LEGO’s 2026 Advent calendar range includes five themes: City 60510, Friends 42698, Disney 43298, Star Wars 75456 and Marvel 76340. The lineup looks simple at first, but the value proposition varies quite a bit once piece counts, characters and the type of daily builds are taken into account.
Two price tiers, five very different calendars
City 60510 contains 252 pieces, while Friends 42698 has 211. Disney 43298 comes in at 290 pieces, Star Wars 75456 at 293 and Marvel 76340 at 317.
Piece count alone already separates the range, but it does not tell the whole story. Advent calendars are unusually dependent on character selection and the appeal of the small daily builds, so a lower piece count can still make sense if the figures or play features are strong enough.
City 60510: the most traditional Christmas experience
City takes the most straightforward seasonal route. Its lineup includes Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, a snowman and a small reindeer, making it the calendar that feels most like a self-contained Christmas playset rather than a licensed character sampler.
For families who want something festive first and brand-specific second, City may be the easiest recommendation. It also avoids the premium that usually comes with major entertainment licenses.
Friends 42698: weaker on raw numbers, stronger on storytelling
Friends has the lowest piece count of the five, but its appeal is less about volume and more about characters and role-play. With three mini-dolls and six small animals, it is clearly aimed at builders who enjoy creating scenes rather than simply collecting parts.
That makes Friends a good example of why cost-per-piece can be misleading. For a child who values animals, characters and narrative play, it may deliver more enjoyment than a denser calendar built around tiny vehicles.
Disney 43298: value depends heavily on the license
The Disney calendar sits in the higher tier and offers 290 pieces. Its strongest selling point is not efficiency but familiarity: buyers are paying for recognizable Disney characters and themed builds.
That makes it one of the most audience-dependent choices. A Disney fan may see excellent value in the character mix, while someone shopping purely on piece count is likely to find stronger options elsewhere.
Star Wars 75456: built for fans and minifigure collectors
Star Wars 75456 has 293 pieces and includes characters such as the Mandalorian, Moff Gideon, Grogu and IG-11, supported by several mini vehicle builds.
Its value is therefore concentrated in recognizable characters and franchise-specific micro-builds. For an existing LEGO Star Wars collector, that can matter much more than the raw number of elements.
Marvel 76340: the strongest all-round content package
Marvel has the highest piece count in the group at 317 and includes six minifigures: Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Doom, Ghost-Spider, Captain America and Wolverine.
That combination makes it one of the strongest calendars on paper. It delivers both a large number of pieces and a particularly recognizable character lineup, giving it broad appeal for superhero fans and minifigure collectors alike.
Which one offers the best value?
There is no single winner for every buyer. City is the strongest pick for a traditional Christmas experience and solid general value. Marvel looks best for buyers who want the most pieces combined with a strong minifigure lineup. Star Wars is likely to appeal most to dedicated franchise collectors, while Friends makes more sense for younger builders focused on character-driven play.
Disney is the most license-dependent purchase of the five. Its value rises or falls largely with how much the buyer cares about the featured characters and theme.
Is the higher price tier worth it?
For Marvel and Star Wars, the step up is easier to justify because the character selection and collector appeal are substantial. Disney is more subjective, while City remains a very competitive option for anyone who wants a broadly festive calendar without paying extra for a major entertainment license.
The best choice therefore depends less on which box has the biggest number on the front and more on what the recipient actually wants to find behind each door: Christmas characters, animals, superheroes, Star Wars icons or Disney favorites.
