Advent Bible reading plan 2026: daily readings from November 29 to Christmas
A dated Advent Bible reading plan for 2026, from Sunday, November 29 to Christmas Day, with one short passage and one reflection question each day.
In this article
- When is Advent 2026?
- Week 1: The promise (November 29 to December 5)
- Week 2: The prophets wait (December 6 to December 12)
- Week 3: The way is prepared (December 13 to December 19)
- Week 4: God with us (December 20 to December 25)
- All 27 readings on one list
- How to use this Advent plan well
- Frequently asked questions
This Advent Bible reading plan for 2026 runs from the first Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2026, to Christmas Eve, December 24, with a bonus reading for Christmas Day. That's 26 days, one passage a day, usually 5 to 10 minutes. Each week has a theme, from God's first promises to the birth in Bethlehem, and each day ends with one question to think about.
Advent comes from the Latin word for "coming". It's the season when many churches prepare for Christmas by remembering how long God's people waited for the Messiah, and by looking ahead to Christ's return. This plan follows that same shape: two weeks of promise and waiting from the Old Testament, then the Gospel accounts as Christmas gets close.
You can do it alone, with a spouse, or around the dinner table. Every reading is short enough to read aloud.
When is Advent 2026?
Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday, so the first Sunday of Advent is November 29, 2026, three days after Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26).
| Advent 2026 | Date | Theme in this plan |
|---|---|---|
| First Sunday of Advent | Sunday, November 29 | The promise |
| Second Sunday of Advent | Sunday, December 6 | The prophets wait |
| Third Sunday of Advent | Sunday, December 13 | The way is prepared |
| Fourth Sunday of Advent | Sunday, December 20 | God with us |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24 | The birth |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | The light has come |
Many churches light a candle each Sunday with themes such as hope, peace, joy and love. The names and order vary between traditions, so this plan uses themes drawn from the readings themselves. Use your church's themes alongside it if you like.
Because Christmas is on a Friday this year, the fourth week is short: five days, from Sunday, December 20 to Thursday, December 24.
Week 1: The promise (November 29 to December 5)
The Christmas story doesn't start in Bethlehem. It starts in a garden, with a promise that a descendant of the woman would crush the serpent's head. This week traces that promise from Genesis to the prophet Micah.
| Date | Reading | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 29 | Isaiah 9:2-7 | Which of the names in verse 6 do you need most this year? |
| Mon, Nov 30 | Genesis 3:8-15 | What does God promise in verse 15, right after the first sin? |
| Tue, Dec 1 | Genesis 12:1-3 | How would "all families of the earth" be blessed through Abram? |
| Wed, Dec 2 | 2 Samuel 7:8-16 | What does God promise David about his throne? |
| Thu, Dec 3 | Isaiah 7:10-14 | What sign does God give when King Ahaz refuses to ask for one? |
| Fri, Dec 4 | Isaiah 11:1-10 | What kind of world will the "Branch" from Jesse bring? |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Micah 5:2-5 | Why would God choose a town "little among the thousands of Judah"? |
The first reading sets the tone for the whole season.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Going further this week: read the stories behind these promises. The call of Abram shows Genesis 12 in context, and the fall in Eden explains what Genesis 3:15 is answering.
If you'd rather keep each day's answer next to the verse it came from, the app's KJV reader lets you highlight a line and attach a note, and it works offline.
Week 2: The prophets wait (December 6 to December 12)
After the promises came centuries of waiting. The prophets spoke of a coming king, a suffering servant and a messenger who would prepare the way. This week sits with that waiting, which is the heart of Advent.
| Date | Reading | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 6 | Isaiah 40:1-11 | Who is "the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness"? (See Mark 1:3.) |
| Mon, Dec 7 | Isaiah 53:1-12 | Why does a Christmas plan include the suffering servant? |
| Tue, Dec 8 | Jeremiah 23:5-6 | What name will the righteous Branch be called? |
| Wed, Dec 9 | Malachi 3:1-4 and 4:5-6 | Whom does God promise to send before the Lord comes? |
| Thu, Dec 10 | Psalm 2 | What does God say to his anointed king in verse 7? |
| Fri, Dec 11 | Psalm 130 | What are you waiting for "more than they that watch for the morning"? |
| Sat, Dec 12 | Zechariah 9:9-10 | How does this king arrive, and when does it happen? (See Matthew 21:5.) |
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament in Protestant Bibles. Turn one page and you're in Matthew, but in history roughly four centuries pass in between. When you close Malachi on December 9, you're standing where Israel stood: waiting for the messenger.
