How many sleeps until Christmas?
Merry Christmas!
Christmas
Eat, sleep and be merry
The faint smell of Christmas is in the air, and the big day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026. Our countdown ticks off every sleep between now and then, counting tonight as the first and Christmas Eve as the last. Whether you’re counting with excited little ones or quietly planning the mince pie supply, there’s always a number to look forward to.
Not that we're counting...
How long is it until Christmas exactly?
The countdown at the top of this page shows exactly how many sleeps are left, with a fresh number every morning (a bit like a sleep advent calendar). Some countdown clocks show one extra sleep because they count what’s left of today as well. Either way works, as long as everyone in the house agrees on which number to cheer.
Here are the sleeps left on the dates worth circling this year:
- 50 sleeps on Bonfire Night, Thursday, 5th November
- 28 sleeps on Black Friday, 27th November
- 26 sleeps on Advent Sunday, 29th November
- 24 sleeps on the first advent calendar door opens on Tuesday, 1st December
- 1 sleep on Christmas Eve, Thursday, 24th December
The countdown is on!
What to do with your sleeps
Breathe. You’ve got time. This is the moment for the big-picture stuff:
- Start a gift list – jot down ideas as they come to you (that notebook by your bed is finally earning its keep)
- Book any travel – if you’re heading to family, sort it now before prices climb
Fun fact: 16th September marks exactly 100 days until Christmas. Some people celebrate this like a second New Year.
Things are getting real. The Halloween decorations have barely come down, and the mince pies are already appearing in shops.
- Tackle the big purchases – that new bed for the spare room? Sort it now so your Christmas guests aren’t sleeping on an air mattress in the hallway
- Start buying gifts – this will help you spread the cost
- Plan your Christmas Eve traditions – matching pyjamas? A special bedtime story? Now’s the time to start thinking about them
This is peak organisation territory. Future-you will thank present-you.
- Write your Christmas cards – yes, all of them, even the ones for people you haven’t seen since 2019
- Meal plan – decide what you’re cooking and who’s bringing what (delegate the sprouts to someone else)
- Prep the guest bedroom – fresh bedding, plump pillows, maybe a few festive touches
- Order online gifts – beat the delivery chaos before every courier is run off their feet
We’re in the home stretch. The Christmas films are on repeat, and you’ve probably already eaten a dozen mince pies.
- Put up decorations – the tree, the lights, the questionable tinsel from 1987. It’s time
- Start wrapping – a few presents each evening is far less painful than a marathon session at 2 am on Christmas Eve
- Prepare the kids’ bedrooms for visitors – cousins staying over? Make sure there’s space for sleeping bags and midnight giggles
- Stock up on cosy bedding – because nothing says Christmas like climbing into freshly laundered sheets
This is it. The countdown is real. Everything feels both exciting and slightly chaotic – and that’s exactly how it should be.
- Final gift wrap – locate the sellotape (again), find the scissors (again), accept that your wrapping will never look like Pinterest
- Food shop – brave the supermarket, dodge the trolley traffic, remember the cranberry sauce
- Prepare Christmas Eve PJs – whether you open one present early or simply want everyone looking festive for the morning photos
You made it. One more sleep until the magic happens.
- Stick to bedtime routines – even amid the excitement, familiar routines help little ones drift off
- Set out the milk, cookies and carrots – the reindeer work hard, they deserve a snack
- Transform your bedroom into a cosy retreat – candles (safely placed), fairy lights, maybe a mince pie for yourself. You’ve earned it
The night before christmas
How to fall asleep on Christmas Eve
The lead-up to Christmas is an exciting time, and that excitement can make Christmas Eve one of the trickiest nights of the year to settle. Children (and some grown-ups) may find it hard to switch off with a sleigh on the way. For young children, the NHS suggests a calming, predictable bedtime routine at the same time every night, so sticking to the usual bath, pyjamas and story may help. Find more ideas in our guide to how to sleep on Christmas Eve.
Get cosy
Christmas bedding ideas
Stay snug and cosy with warming winter bedding. A higher-tog duvet can add warmth on the coldest nights, and our duvet buying guide explains which tog suits each season. For a toasty bed before you climb in, an electric blanket can take the chill off.
Brushed cotton: For the ultimate cosy experience, consider brushed cotton bedding. Its soft, slightly fuzzy finish can feel warm from the moment you get in.
Festive colours: Deep reds, forest greens, rich golds and midnight blues bring instant Christmas spirit to the bedroom.
Tartan: A tartan throw across the end of the bed adds a cosy, cabin-in-the-Highlands feel.
For more festive ideas, read our guide to decorating your bedroom for Christmas.
The North Pole helpdesk
Christmas countdown questions, wrapped up
How many sleeps are there until Christmas Eve?
There’s always one fewer sleep until Christmas Eve than until Christmas Day. It’s the countdown to watch for families who open presents on the 24th.
How many weeks until Christmas?
Divide the number of sleeps by seven. There are exactly three weeks to go on Friday, 4th December, two weeks on Friday, 11th December and one week on Friday, 18th December.
When is the Boxing Day bank holiday in 2026?
Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26th December 2026, so the bank holiday moves to Monday 28th December across the UK, according to GOV.UK. With Christmas Day on the Friday, many people may get a four-day break.
How many sleeps are there between Christmas and New Year’s?
New Year’s Day 2027 falls on Friday, 1st January, seven sleeps after Christmas Day. Seven sleeps is plenty of time for leftovers, board games and lie-ins.
