12 days of nerd-friendly Advent calendars — from rubber ducks to Funko Pops

Chocolates are all well and good, but these days there are plenty of Advent calendars that hide something a little exciting — or unexpected — behind their little cardboard doors.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>Chocolates are all well and good, but these days there are plenty of Advent calendars that hide something a little exciting — or unexpected — behind their little cardboard doors. Fans of tiny little beauty products or miniature candles are well catered for, but what about the nerds, hmm? </p><p>I've had a good old hunt around for what I think are the best nerd-friendly Advent calendars you can buy. <a href="https://www.techradar.com/home/legos-2026-advent-calendars-such-a-festive-delight-that-theyre-starting-to-sell-out-already-take-a-look-at-the-full-range-here">Lego's advent calendars</a> are an established annual delight, but I discovered that Funko Pop also makes a wide range of calendars with dinky figurines to suit various fixations. There are calendars for <a href="https://www.papier.com/us/24-day-advent-calendar-544" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">stationery addicts</a>, <a href="https://www.sugoimart.com/products/30-nights-of-japan-advent-calendar-by-sugoi-mart" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Japanophiles</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DN32L3BC" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">puzzle-breakers</a>.</p><p>While snack preferences can transcend social groups, I couldn't ignore the appeal of <a href="https://www.murrayscheese.com/dp/12-days-of-murray-s-cheese" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">12 days of artisan cheese</a> (and associated condiments), nor the lure of <a href="https://www.target.com/p/red-bull-variety-advent-calendar-pack-with-caffeine-energy-drink-24pk-8-4-fl-oz-cans/-/A-1012412619" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Red Bull's Advent calendar variety pack</a>. The latter contains a standard can for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas — although it's perhaps advisable to spread out the drinking a bit more than that.</p><p>Scroll down for 12 days of Advent calendars for every kind of nerd. </p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-countdown-time"><span>Countdown time</span></h3> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146460-cd25-11f1-9a82-c5fb978bff7a"> <a href="https://funko.com/pocket-pop-universal-horror-countdown-advent-calendar/87799.html" data-model-name="Pocket Pop! Universal Horror Countdown Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:66,l:141,cw:477,ch:636,q:80/QmJ568EHN3HcwYMgdBwN6B.png" alt="Pocket Pop! Universal Horror Countdown Advent Calendar"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Funko</div> <div class="featured__title">Pocket Pop! Universal Horror Countdown Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146668-cd25-11f1-a377-d1d593f9fa5f"> <a href="https://www.sugoimart.com/products/30-nights-of-japan-advent-calendar-by-sugoi-mart" data-model-name="30 Nights of Japan Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:66,l:159,cw:675,ch:900,q:80/LSvybSfLALcXps9p4XVxMN.png" alt="30 Nights of Japan Advent Calendar by Sugoi Mart"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>sugoimart</div> <div class="featured__title">30 Nights of Japan Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146532-cd25-11f1-ad1f-67280a5fdd63"> <a href="https://www.target.com/p/red-bull-variety-advent-calendar-pack-with-caffeine-energy-drink-24pk-8-4-fl-oz-cans/-/A-1012412619" data-model-name="Variety Pack Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2c8ryzwFg23yJj5T6RZ4qA.webp" alt="Red Bull Variety Advent Calendar Pack With Caffeine Energy Drink - 24pk/8.4 Fl Oz Cans"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Red Bull</div> <div class="featured__title">Variety Pack Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146884-cd25-11f1-9de3-01cb94123ca5"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DN32L3BC/" data-model-name="Clue Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BsfEEor5q5bJ3EZiyoYVT9.jpg" alt="Clue Advent Calendar: Secrets Under Snowfall | 24 Days | Family Mystery Games | With 6 Winter-Themed Tokens and Surprise | Ages 10+ | 1+ Players"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Hasbro</div> <div class="featured__title">Clue Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e1461ea-cd25-11f1-90a8-eb6ca698043c"> <a