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Going further this week: read the Isaiah summary, since four of this season's readings come from his book, and the Malachi summary to see why the Old Testament ends looking forward.
Quick quiz: Isaiah
In the year of which king’s death did Isaiah see the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up?
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1
What did the seraphim cry to one another in Isaiah’s vision?
“One cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
What name will the virgin give to the son announced to Ahaz as a sign?
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Shear-jashub is Isaiah’s own son (7:3). Isaiah 7:14
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.
Week 3: The way is prepared (December 13 to December 19)
Now the waiting breaks. This week reads Luke 1 and Matthew 1 in order, through the announcements to Zacharias, Mary and Joseph, and the birth of John the Baptist.
| Date | Reading | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 13 | Luke 1:5-25 | Why does Zacharias lose his voice, and what does that teach about doubt? |
| Mon, Dec 14 | Luke 1:26-38 | How is Mary's question different from Zacharias's? |
| Tue, Dec 15 | Luke 1:39-56 | What does Mary's song say God does for the humble and the proud? |
| Wed, Dec 16 | Luke 1:57-80 | What does Zacharias say his son will do (verses 76 to 79)? |
| Thu, Dec 17 | Matthew 1:1-17 | Which surprising names appear in Jesus' family line? |
| Fri, Dec 18 | Matthew 1:18-25 | What does Joseph do when he wakes up, and how fast? |
| Sat, Dec 19 | Mark 1:1-8 | How does John the Baptist describe the one coming after him? |
For the full scene of the angel's visit to Mary, read the angel announces Jesus' birth to Mary. And to see how Luke's and Matthew's accounts fit together, our guide on where the Christmas story is in the Bible puts them side by side.
Week 4: God with us (December 20 to December 25)
The last week is short this year. It moves from why God sent his Son to the night in Bethlehem, then on Christmas Day to the wise men and to the hope that Christ will come again.
| Date | Reading | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 20 | John 3:16-17 | Why did God send his Son, according to verse 17? |
| Mon, Dec 21 | Galatians 4:4-7 | What changes for us because "God sent forth his Son"? |
| Tue, Dec 22 | Philippians 2:5-11 | What did the Son give up to become human? |
| Wed, Dec 23 | John 1:1-14 | What does it mean that the Word "dwelt among us"? |
| Thu, Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) | Luke 2:1-20 | Which person in the scene do you most relate to tonight? |
| Fri, Dec 25 (Christmas Day) | Matthew 2:1-12 and Titus 2:11-14 | Titus speaks of two appearings. What are they? |
Christmas Eve's reading is the one most families know by heart.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Titus 2:13 ties the season together: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Advent remembers that Christ came, and waits for him to come again.
All 27 readings on one list
Here's the whole plan for printing or pasting into your notes.
