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 31, 2026 for this exact variant: 2026 edition, 25 craft bags (model PA-9451).How I pick
For art lovers who don’t paint: Mini Brands Mini Masterpieces
Not every art lover wants supplies. ZURU’s Mini Brands Mini Masterpieces calendar counts down 20 days with tiny copies of famous paintings (the Mona Lisa, Starry Night, Monet’s Japanese Footbridge), a mini statue and accessories for a miniature gallery.
Research-basedMini Brands Mini Masterpieces Advent Calendar, Series 1, by ZURU
For non-painters
Paid link · I may earn from it
- Days
- 20
- Contents
- 14 miniature artworks, 1 mini statue and 5 art-themed accessories (per listing)
Not art supplies: a 20-day countdown of tiny collectible copies of famous paintings plus a mini statue and accessories, for building a miniature gallery, per the listing.
A collectible, not art supplies: a miniature museum built one door at a time.
Good fit if
- Art lovers and museum fans who do not paint
- A small gift or stocking-sized countdown for a collector
Skip it if
- You want something to draw or paint with
All maker specs
- Days
- 20
- Contents
- 14 miniature artworks, 1 mini statue and 5 art-themed accessories (per listing)
- Artworks
- Includes the Mona Lisa, Starry Night, Monet's Japanese Footbridge and a pixelated Van Gogh Sunflowers (per listing)
- Age
- 3+ (per listing)
Worth knowing
- One line of the listing says 3 accessories and another says 5; the item bullets say 14 artworks, 1 statue and 5 accessories.
Specs are the maker's own figures from the product listing, not my measurements. Listing checked October 31, 2026 for this exact variant: Series 1, 20 days (model 77856).How I pick
How I picked
I compared the 2026 art and craft advent calendars sold to US readers, kept one per kind of recipient, and checked each maker’s listing and stock on October 31, 2026. Six is deliberately short: each calendar here wins for someone. Not listed: POSCA’s and Pen Store’s 2026 calendars ship only in Europe, Etchr’s sells only on its own store, and Cult Pens has sold out. Read my method.
Questions
When should you buy an art advent calendar for 2026?
Order in early-to-mid November so the box arrives before the first door on December 1. Seasonal art calendars are single production runs and often sell out before Thanksgiving (November 26) and Black Friday (November 27) without restocking; ohuhu.com had already sold out by October 31.
Is the Ohuhu advent calendar worth it?
It is worth it for someone who colors or illustrates with markers: per Ohuhu’s listing, most of the 24 boxes are Ohuhu alcohol and acrylic markers, glitter pens, sketchbooks and coloring projects, and the tote and pouch stay useful after December. For a painter, the MEEDEN calendar fits better, and if you mainly want markers, an open-stock Ohuhu set gives you more of them.
MEEDEN vs Ohuhu advent calendar: which should you buy?
Pick MEEDEN for painting and crafts: watercolor, acrylic, oil pastels, brushes and paper, with a QR tutorial for each day. Pick Ohuhu for markers: alcohol and acrylic markers, glitter pens and coloring projects, plus a tote and pouch. Both have 24 doors; MEEDEN sells through its own stores, and Ohuhu’s is on Amazon now that ohuhu.com has sold out.
Can you buy the MEEDEN Adventskalender in Germany or the EU?
Yes. The Shop at MEEDEN button on this page sends readers in Germany and other EU countries, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland to MEEDEN’s EU store, priced in euros with VAT included, where the 2026 calendar (MEEDEN Adventskalender 2026, BM-0105) was in stock on October 31, 2026. UK readers go to MEEDEN’s UK store, Australia and New Zealand to the Australian store, and everyone else to the US store.
Is an art advent calendar better than a regular art gift?
An advent calendar is best when the daily unboxing is half the gift and the recipient enjoys trying assorted projects. For an artist who wants full-size tools in one medium, a focused set from my gifts for artists guide or a bundle of stocking stuffers for artists goes further.