href="https://funko.com/pocket-pop-pokemon-24-day-holiday-countdown-calendar/70937.html" data-model-name="Pocket Pop! Pokémon 24-Day Countdown Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.41%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:87,l:122,cw:440,ch:587,q:80/BTuiZq6yjXyPkV3AczsuaD.png" alt="Pocket Pop! Pokémon 24-Day Holiday Countdown Calendar"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Funko</div> <div class="featured__title">Pocket Pop! Pokémon 24-Day Countdown Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146398-cd25-11f1-b9ea-b9f991a8646f"> <a href="https://store.metmuseum.org/museum-favorites-advent-countdown-second-edition-80061502" data-model-name="Museum Favorites Advent Countdown, Second Edition" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q4RPajvuD4jwrw5HkGTqeA.jpg" alt="Museum Favorites Advent Countdown, Second Edition"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Met</div> <div class="featured__title">Museum Favorites Advent Countdown, Second Edition</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e1464ce-cd25-11f1-8389-51d5d446b15f"> <a href="https://www.target.com/p/syncfun-christmas-24-days-advent-calendar-2025-with-24-rubber-ducks-for-boys-girls-kids-and-toddlers-christmas-party-favor-gifts-bath-toys/-/A-91661917" data-model-name="Countdown to Christmas Rubber Duck Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.29%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:29,l:66,cw:799,ch:1065,q:80/5j75WriCcyPbkKx2Lzjw5D.webp" alt="Joyfy 2026 Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar - 24pcs Rubber Ducks for Christmas Gift (countdown Gift Set)"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Joyfy</div> <div class="featured__title">Countdown to Christmas Rubber Duck Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146604-cd25-11f1-93ff-bb50d552b1c7"> <a href="https://www.papier.com/us/24-day-advent-calendar-544" data-model-name="24 Day Stationery Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:0,l:62,cw:810,ch:1080,q:80/girQ7upxUYJywumjUwDUt9.jpg" alt="24 Day Advent Calendar"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Papier</div> <div class="featured__title">24 Day Stationery Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146820-cd25-11f1-9a1f-c51f1c7033f1"> <a href="https://www.murrayscheese.com/dp/12-days-of-murray-s-cheese" data-model-name="12 Days of Cheese countdown calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:131.03%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EjL8DhHEpoRYgbstN6GDfX.png" alt="Murray's, 12 Days of Cheese countdown calendar"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Murray's</div> <div class="featured__title">12 Days of Cheese countdown calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="1e1462c6-cd25-11f1-a4bd-21cbc8f6659e"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-TBD-Star-Wars-75456/dp/B0G5QKD8ZS/" data-model-name="Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 75456" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kCGTvU5CxkJBCD9knnbvcY.jpg" alt="Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar 2026 75456"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Lego</div> <div class="featured__title">Star Wars Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e146334-cd25-11f1-8797-99c93b479303"> <a href="https://funko.com/pocket-pop-marvel-advent-countdown-calendar/94355.html" data-model-name="Pocket Pop! Marvel Advent Countdown Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.13%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:80,l:83,cw:492,ch:655,q:80/mtFLVBqzoCmkX6pZbXpGtU.png" alt="Pocket Pop! Marvel Advent Countdown Calendar"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Funko</div> <div class="featured__title">Pocket Pop! Marvel Advent Countdown Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="1e1468e8-cd25-11f1-a9a8-377fe352f422"> <a href="https://store.mcsweeneys.net/products/the-mcsweeney-s-advent-calendar" data-model-name="2026 Advent Calendar" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:133.33%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:0,l:150,cw:750,ch:1000,q:80/FaZSUZ9JUYCnLwEberJR3d.jpg" alt="McSweeney's, 2026 Advent Calendar"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>McSweeney's</div> <div class="featured__title">2026 Advent Calendar</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> </article> ]]>