It might seem early to start thinking about Christmas, but here comes LEGO to force the issue. That’s because all five of this year’s LEGO advent calendars are now up for preorder. This year’s batch has most of the same themes and licenses as recent years, including Star Wars, Marvel’s Avengers, and Harry Potter, as well as LEGO Friends and LEGO City.
The licensed ones cost $44.99, while Friends and City calendars cost $34.99 (licenses don’t come cheap, it seems). They’re all set to release September 1. Below, we’ve gathered links to all the 2023 LEGO advent calendars, and we’ll keep the page updated as any of them sell out or go on sale at other retailers.
LEGO Advent Calendars 2023
For those unfamiliar with the idea of advent calendars, they’re basically the gift that keeps on giving. Each one is a box with 24 perforated little doors. From December 1 - 24, you open the numbered door that corresponds with the date and you’ll find a miniature LEGO build, often with a Christmas theme.
So one day you might get a minifigure, like Spider-Man or an Ewok wearing a holiday sweater. Other doors contain a piece of scenery you can pose your characters around, like a fireplace or a Christmas tree. The builds are only made of a handful of pieces, but it’s clear a lot of creativity went into their design to make them recognizable on such a small scale.
This year’s Star Wars calendar includes nine minifigures, with characters like Emperor Palpatine, Princess Leia, and a 212th Clone Trooper, plus several droids. It has 10 mini vehicle builds as well as recognizable places and items from the movies, like the Ewok village and the Emperor’s throne. For more ideas along these lines check out our picks for the best Star Wars LEGO sets.
The Avengers calendar comes with seven superhero minifigs, including Doctor Strange, Captain America, Wong, and more. It also includes a buildable Quinjet, Hydra Train, and more. We have a roundup of more of our favorite Marvel LEGO sets as well. The Harry Potter one comes with six minifigures (Ron, Hermione, Harry, Draco, and more), plus a bunch of Hogsmeade Village mini builds. Fun stuff. You can also check out the best Harry Potter LEGO sets for more ideas along these lines.
These sets do occasionally go out of stock before the holidays roll around, at least at some retailers. Preordering is a good way to ensure you’ll get the ones you want. And if you preorder at Amazon, you get the pre-order price guarantee, which means you’ll get the lowest price it drops to prior to release.
For more ideas, check out our favorite LEGO sets for adults.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on (long inhale) Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and the social network formerly known as Twitter.
