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How to run a 12 days of Christmas giveaway

Post one prize a day from Tuesday, December 1 to Saturday, December 12, 2026, with its own entry window and its own draw. Cover all twelve in one set of rules. Ending on the 12th leaves time to ship the last prize before USPS's recommended December 17 Ground Advantage date.

Updated

Draw today's winner from Instagram comments

Copy your Instagram comments in three steps
  1. On desktop, open your Instagram post and expand the comments and replies you want to include.
  2. Select and copy the visible authors and comments. Load more comments first; a copied selection can't include hidden ones.
  3. Paste below, or upload an author/comment CSV. On mobile, use your browser's desktop site if copying is available, or transfer an export to this page.

Running a giveaway?

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The 2026 calendar

Each day's post opens at 9am and closes at 9am the next morning. Draw right after, with every earlier day's winner on the comment picker's exclude list.

  1. Days 1 to 3, December 1 to 3: small and quick

    Start with prizes that cost you little and say a lot about you: a sample set, a bestseller, a gift card. Early days are about people noticing the series, so keep entry to one comment.

  2. Days 4 to 8, December 4 to 8: the middle

    Swap in a partner's prize on one or two days. They post too, so their followers find day 9 on your page. Reshare yesterday's winner in Stories each morning before the new post goes up.

  3. Days 9 to 11, December 9 to 11: build up

    Raise the value. By now people know a new prize lands every morning, and the comments on each post tell you which kinds of prize they want most.

  4. Day 12, December 12: the big one

    Your best prize, and the longest window: open it at 9am Saturday and draw Sunday evening, December 13. It still ships by Thursday, December 17.

A prize ladder that doesn't break the budget

Most of the cost sits in the last four days. Here's one ladder for a small online brand.

  1. Days 1 to 4: under $25 each

    A mini, a sample bundle, a gift card or a branded tote. Four prizes at about $20 is $80.

  2. Days 5 to 8: partner days

    Two days come from partners at no cost to you, and two are your own mid-range products at about $40.

  3. Days 9 to 11: about $60 each

    Full-size sets or a favorite piece. Three prizes at about $60 is $180.

  4. Day 12: your hero prize

    Everything you sell in one box, or a year of your product. Put the biggest share of your budget here.

One set of rules for twelve draws

General information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state, so ask a lawyer about big prizes.

  • List every day's prize, its value, its entry window with a time zone, and its draw time.
  • Say whether one person can win on more than one day. Most hosts allow one prize per person, so one fan can't sweep the series.
  • Keep every day free to enter. In the US, a prize, chance and a required purchase together can make it an illegal lottery.
  • Say how winners are picked and told, and how long they have to reply before you draw again.
  • Add the platform release, for example that Instagram doesn't sponsor, endorse or run the giveaway.
  • Total the prize values. If the series adds up to more than $5,000, check New York and Florida registration rules.

A day's caption you can reuse

Change the day number, the prize and the close time each morning.

Instagram caption
🎄 DAY 3 OF 12: win our bestseller set.

To enter, comment what you'd pick for day 12. New prize every morning at 9am ET until December 12.

Today's entries close Friday, December 4 at 9am ET. US 18+, no purchase necessary, one prize per person across all 12 days. Winner picked at random and posted in Stories with a link to the draw. Not sponsored, endorsed or run by Instagram. Rules for all 12 days: link in bio.

Sources

Dates are the 2026 calendar: December 1 is a Tuesday and Christmas Day is a Friday. USPS, 2026 holiday shipping deadlines (usps.com/holiday). Instagram Help Center, Promotion guidelines (help.instagram.com/179379842258600). Checked November 2, 2026.

Questions people ask

When should a 12 days of Christmas giveaway start?

December 1 works for prizes that ship. Twelve days ends on December 12, which leaves time to draw, hear back and ship by USPS's recommended December 17 Ground Advantage date. Digital and pick-up prizes can run December 13 to 24 instead.

Is it one giveaway or twelve?

Twelve draws under one set of rules. Each day has its own post, entry window and winner, and the rules list all of them.

Can the same person win twice?

Only if your rules allow it. Most hosts say one prize per person. Before each draw, add every earlier day's winner to the comment picker's exclude list, so the same person can't win day 3 and day 9.

How do I pick a winner each day?

Copy the comments from Instagram.com on a computer and paste them into the free Instagram comment picker. Exclude your own account and the winners from earlier days, then draw. Post the results link with the winner so anyone can check it.

Do partner prizes need a disclosure?

If a partner or creator gets something for posting, such as free product, they should disclose it clearly, for example with #ad. This is general information, not legal advice.

What if I can't afford twelve prizes?

Run 5 days, December 8 to 12, with the same plan and one set of rules.

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