Below is our list of 31 prompts for December 2026, each one small enough to fit a calendar square. The list follows the season and a few special days along the way: Hanukkah, St. Nicholas Day, the winter solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve. Prefer an older list? Past years are at the bottom of the page.
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What is the December Doodles challenge?
December Doodles is a month-long drawing challenge with one simple prompt a day, usually something wintry or festive like a mug of cocoa, a snowman or a string of lights. There's no single official host: every year, artists share their own lists on Instagram, Pinterest and Reddit, and people doodle along with whichever list they like.
Doodles are meant to be quick, so it's an easy habit to keep through a busy month. Five minutes with a pen counts. So does a doodle on a sticky note.
December Doodles prompts 2026
- hot cocoa
- earmuffs
- snowflake
- menorah
- gingerbread cookie
- boot
- ice skate
- holly
- snow globe
- sled
- dreidel
- penguin
- polar bear
- string of lights
- cozy sweater
- reindeer
- icicle
- wrapped present
- cardinal
- tangerine
- crescent moon
- wreath
- candy cane
- stocking
- Christmas tree
- kinara
- snowman
- sleepy cat
- ornament
- party hat
- fireworks
A few dates to look out for: Hanukkah starts on the evening of December 4 (menorah) and gets a dreidel on day 11, St. Nicholas Day on December 6 is when kids leave a boot out, the solstice on December 21 is the longest night of the year (crescent moon), and Kwanzaa begins on December 26 (kinara). Fireworks close the year on the 31st.
Want a different list? Every year new ones pop up from artists on Instagram, Pinterest and Reddit, or you can let our holiday prompts generator surprise you.
How to join December Doodles
- Pick a list. Ours above, a past one below, or one you found online.
- Grab anything that draws. A pen, markers or a tablet all work. Doodles don't need fancy tools.
- Doodle the day's prompt. Small and quick is the whole point. One square, one doodle.
- Collect them in one place. A sketchbook page, a planner or the printable below.
- Missed a day? Skip it or doodle two tomorrow. Nobody's counting.
Our printable has a grid for the whole month, and it comes in two versions: one with suggested prompts and one blank. Click the image to download it.
Why join December Doodles?
- A habit that fits a busy month. A doodle takes minutes, so you keep drawing every day even when December gets hectic.
- A cozy break. Drawing a tiny mug of cocoa is a surprisingly good way to slow down between holiday errands.
- A community to doodle with. Share your doodles with #DecemberDoodles or #DecemberDoodlesChallenge and you'll see a hundred different snowmen by the end of the week.
December Doodles challenge alternatives
Not feeling the holiday theme? There are other challenges in December too. Drawcember and the other December art challenges offer broader themes, from nature and winter animals to character design. And if you can't get enough of the festive stuff, try our Christmas art prompts.
Tips to keep doodling all month
- Plan ahead. Glance at the next week's prompts so you're never staring at a blank square.
- Batch on busy days. Doodle two or three prompts in one sitting before a hectic week.
- Look at other people's doodles. Browsing the hashtag is the best cure for "I don't know how to draw a dreidel."
- Make it yours. If a prompt doesn't speak to you, change it. A penguin in earmuffs is still a penguin.
Share your doodles
Post your doodles with #DecemberDoodles and tag us: @drawing.prompts.g on TikTok or @drawingideaprompts on Instagram. We'd love to see your month fill up, one small square at a time.
Past December Doodles lists
Every year gets a new list. The older ones stay here, in case you'd rather doodle one of those.
2024: everyday objects with a festive twist
Each prompt is an ordinary object with a holiday twist, so you'll find out just how festive a stapler can be.
- Chair (maybe with a Santa hat?)
- Coffee Mug (with festive pattern)
- Pencil (as a tiny candy cane)
- Book (wrapped in lights)
- Spoon (reflecting Christmas scenes)
- Light Bulb (filled with snow)
- Key (as an ornament)
- Door (decorated for holidays)
- Clock (counting down to Christmas)
- Phone (displaying holiday messages)
- Glasses (reflecting winter scenes)
- Fork (as a tiny Christmas tree)
- Umbrella (catching snowflakes)
- Shoe (as an elf's boot)
- Pillow (with holiday patterns)
- Mirror (showing festive reflections)
- Bottle (as a snow globe)
- Paper Clip (as a sleigh runner)
- Sock (as a mini stocking)
- Bowl (filled with ornaments)
- Scissors (cutting snowflakes)
- Tape (with holiday patterns)
- Brush (painting holiday scenes)
- Button (as a tiny wreath)
- Box (as a present)
- Basket (full of pine cones)
- Stapler (decorated with tinsel)
- Calendar (counting to new year)
- Pen (writing in frost)
- Notebook (with holiday doodles)
- Watch (striking midnight)
Click the image to download the 2024 list as a PDF:
