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Advent reading path

Advent readings 2026: one Bible reading a day to Christmas

Advent 2026 begins on Sunday November 29 and ends on December 24, Christmas Eve. Advent is the season of watching and waiting before Christmas. The Catholic Church begins it on the Sunday falling on or closest to November 30, the feast of Saint Andrew, which is always the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day; the Church of England and many other Western churches keep the same four Sundays.

Orthodox churches prepare with a longer Nativity Fast, from November 15 to December 24. In churches that keep the older Julian calendar those days fall 13 days later on the civil calendar, from November 28 to January 6.

Each day below opens one short King James Version reading with a reflection, a prayer, and one practical step. The readings move from the prophets' hope, through John the Baptist, to the births announced in Matthew and Luke. Begin on any day; the readings are short enough to catch up.

Print the whole plan on one page →

Advent 2026 dates

DayDateReading
First Sunday of AdventWalk in the light · Isaiah 2:2–5
Second Sunday of AdventComfort my people · Isaiah 40:1–5
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)He will rejoice over you · Zephaniah 3:14–17
Fourth Sunday of AdventFear not, Mary · Luke 1:26–33
Christmas Eve, the last day of AdventNo room · Luke 2:1–7
Christmas DayGood tidings of great joy · Luke 2:8–14

Gaudete Sunday takes its name from the first word of its Latin entrance chant, “Gaudete”, “Rejoice”.

Week 1 · Watch and hope

  1. Walk in the lightIsaiah 2:2–5Isaiah sees the nations streaming to the Lord's house to learn His ways, and swords beaten into plowshares.
  2. Lift up your soulPsalm 25:1–5The psalmist lifts up his soul to God and asks to be taught: 'Shew me thy ways, O Lord.'
  3. A promise keptJeremiah 33:14–16Speaking to a people facing ruin, God promises to 'perform that good thing' He has spoken and to raise a righteous Branch for David.
  4. Watch and prayMark 13:33–37Jesus compares himself to a man who leaves on a journey and gives each servant work to do.
  5. Time to wake upRomans 13:11–14Paul tells the church that 'it is high time to awake out of sleep' because the day is near.
  6. Tears wiped awayIsaiah 25:6–9Isaiah pictures a feast for all peoples, where God will 'swallow up death in victory' and wipe away tears from every face.
  7. Abound in love1 Thessalonians 3:11–13Paul prays that the Lord will make the believers 'increase and abound in love' toward each other and toward everyone.

Week 2 · Prepare the way

  1. Comfort my peopleIsaiah 40:1–5God tells the prophet to speak tenderly: 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.'
  2. The peaceable kingdomIsaiah 11:1–9From the stem of Jesse a Branch grows, filled with the Spirit and judging the poor with righteousness.
  3. Prepare the wayMark 1:1–8Mark begins with John in the wilderness, preaching 'the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.'
  4. The refiner's fireMalachi 3:1–3God promises a messenger to prepare the way, and then the Lord's own coming.
  5. Mercy and truth meetPsalm 85:8–13The psalmist listens for what God will say and hears a promise of peace for His people.
  6. What shall we do?Luke 3:10–14When people ask John, 'What shall we do?', his answers are practical: share coats and food, take no more than is fair, harm no one, and be content.
  7. Tell John what you seeMatthew 11:2–6From prison, John sends to ask Jesus, 'Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?'

Week 3 · Rejoice

  1. He will rejoice over youZephaniah 3:14–17Zephaniah calls Jerusalem to sing because the Lord has taken away judgment and is 'in the midst of thee.'
  2. Strengthen weak handsIsaiah 35:1–6Isaiah sees the desert blossom and tells the fearful, 'Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come.'
  3. Beauty for ashesIsaiah 61:1–3The one anointed by the Spirit is sent to bind up the brokenhearted and comfort all who mourn, giving 'beauty for ashes.'
  4. Patient as a farmerJames 5:7–10James points to a farmer who waits through the seasons for the rain and the harvest.
  5. Little BethlehemMicah 5:2–4Micah promises that a ruler will come from Bethlehem, 'little among the thousands of Judah,' and shepherd his people in the strength of the Lord.
  6. A great lightIsaiah 9:2–7To people walking in darkness, Isaiah announces a great light, a broken yoke, and a child born to rule with justice.
  7. God with usMatthew 1:18–23Joseph faces a hard decision about Mary and plans to act quietly and justly.

Week 4 · God with us

  1. Fear not, MaryLuke 1:26–33Gabriel greets Mary in an ordinary town, and she is troubled by his words.
  2. Nothing impossibleLuke 1:34–38Mary asks an honest question: 'How shall this be?'
  3. My soul magnifiesLuke 1:46–50After Elisabeth greets her, Mary sings: 'My soul doth magnify the Lord.'
  4. The lowly lifted upLuke 1:51–55Mary's song turns to what God does in the world: He shows strength with His arm, puts down the mighty, exalts 'them of low degree,' and fills the hungry.
  5. No roomLuke 2:1–7An emperor's census sends Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, the city of David.

Christmas Day

  1. Good tidings of great joyLuke 2:8–14To shepherds keeping watch at night, an angel brings 'good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people': a Saviour is born.

Through the season