Advent 2026
Advent 2026 runs from Sunday, November 29 to Thursday, December 24: four Sundays of waiting, one more candle each week, and a few quiet minutes a day to make room for Christmas.
The Advent wreath in Pray is on iPhone and iPad. See the iPhone app.
At a glance
In Western churches, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. In 2026 Christmas Day is a Friday, so Advent is 26 days long.
| Advent begins | Sunday, November 29, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Gaudete Sunday | Sunday, December 13, 2026 |
| Advent ends | Thursday, December 24, 2026 (Christmas Eve) |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| Length | 26 days, four Sundays |
The Advent wreath
| Sunday | Candle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 29 · First Sunday | Violet | Hope |
| Dec 6 · Second Sunday | Violet | Peace |
| Dec 13 · Gaudete Sunday | Rose | Joy |
| Dec 20 · Fourth Sunday | Violet | Love |
Traditions vary. Some churches name the candles prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds and angels, and some use blue candles instead of violet.
Scripture for the season
Advent looks back to the promises of the prophets and forward to Christmas. These passages are quoted from the King James Version.
Isaiah's promise of a child who would be called the Prince of Peace:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
The prophet Micah names the small town where the promised ruler would come from:
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.Micah 5:2 (KJV)
The angel Gabriel's words to Mary:
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.Luke 1:31 (KJV)
The angel's news to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.Luke 2:10-11 (KJV)
A simple practice
Advent in GraceSpace
From November 29 to December 24, 2026, the single candle in the Pray tab becomes an Advent wreath of three violet candles and one rose.
GraceSpace on Android is an AI faith guide. During Advent you can use it to pray and study the season's passages in your own words.
Questions
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It ends on Thursday, December 24, 2026, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25.
Advent 2026 lasts 26 days, from Sunday, November 29 to Thursday, December 24. It includes four Sundays: November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20.
The four candles are most often named hope, peace, joy and love, one for each Sunday of Advent. Traditions vary: some churches call them the prophecy, Bethlehem, shepherds and angels candles.
Gaudete Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent, which falls on December 13, 2026. Its name means "rejoice", and it is the Sunday when the rose candle is lit.
In many traditions three Advent candles are violet and one is rose, the one lit on the third Sunday. Some churches use blue candles instead of violet.
On iPhone and iPad, the candle in GraceSpace's Pray tab becomes an Advent wreath from November 29 to December 24, 2026, with one more candle lit each Sunday and Scripture and prayers for the season. On Android, you can ask the AI faith guide to help you pray or study the Advent passages.
More answers in the GraceSpace FAQ.
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