The Fourth Sunday of Advent in 2026 is Sunday, December 20, the last Sunday before Christmas, which falls on Friday, December 25. Its readings, from Year B, tell of God’s promise that David’s kingdom will last forever and its fulfillment in the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel tells Mary that her Son will receive “the throne of David his father.” Families light all four candles of the Advent wreath; the fourth is often called the candle of love, or the Angels’ candle. Below are the date at a glance, the readings, prayers, Prayers of the Faithful for Mass and ideas for the last days before Christmas.
A short prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, written for this page:
Mary, you said, “Be it done to me according to thy word.”
In these last days before Christmas, help me to say yes to God as you did,
and to make room for Jesus in my heart and in my home. Amen.
The Fourth Sunday of Advent at a glance
| Date in 2026 | Sunday, December 20, 2026 |
| Liturgical day | Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B |
| Color | Violet (purple) |
| Advent wreath | Light all four candles (love, or the Angels’ candle) |
| Theme | God’s promise to David fulfilled in Mary’s yes |
| Next year | Sunday, December 19, 2027 |
The readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent 2026 (Year B)
| Reading | Passage | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| First reading | 2 Samuel 7:1–5, 8b–12, 14a, 16 | “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever” |
| Responsorial psalm | Psalm 89 | “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord” |
| Second reading | Romans 16:25–27 | The mystery kept secret for long ages, now revealed |
| Gospel | Luke 1:26–38 | The Annunciation |
The promise to David (2 Kings 7:12–16, Douay-Rheims; 2 Samuel in other Bibles):
And when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house to my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.
But my mercy I will not take away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before my face.
And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever.
The second reading (Romans 16:25–27, Douay-Rheims):
Now to him that is able to establish you, according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret from eternity,
(Which now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the precept of the eternal God, for the obedience of faith,) known among all nations;
To God the only wise, through Jesus Christ, to whom be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26–38, Douay-Rheims):
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
Because no word shall be impossible with God.
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Lighting the fourth Advent candle
A prayer for lighting all four candles, written for this page:
God of love, as we light the fourth candle, our wreath is full of light.
Christmas is near. Fill our hearts with your love,
and make us ready to welcome your Son, born of the Virgin Mary. Amen.
See the Advent wreath prayers and the Advent candles.
Prayers of the Faithful for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
For Mass on December 20, 2026, or a family prayer. Response after each petition: Lord, hear our prayer.
- For the Church, that like Mary she may receive God’s word with faith and bring Christ to the world, we pray to the Lord.
- For the Pope, our bishops and priests, that they may lead us to celebrate Christmas with joy and faith, we pray to the Lord.
- For leaders of nations, that they may protect the life and dignity of every child and mother, we pray to the Lord.
- For expectant mothers, families awaiting a child, and all who are waiting in hope, that God may bless them, we pray to the Lord.
- For our parish and our families, that we may make room for Jesus in these final days of Advent, we pray to the Lord.
- For our beloved dead, that they may rejoice forever in the kingdom that will have no end, we pray to the Lord.
See the Prayers of the Faithful for Advent and the Christmas prayers of the faithful.
The last days before Christmas
- The O Antiphons, December 17–23, are sung before the Magnificat at Evening Prayer: O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O King of the nations, O Emmanuel. See O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
- Simbang Gabi, the Filipino novena of dawn Masses, runs from December 16 to 24. See Simbang Gabi.
- The Christmas novena of St. Alphonsus runs from December 16 to 24. See the Christmas novena.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Fourth Sunday of Advent in 2026?
Sunday, December 20, 2026. In 2027 it falls on December 19.
Which candle is lit on the Fourth Sunday of Advent?
All four candles; the fourth purple candle is often called the candle of love or the Angels’ candle.
What is the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B?
Luke 1:26–38, the Annunciation.
More Advent pages
- Advent prayers
- Advent 2026
- First Sunday of Advent
- Second Sunday of Advent
- Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent)
- Christmas novena
- Christmas Mass times and readings
Texts and sources
- Scripture: 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:12–16, Romans 16:25–27 and Luke 1:26–38, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain. Reading references follow the Lectionary for Mass, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B.
- The prayers and Prayers of the Faithful were written for this page.