Advent 2026: Starts Sunday, November 29 — Dates and Meaning
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026, and ends on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026. The season has four Sundays. Its start date changes every year because Advent always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent prepares the faithful to celebrate the birth of Christ and to be ready for His return in glory.
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, and ends on Thursday, December 24, when Christmas begins that evening. The four Sundays of Advent are November 29, December 6, December 13 (Gaudete Sunday) and December 20. The date changes every year because Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to November 30.
When Does Advent Start in 2026?
Advent starts on Sunday, November 29, 2026, the First Sunday of Advent. It ends on Thursday, December 24, 2026, when the celebration of Christmas begins with the evening Masses of Christmas Eve. In 2026, Advent lasts 26 days.
The Four Sundays of Advent 2026
| Advent Sunday (2026) | Date | Candles Lit | Popular Candle Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Sunday of Advent | November 29, 2026 | One violet candle | Hope |
| Second Sunday of Advent | December 6, 2026 | Two violet candles | Peace |
| Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) | December 13, 2026 | Two violet candles and one rose candle | Joy |
| Fourth Sunday of Advent | December 20, 2026 | Three violet candles and one rose candle | Love |
Why Does the Date of Advent Change Every Year?
The date of Advent changes because Advent always begins on a Sunday, not on a fixed date.
- The First Sunday of Advent is the Sunday closest to November 30, so it always falls between November 27 and December 3.
- The days of the week shift each year, so the date shifts too.
- An easy way to find it is to count back four Sundays from Christmas Day. In 2026, Christmas falls on a Friday, so the four Sundays before it are November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20.
Why Does Advent Always Have Four Sundays?
Advent always has four Sundays, but the number of weekdays changes. That depends on which day of the week Christmas falls. Advent can be as short as 22 days or as long as 28 days.
What Is Advent and Why Do Christians Celebrate It?
Advent is the season of hopeful waiting and preparation before Christmas. It prepares the faithful to celebrate the birth of Christ at Bethlehem and turns their hearts toward His return in glory.
Advent is far more than a countdown to gifts, decorations and parties. At its center is Jesus Christ, the Savior who came into the world and who will come again. Jesus told His disciples, “Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42).
What Does Advent Mean?
The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” Advent looks back to Christ’s first coming, when the Word became flesh at Bethlehem, and looks forward to His second coming at the end of time.
The Mass readings follow this double focus. From the First Sunday until December 16, they look mostly toward Christ’s return. From December 17 to 24, they prepare directly for Christmas, with the prophecies of His birth and the events that led up to it.
Is Advent the Same as Christmas?
No. Advent prepares for Christmas, and Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Shops and popular culture often begin celebrating Christmas weeks before December 25. Catholics may enjoy decorations and gatherings during that time, but Advent remains its own season of preparation. The Christmas season begins only with the celebration of Christmas itself.
What Do the Advent Wreath, Candles, and Colors Mean?
The Advent wreath marks the four Sundays of Advent, with one more candle lit each Sunday as Christmas draws near. A common wreath has four candles: three violet (purple) and one rose (pink).
- First Sunday: One violet candle
- Second Sunday: Two violet candles
- Third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday): Two violet candles and the rose candle
- Fourth Sunday: All three violet candles and the rose candle
At Mass, the priest wears violet during Advent, a color of preparation and repentance. On the Third Sunday, he may wear rose instead.
What Do the Four Advent Candles Represent?
The four candles stand for the four Sundays of Advent. Many families call them the candles of hope, peace, joy and love.
These names are helpful for prayer, but they are a popular custom, not a fixed rule. Not every family or parish uses the same names or order. The growing light shows that Christ, the Light of the world, is drawing near.
Why Is One Advent Candle Pink or Rose?
The rose candle marks Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, which is a Sunday of joy. In 2026, it is lit on December 13.
The Mass that day opens with Paul’s words, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). The change from violet to rose shows that the waiting is almost over and Christmas is near.
How Is Advent Celebrated in the Catholic Church?
Catholics celebrate Advent above all through the liturgy, centered on the Eucharist at Sunday Mass. Each Sunday brings the Church closer to Christmas and renews the call to prepare for Christ. Alongside the Mass, many Catholics keep the season with:
- Family prayer around the Advent wreath, and Advent calendars
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) before Christmas
- Works of charity for people in need
- Quieter, more prayerful days as Christmas draws near
Is Advent a Season of Fasting or Penance?
Advent is a season of preparation and conversion, but it is not a season of required fasting. The Catholic Church today does not set fasting rules for Advent as it does for fasting during Lent. The Church describes Advent above all as a time of joyful expectation.
Still, voluntary fasting, confession, simpler living and small acts of self-denial are good ways to make room for Christ.
How Can Christians Prepare Spiritually During Advent?
Christians prepare for Christ’s coming through prayer, Scripture, repentance, charity and worship.
- Prayer and Scripture: Go to Mass faithfully, pray with the Advent wreath, and read the Sunday readings at home.
- Confession: Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and turn away from sin.
- Charity: Help people in need.
- Simplicity: Cut back on distractions so there is time for Christ.
Many other Christians also keep Advent with similar practices. Advent is not about creating a holiday mood. It teaches believers to watch, prepare and hope.
In Summary
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, and leads through four Sundays of watchful, joyful preparation until Christmas Eve, December 24.
The date changes every year because Advent begins on a Sunday, the one closest to November 30, rather than on a fixed date. The violet and rose candles mark the journey toward Christ’s birth at Bethlehem and point ahead to His return in glory. Before Christmas arrives, the Church gives this season to prepare our hearts and pray with Scripture, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
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