- Sun, Nov 29: Isaiah 9:2-7
- Mon, Nov 30: Genesis 3:8-15
- Tue, Dec 1: Genesis 12:1-3
- Wed, Dec 2: 2 Samuel 7:8-16
- Thu, Dec 3: Isaiah 7:10-14
- Fri, Dec 4: Isaiah 11:1-10
- Sat, Dec 5: Micah 5:2-5
- Sun, Dec 6: Isaiah 40:1-11
- Mon, Dec 7: Isaiah 53:1-12
- Tue, Dec 8: Jeremiah 23:5-6
- Wed, Dec 9: Malachi 3:1-4 and 4:5-6
- Thu, Dec 10: Psalm 2
- Fri, Dec 11: Psalm 130
- Sat, Dec 12: Zechariah 9:9-10
- Sun, Dec 13: Luke 1:5-25
- Mon, Dec 14: Luke 1:26-38
- Tue, Dec 15: Luke 1:39-56
- Wed, Dec 16: Luke 1:57-80
- Thu, Dec 17: Matthew 1:1-17
- Fri, Dec 18: Matthew 1:18-25
- Sat, Dec 19: Mark 1:1-8
- Sun, Dec 20: John 3:16-17
- Mon, Dec 21: Galatians 4:4-7
- Tue, Dec 22: Philippians 2:5-11
- Wed, Dec 23: John 1:1-14
- Thu, Dec 24: Luke 2:1-20
- Fri, Dec 25: Matthew 2:1-12 and Titus 2:11-14
How to use this Advent plan well
Read, then ask the question, then pray one sentence. That's the whole method, and it fits in ten minutes. If you want a little more structure, use the SOAP Bible study method on one reading a week: write the verse, what you observe, how it applies, and a short prayer.
Read the Old Testament readings as promises, not puzzles. You don't need to decode every detail of Isaiah 11 or Zechariah 9. Ask the simple question: what is God promising, and how did Jesus fulfill it?
For families with kids: read the passage aloud and ask the question at dinner. Younger kids can draw the scene on the Luke days. The Gospel readings in weeks 3 and 4 are the most kid-friendly.
For couples or small groups: each person reads on their own during the week, then you share your answers to two or three of the questions on Sunday. Keep it short.
If you miss a day: read two the next day, or skip ahead and come back to the missed passage on a weekend. Advent isn't a test. The point is to arrive at Christmas having thought about why it matters.
If you start late: begin with the current week. Starting on December 13 with Luke 1 still gives you the whole Gospel story before Christmas Eve. If you'd rather go slower with one verse a day, the 12-day Christmas devotional starts on December 14.
Prefer whole chapters to short passages? Our Christmas Bible reading plan covers December 1 to 25 with 1 or 2 chapters a day, from Genesis 3 to Luke 2. Want to keep going after Christmas? The new year is a natural time to start reading the whole Bible. Our dated 2027 Bible reading plan starts on Friday, January 1, and our Christmas Bible trivia makes a good family game for the week in between.
That's where the app's reading plan fits: you pick 1 to 5 chapters a day, see today's reading on a calendar, and get a short quiz after each one so the chapter stays with you.
Frequently asked questions
When does Advent start in 2026?
Advent 2026 starts on Sunday, November 29, 2026, the fourth Sunday before Christmas. It ends on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The four Sundays of Advent are November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20. Because Christmas falls on a Friday, the fourth week of Advent lasts only five days.
What should I read during Advent?
A good Advent plan starts with Old Testament promises of the Messiah, such as Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7 and Micah 5:2, then moves to the Gospel accounts in Luke 1–2 and Matthew 1–2. Many plans also include passages about Christ's return, like Titus 2:11-14, because Advent looks back to his first coming and ahead to his second.
How long is Advent in 2026?
Advent 2026 lasts 26 days, from Sunday, November 29 to Thursday, December 24. The length of Advent changes each year, from 22 to 28 days, depending on which day of the week Christmas falls. This plan has one reading for each of those 26 days and a 27th reading for Christmas Day.
What are the themes of the four weeks of Advent?
Many churches use themes such as hope, peace, joy and love for the four Advent candles, though the names and order vary between traditions. This plan follows the readings themselves: the promise (week 1), the prophets who waited (week 2), the way prepared through John the Baptist (week 3), and God with us (week 4).
Can I do this Advent reading plan with my family?
Yes. Every reading is short enough to read aloud in a few minutes, and each day has one question to discuss. Families with young children often do best with the Gospel readings in weeks 3 and 4, reading one passage at dinner and letting kids retell or draw the scene.
Is this Advent plan in the King James Version?
The references work in any translation. The quotations on this page are from the King James Version, which is also the version used in the app's Bible reader alongside the American Standard Version. If the KJV is new to you, read the passage once in the KJV and once in a modern translation.