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Advent devotional for families: a free 25-day reading plan for 2026
A family Advent devotional does not need to be long to be worth doing. Ten minutes after dinner, a candle and an open Bible is plenty.
Below is a free reading plan for Advent 2026 that follows the story that leads to the manger, the four candle Sundays with a verse for each, and a simple way to lead it at home with any mix of ages.
Advent 2026 dates
- First Sunday of Advent: Sunday 29 November 2026
- Second Sunday: 6 December
- Third Sunday: 13 December
- Fourth Sunday: 20 December
- Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
The daily readings start on Tuesday 1 December, so they line up with an Advent calendar, and finish on Christmas Day.
A ten-minute routine
- Light a candle and read. One person reads the passage aloud. If people are tired, read just the first few verses.
- Talk. Ask one open question, such as “What surprised you?” or “Who in this story had to wait?” Let everyone answer, adults included.
- Pray. Keep it short. One sentence each is fine.
On nights when everything runs late, read one verse and stop there. Keeping the thread going matters more than finishing every step.
Free printable: Advent candle Sundays 2026
| Date | Candle | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 29 November 2026 | Hope | Romans 15:13 |
| Sunday 6 December 2026 | Peace | John 14:27 |
| Sunday 13 December 2026 | Joy | Philippians 4:4 |
| Sunday 20 December 2026 | Love | 1 John 4:9 |
| Christmas Eve or Day 2026 | Christ | John 8:12 |
Free printable: 25-day family Advent reading plan
| Date | Theme | Read | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 1 Dec | Light in the Dark | John 1:1-5 | |
| Wednesday 2 Dec | A Promise Spoken Early | Genesis 3:8-15 | |
| Thursday 3 Dec | Count the Stars | Genesis 15:1-6 | |
| Friday 4 Dec | Where You Go, I Will Go | Ruth 1:1-18 | |
| Saturday 5 Dec | The Youngest Son | 1 Samuel 16:1-13 | |
| Sunday 6 Dec | A House That Lasts | 2 Samuel 7:1-16 | |
| Monday 7 Dec | A Shoot from a Stump | Isaiah 11:1-9 | |
| Tuesday 8 Dec | A Child Is Born | Isaiah 9:2-7 | |
| Wednesday 9 Dec | Like a Shepherd | Isaiah 40:1-11 | |
| Thursday 10 Dec | Small Town, Big Promise | Micah 5:2-5a | |
| Friday 11 Dec | God With Us | Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23 | |
| Saturday 12 Dec | Make a Road | Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1 | |
| Sunday 13 Dec | An Old Man’s Prayer | Luke 1:5-25 | |
| Monday 14 Dec | Nothing Is Impossible | Luke 1:26-38 | |
| Tuesday 15 Dec | A Welcome at the Door | Luke 1:39-45 | |
| Wednesday 16 Dec | Mary’s Song | Luke 1:46-55 | |
| Thursday 17 Dec | His Name Is John | Luke 1:57-66 | |
| Friday 18 Dec | Morning Is Coming | Luke 1:67-79 | |
| Saturday 19 Dec | Joseph’s Choice | Matthew 1:18-25 | |
| Sunday 20 Dec | The Long Road | Luke 2:1-5 | |
| Monday 21 Dec | No Room | Luke 2:6-7 | |
| Tuesday 22 Dec | Good News for Shepherds | Luke 2:8-14 | |
| Wednesday 23 Dec | Treasure and Ponder | Luke 2:15-20 | |
| Thursday 24 Dec | The Word Became Flesh | John 1:1-14 | |
| Friday 25 Dec | The Gift | Luke 2:1-20; John 3:16 |
Passages are references, so you can read them in the Bible you already use.
Tips for mixed ages
- Give everyone a job: reading, lighting the candle, choosing a carol or asking the question.
- Keep a notebook for questions nobody could answer, and come back to them on Sunday.
- If you miss a few days, pick up at today’s reading rather than trying to catch up.
- Read the longer passages over two nights if you need to. Nobody is keeping score.
What if we are not a “devotional” family?
Plenty of families feel awkward the first few nights. That is normal. Keep it short, keep it at the same time each day, and let it be a little messy. By the second week it usually feels like part of December.