Virtual Advent Calendar 2026
Twenty five doors, one a day from 1 December. Behind every door is an escape room puzzle for the whole family, and each one brings Christmas a little closer.
An Advent Calendar With Nothing To Fight Over
No chocolate to share out and no little doors to tear. Just one new puzzle every evening for the whole family.
The December Dilemma is a virtual advent calendar that you play in your web browser. Grumble the elf has locked Santa’s workshop and hidden the key, and every door of the calendar is the next part of the story. Open a door, solve the puzzle behind it and you win a letter of Grumble’s secret message. Put all the letters together and the message tells you where the key is hidden. On the 25th, the last door opens and you save Christmas.
How The 2026 Calendar Works
One door, one puzzle, every day of advent.
A New Door Every Night
Door 1 opens at midnight UK time on 1 December, and a new door opens every night after that until Christmas Day.
Solve The Puzzle
Codes, padlocks, hidden numbers, light patterns and more. Young children play with a grown up, older ones can go it alone.
Save Christmas
Every door wins a letter. On the 25th the letters spell out Grumble’s secret message and the last door takes you to Santa.
Why Families Choose It
A little bit of Christmas magic every evening, without the sugar rush.
Ten Minutes A Day
Each door is a short escape room, perfect for after school or just before bed. It builds the excitement without taking over the evening.
Plays On Anything
Laptop, tablet or phone, in any up to date browser. Nothing to download and nothing to post.
Miss A Day? No Problem
Doors you missed stay open, so you can catch up whenever you like. Your progress saves to your free account as you go.
Can’t Wait For December?
Choose Play Every Door Now in the calendar and every door opens straight away, in any order you like.
One Price For The Family
Pay once and the whole calendar is yours to play together, and to play again next year.
Grown Ups Get A Say Too
Put in a special present for your child and Santa mentions it by name in his letter on the 25th.
Ready For Door 1?
The December Dilemma is 99p for all twenty five doors. Buy it now and it is ready and waiting on 1 December.
What is a virtual advent calendar?
An advent calendar you open on a screen instead of a cardboard one. Ours is The December Dilemma: twenty five doors, and behind every one is a short escape room puzzle and the next part of a Christmas story.
When does the 2026 advent calendar start?
Door 1 opens at midnight UK time on 1 December 2026. A new door opens every night after that, up to door 25 on Christmas Day.
What if we start late or miss a day?
Every door that has opened stays open, so you can catch up whenever you like. Your progress saves as you go.
Can we play all the doors at once?
Yes. Choose Play Every Door Now in the calendar and every door opens straight away. You can switch back to one a day whenever you like.
Is it suitable for young children?
It is made for families with children aged 6 and up. Younger ones will enjoy it with a grown up helping. There is nothing scary in it.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It works in any up to date browser on a phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. A tablet or a laptop is lovely for playing together.
Can I give it as a present?
Yes. Send it as a gift and choose the day it arrives by email.
Is it a subscription?
No. You pay once and it is yours to keep.