For Christmas 2026 (as of 24 October 2026): stock advent calendars with your logo on a sleeve, sticker or card need 5–10 working days of print and must ship by about 20 November to arrive before 1 December. Christmas hampers should be ordered by about 1 December for EU delivery by 15–18 December. Fully custom advent calendars are for season 2027, best ordered January–August 2027, with early-bird pricing for orders confirmed by 31 March 2027.
Season timeline
Today: request a proposal
Stock calendars with your sleeve, hampers and teddies with logo are still possible. Send quantity and delivery date now.
Target date for calendar artwork approval
With 5–10 working days of print, approving in early November keeps a safe margin before dispatch.
Last comfortable approval for small runs
Smaller quantities with a 5-day print can still meet the dispatch date. After this date, please confirm with us first.
Latest calendar dispatch
Latest dispatch for advent calendars to arrive before 1 December.
First Sunday of Advent
Many offices distribute calendars on the preceding Friday.
Advent begins · last orders for hampers
Door 1 opens. Order hampers by about this date for EU delivery by 15–18 December.
Hampers arriving in the EU
EU delivery window for hampers opens: 15–18 December.
Christmas Eve
Season 2026 closes. Planning for 2027 begins.
Plan season 2027 · New Year gifts
Recommended start for fully custom calendars. Custom plush mascots ordered in autumn can be delivered for January kick-offs. Orthodox Christmas on 7 January.
Lunar New Year (17 Feb)
An occasion for New Year gifts to partners in Asia. Finalise your 2027 calendar brief.
Early-bird deadline
Season 2027 orders confirmed by this date receive early-bird pricing.
Design and samples
Mock-ups, physical samples and approvals for custom boxes and moulds.
Main window for custom calendars
Production planning for custom shapes and moulds, including Asia with several weeks of sea freight.
Hamper planning starts
Choose themes and budgets for Christmas 2027 hampers. Custom calendar slots get scarce.
Stock calendars and hampers
Late orders move to stock calendars with sleeve or card, and hampers.
Dispatch season
Calendars ship to arrive before 1 December 2027; hamper orders close around the end of the month.
Doors open again
Orders planned in spring are delivered without time pressure.
Why the advent calendar deadline is fixed
A hamper that arrives on 16 December is on time. An advent calendar that arrives on 4 December is missing three doors. Advent starts on 1 December; in 2026 that is a Tuesday, and the first Sunday of Advent is 29 November. For advent calendars the relevant date is therefore not Christmas, but the day before door 1.
Season 2026 deadlines (as of 24 October 2026)
| Product | Possible for 2026? | Key date |
|---|---|---|
| Stock advent calendar + printed sleeve, sticker or card | Yes, from 50 pcs | Print 5–10 working days; ship by ~20 November |
| Custom-printed chocolate calendar (full box design) | No | Season 2027, from 250 pcs |
| Custom box shape, custom chocolate mould, Asia production | No | Season 2027 |
| Christmas hampers with logo on box, ribbon or card | Yes, from 25 pcs | Order by ~1 December; EU delivery 15–18 December |
| Teddy with embroidered logo | Yes, from 50 pcs | Contact us now; date confirmed in your proposal |
| Custom plush mascot from scratch | No (sample 2–3 weeks + production 4–8 weeks) | New Year/January 2027 or season 2027 |
| Baubles, chocolate Santas | On request | Date confirmed in your proposal |
Dates for deliveries outside the EU may be earlier because of transit and customs; we confirm them in your proposal. See also the country pages.
How lead times work for custom products
Fully custom calendars involve box design, sampling, printing, filling and, for some components, production in Asia with several weeks of sea freight. Many manufacturers allocate custom capacity months ahead and close custom slots by late summer, while multi-address delivery adds handling time on top.
Our recommendation is straightforward: for Christmas 2026, personalise stock products; for Christmas 2027, plan custom products between January and August 2027. For repeat seasons, a framework agreement lets you reserve capacity early.
Planning across three seasons
How to meet your date
Contact us early
Product, quantity, delivery date and destination countries.
Approve the mock-up promptly
It arrives within 1–2 working days; quick approval protects the schedule.
Send addresses with the order
For home delivery, a complete CSV list avoids last-minute delays.
Keep a buffer
Plan delivery a few days before your event, not on the day.
Request a proposal
Send us the product, quantity and the date gifts must be in hands. We reply with a clear yes, no or alternative, plus a free digital mock-up within 1–2 working days.
Request a proposal or email hello@merryvent.com, phone +48 577 723 719.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last day to order an advent calendar with logo for 2026?
Calendars must ship by about 20 November to arrive before 1 December. With 5–10 working days of print, artwork should be approved in early November.
When should we order corporate Christmas gifts?
For this Christmas: hampers by about 1 December for EU delivery by 15–18 December. For custom gifts next year, between January and August 2027.
Can I get a fully custom advent calendar for this Christmas?
No. Custom box shapes, full custom print, custom chocolate moulds and Asia production are for season 2027.
Is there an early-bird discount for 2027?
Yes, early-bird pricing applies to season 2027 orders confirmed by 31 March 2027.
Are dates different outside the EU?
Usually earlier, because of transit and customs. We confirm the exact date in your proposal.