I'm already tracking 2026 beauty advent calendar launches, from Liberty to John Lewis

When it comes to advent calendars, there’s no such thing as too early in the beauty world. From Liberty and Harrods to Lush and John Lewis, the biggest brands have already unveiled their lineups – and it’s only just August. These countdowns for beauty lovers have become a contemporary Christmas tradition. An indulgent alternative to chocolate, beauty advent calendars reveal a make-up, skincare, haircare, or fragrance treat behind each door of December (if you can refrain from unboxing in one fell swoop). Whether it’s a Charlotte Tilbury foundation, a Byredo lipstick, or an Augustinus Bader cream, the gifts last long beyond party season. While once considered excessive, beauty advent calendars have become an increasingly mainstream choice for Christmas gifting – and most sell out by late October. If you’re looking to add a touch of luxury to the festive season, it’s worth deciding which calendar you want to invest in now. Yes, even in the throes of summer. Beauty advent calendars 2026 announced so far Liberty London beauty advent calendar 2026 – £285, but worth £1,300, Libertylondon.comHarrods beauty advent calendar 2026 – £270, but worth £1,039, Harrods.comL’Occitane prestige beauty advent calendar – £169, but worth £269, Loccitane.comLush advent calendar 2026 – £210, but worth N/A, Lush.comJohn Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026 – £250, but worth £1160, Johnlewis.comAs a shopping editor, I’ve covered beauty advent calendars for more than half a decade, reviewing line-ups from Selfridges, Cult Beauty, John Lewis, and Space NK. So far, heavyweights including Liberty and Harrods have already dropped their waiting list, while plenty more are teasing details online – including Gen Z go-to Lush, Provence favourite L’Occitane, and crowd-pleasing John Lewis. The most wonderful time of the year in the beauty sphere, consider this your cheat sheet to 2026’s best advent calendars – trust me, you’ll want to get ahead of the glamorous game. Best beauty advent calendars 2026 Liberty London beauty advent calendar 2026Worth: £1,300 Confirmed cost: £285Number of days: 25Number of products: 29 (21 full size)Advent calendar highlights: Augustinus Bader the face oil, Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C brightening serum, Lisa Eldridge baume embrace melting lip colourAvailable: Pre-orders from early AugustThe 2026 lineup has already been unveiled LibertyWhen Liberty unveiled its beauty advent calendar in 2014, the modern mania began. A snapshot of its iconic beauty hall, the London department store’s annual offering is known for spotlighting more underground brands while delivering reliably luxurious skincare and fragrance staples. The box is worth the investment alone – it takes pride of place on any Christmas display. This year, the retailer has confirmed that its calendar will be available to pre-order from early August, with the waitlist already open. In the line-up, you’ll find Sunday Riley CEO vitamin C 15 per cent brightening serum, Lisa Eldridge baume embrace melting lip colour, Augustinus Bader’s The Face Oil, and Davines Oi Shampoo, among other goodies. John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026Worth: Over £1,160 Confirmed cost: £250 Number of days: 25 Number of products: 41 (23 full size) Advent calendar highlights: Medik8 Hydr8 B5, Foreo Mini UFO, Elemis Pro-Collagen Future Restore SerumAvailable: Pre-orders from 3 August John Lewis This year, there are 41 products, including a huge 23 full-size goodies and 18 deluxe minis. Alongside skincare, makeup and fragrances from the likes of Trinny, Fenty Beauty, Elemis and Gucci, beauty tech features for the first time – including Foreo’s UFO mini, worth £129 alone. Read MoreAmong the full-size skincare products, you’ll be treated to L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil, Liz Earle’s Cleanse & PolishTM, and Medik8’s Hydr8 B5, while make-up heroes span the Sculpted by Aimee Line and Shine Lip Liner and Gloss Duo, Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumising Mascara, and Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand. What’s more, one in 41 customers is in the running to win a mystery voucher: prizes include a Shark face or hair tool, and a Clarins spa treatment. The John Lewis beauty advent calendar 2026 is available to pre-order from 3 August for MyJL Beauty members, who get exclusive early access. Pre-orders will be shipped from 3 September, before going on general sale from 7 September – so it’s well worth becoming a member.Harrods beauty advent calendar 2026Worth: £1,039Cost: £270Number of days: 25 Number of products: 34 (21 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Hourglass ambient lighting blush, By Terry tea to tan for face and body, Medik8 C-tetra advanced vitamin C gel serumAvailable: Pre-orders open in early AugustThis year’s teaser Harrods The Harrods beauty advent calendar is always one of the earliest to launch – and it’s already revealed this year’s offering. Inside, there are 34 products – 21 of which are full-size – spanning make-up from Charlotte Tilbury, skincare from Augustinus Bader and Tatcha, haircare from Color Wow, and fake tan from By Terry.Beauty highlights include Hourglass’s ambient lighting blush travel in luminous flush, a £75 voucher off selected Currentbody Skin devices, Nars’ total seduction eyeshadow stick, Lyma’s power youth cream, and Medik8’s C-tetra advanced gel-serum. It’s sure to be up there with this year’s most covetable calendars. There’s also a fragrance advent calendar (£225 for 12 luxury niche scents), and a 12 days of hair and body calendar (£99 for 17 pampering items), which offer stellar value for money. Boots 24 day premium beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £700Last year’s cost: £150Number of days in 2025: 24Number of products in 2025: 24 (17 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Estée Lauder advanced night cleanser, Drunk Elephant protini polypeptide cream, Benefit hoola bronzerAvailable: Not yet announced BootsThe Boots 24-day beauty advent calendar is a much underrated option. Always affordable, it costs £150 again this year – but is worth £100 more. The exact lineup remains under wraps, but those who sign up to the waitlist will unlock 24-hour early access to buy the calendar before general sale online on Wednesday 2 September. Alongside the premium calendar, there’s also a 24 day skincare offering (£70, but worth £300), and a 12-day fragrance calendar (£90, but worth £345). The 2025 calendar was brimming with premium names and genuinely useful products – think Estee Lauder cleansers, a full-size Drunk Elephant cream that lasted me into the spring, and a Nars primer. I’m hoping for the same this year. Cowshed’s 24 day deluxe advent calendar Worth: £547Costs: £299Number of days: 24 Number of products: 24 Advent calendar highlights: Refresh Hand Wash, Active Bath & Shower Gel, Relax Body LotionAvailable: Waitlist opens 17 August, available from 1 September Cowshed The Cowshed calendar waitlist opens on 17 August ahead of its launch on 1 September. Alongside Cowshed signatures – think the refresh hand wash, active bath and shower gel, and relax body lotion – the calendar features the brand’s new reimagined range of Wildly-Feel-Good fragrances for body, hand, hair and home. In the mix, 24 full-size products draw inspiration from Christmas at Babington House, from roaring fires to champagne celebrations. The handwoven wicker hamper is designed for year-round use, while each door is individually boxed and sticker-sealed for gifting to loved ones. L’Occitane prestige beauty advent calendarWorth: £1269Cost: £169Number of days: 24Number of products: 24Advent calendar highlights: Shea hand cream, almond shower oil, and almond supple skin oil Available: Waitlist open now, pre-orders from 13 August L'Occitane Provence beauty brand L’Occitane is always a favourite for Christmas gifting – and its prestige beauty advent calendar combines all its bestselling formulas into one 24-day December offering. Granted, the value for money isn’t as impressive as other brands – it costs £169 and is worth £269 – but the lineup will make any L’Occitane devotee very happy. From the cult almond shower and body oil to luxurious hand creams, soaps, haircare and skincare – including the immortelle cream, overnight oil, eye cream, and cleansing cream – the calendar is just the ticket for some party season pampering. The waitlists for both the prestige calendar and the more affordable Provence classics calendar (£99, worth £192) are open, with pre-orders from 13 August and general sale from 26 August. Fortnum & Mason beauty advent calendar 2026Worth: More than £1,225 Cost: £275Number of days: 25 Number of products: 25 (24 full-sizes) Advent calendar highlights: Products not revealed, but Clive Christian, Granado and Wildsmith reported to feature Available: Waitlist open now Fortnum & MasonFortnum & Mason is keeping its cards close to its chest with its 2026 beauty advent calendar. The iconic department store has opened the waiting list and revealed that the calendar will cost £275, but is worth more than £1,225. There will be 24 full-size products across 25 days. As for the full lineup, we’ll have to wait and see – but Fortnum's has teased that Ortigia, Wildsmith, Clive Christian, Delilah, Granado, Jean-Charles Brosseau, and Benamôr 1925 will feature. Let’s hope the contents are as gorgeous as the pink, floral-painted box. Lush advent calendar 2026Worth: Not disclosed Cost: £210Number of days: 25 Number of products: 25 plus a reusable wicker basket Advent calendar highlights: Honey I washed the kids body scrub, Christmas tree bath bomb, once upon a single wick candle Available: Pre-order live now for dispatch in October LushThe Lush Christmas advent calendar is always popular – particularly among Gen Z and young beauty lovers. The 2026 offering has already been unveiled, costing £210 for 25 fan favourites and Christmas crackers. Packaged in a reusable hamper – a nice departure from more disposable boxes – it’s brimming with everything from cosy socks and candles to Lush’s famous bath bombs, bubble bars, shower gels, soaps and skincare. Delivering a little luxury to every day of December, it typically sells out quickly – so I’d suggest placing your pre-order now. Selfridges beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £1136Last year’s cost: £250Number of days in 2025: 25 Number of products in 2025: 37 (25 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Jo Malone London english pear and freesia, Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, Hourglass BlushAvailable: Calendar teased but not yet announced Selfridges Many mistakenly believe Liberty was the first to debut a multi-brand advent calendar, but it was actually Selfridges in 2010. The retailer’s line-up has remained consistently excellent – and while the 2026 offering remains under wraps, I’m expecting the likes of Jo Malone, Hourglass, Nars, Aesop and Valentino to make an appearance. Space NK beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £1,150Last year’s cost: £260Number of days in 2025: 25 Number of products in 2025: 35 (26 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Tatcha The Brightening Serum, K18 repair hair oil, Kosas hotliner Available: Not yet announced Space NKSpace NK’s advent calendars are always a starry line-up of both cult classic formulas and viral products. Last year, beauty lovers were treated to Augustinus Bader, Sol de Janeiro, Color Wow, K18, Paula’s Choice and Summer Fridays, alongside popular brands including Refy, The Ordinary and Medik8. With an overall worth of more than £1,150, it was a sell-out success. Cult Beauty beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £1200Last year’s cost: £240Number of days in 2025: 25 Number of products in 2025: 40 (20 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Gisou honey lip oil, Medik8 C-tetra advanced, Charlotte Tilbury beauty light wandAvailable: Not yet announced Cult Beauty Cult Beauty’s 2025 advent calendar offered incredible value for money, with 40 products worth £1200 for less than £300. Who can argue with that? Overflowing with recognisable names, the likes of Gisou, Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass and Summer Fridays were behind each door. This one sold out fast, so I’d suggest signing up for the waitlist to be in the know early this year. Harvey Nichols beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £1000Last year’s cost: £250Number of days in 2025: 25 Number of products in 2025: 37 (20 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Augustinus Bader the rich cream, La Mer renewal oil, Le Labo eucalyptus 20 eau de parfumAvailable: Not yet announced Harvey Nichols The Harvey Nichols advent calendar was as luxurious as you’d expect in 2025. With 20 full-size products out of 35, every day of December promised skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance. Personal highlights included La Mer’s renewal oil, Le Labo’s eucalyptus 20 eau de parfum, Color Wow’s conditioner and a Jo Loves candle. The crowd-pleasing lineup was great for individual gifting, too. Lookfantastic beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £655Last year’s cost: £105Number of days in 2025: 25 Number of products in 2025: 25 (15 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum, Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Marine Cream, Mac lip liner Available: Not yet announced LookfantasticI’ve reviewed Lookfantastic’s advent calendar for several years now – and I’m always impressed with how many covetable formulas are packed in at such a low price point. At £105, the calendar was among the cheapest for 2025. From Elemis and Medik8 to Mac, Color Wow and Aveda, it delivered on all fronts. M&S beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £330Last year’s cost: £60Number of days in 2025: 25Number of products in 2025: 25 (8 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: Benefit benetint, Clinique high impact mascara, Living Proof shampoo and conditioner duoAvailable: Not yet announced M&SWidely considered the best value beauty advent calendar each year, M&S’s lineup reflects its ever-growing beauty hall. In 2025, the box was designed by Bella Freud while the contents spanned haircare, make-up, fragrance and skincare from top brands including Clinique, Color Wow, Living Proof and Cowshed. If you’re dipping your toe into the world of beauty advent calendars, M&S’s is perfect. Sephora beauty advent calendar 2026Last year’s worth: £1,025Last year’s cost: £225Number of days in 2025: 25Number of products in 2025: 41 (24 full-size)Advent calendar highlights: K18 astrolift restorative volume spray, Drunk Elephant C-luma hydrabright serum, L'Occitane almond supple skin oil Available: Not yet announced Sephora Sephora is somewhat synonymous with viral brands and formulas – and its beauty advent calendar is among the more youthful offerings. Make-up included Rare Beauty, Merit and Huda Beauty cult products, while the skincare offering comprised Glow Recipe and Drunk Elephant. Fragrances such as Neom and Malin + Goetz featured alongside hair and body care from Sol de Janeiro and K18. If you’re shopping for a daughter or young family member, this is the calendar to bookmark.