Every fall, the same question starts trending as soon as the first holiday ads appear: when is Black Friday 2026, and is it even worth waiting for? The short version is that the date is fixed by Thanksgiving, but the deals are not. Retailers now stretch Black Friday pricing across most of November, and this year Target, Walmart and Amazon have already published early sale windows. This guide covers the confirmed dates, the announced retailer events, what last year’s numbers tell us, and how to plan so you actually save money.
Direct answer: Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after U.S. Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). Small Business Saturday follows on November 28 and Cyber Monday on November 30. Many retailers start Black Friday-style sales weeks earlier, with Target’s first event beginning November 5.
- Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27; Cyber Monday is November 30 (per Amazon and timeanddate.com).
- Target’s Early Black Friday Sale runs November 5–7, and Walmart has events November 12–15 and November 23–29 (per TODAY.com, October 2026).
- A record 202.9 million people shopped Thanksgiving weekend through Cyber Monday in 2025, according to the National Retail Federation.
- Online shopping keeps gaining ground: 56% of 2025 holiday-weekend shoppers bought mostly or only online, per Numerator.
- The best strategy is to build a list, track prices from early November, and compare early-sale prices against Black Friday week.
When Is Black Friday 2026? The Confirmed Date
Black Friday always lands on the Friday after the fourth Thursday of November, which is U.S. Thanksgiving. In 2026, Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, so Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026. Both Amazon’s official newsroom (aboutamazon.com, updated October 2026) and timeanddate.com confirm the date.
Because Thanksgiving moves between November 22 and November 28, Black Friday shifts from year to year. A late Thanksgiving, like this year’s, shortens the gap between Black Friday and Christmas, which is one reason retailers push early deals so aggressively. There are only about four weeks of shopping between Cyber Monday and December 25.
The day after Thanksgiving is also a holiday in more than 20 U.S. states, according to timeanddate.com. With many people off work and families already gathered, the day naturally became a shopping event.
Black Friday Dates by Year
| Year | Thanksgiving | Black Friday | Cyber Monday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday, Nov. 27 | Friday, Nov. 28 | Monday, Dec. 1 |
| 2026 | Thursday, Nov. 26 | Friday, Nov. 27 | Monday, Nov. 30 |
| 2027 | Thursday, Nov. 25 | Friday, Nov. 26 | Monday, Nov. 29 |
| 2028 | Thursday, Nov. 23 | Friday, Nov. 24 | Monday, Nov. 27 |
Sources: timeanddate.com and Wikipedia. Cyber Monday is always the Monday after Black Friday.
The Full 2026 Holiday Shopping Weekend
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26 (many online deals go live; store hours vary)
- Black Friday: Friday, November 27
- Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 28
- Sunday after Thanksgiving: November 29 (now a major in-store day, see below)
- Cyber Monday: Monday, November 30
Whether specific chains will close their stores on Thanksgiving Day 2026 had not been confirmed in the sources reviewed as of October 30, 2026. Check each retailer’s store locator in mid-November before planning a trip.
When Do Black Friday 2026 Sales Start?
For most major retailers, Black Friday is now a season rather than a single day. Here is what had been announced as of late October 2026.
Announced Retailer Sale Dates for 2026
| Retailer | Event | Dates | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Early Black Friday Sale | Nov. 5–7, then new weekly deals through the season | Announced (TODAY.com, Oct. 2026) |
| Walmart | Early Black Friday Deals | Nov. 12–15 | Announced (TODAY.com, Oct. 2026) |
| Walmart | Black Friday event | Nov. 23–29 | Announced (TODAY.com, Oct. 2026) |
| Walmart | Cyber Monday event | Nov. 30 at 12:01 a.m. ET through Dec. 2 | Announced (TODAY.com, Oct. 2026) |
| Amazon | Early deals in Holiday Shop | Live now | Confirmed (aboutamazon.com, Oct. 2026) |
| Costco | Holiday savings event | Reported as starting in late October/early November | Check Costco directly for exact dates and items |
Costco has drawn heavy attention this year, with several outlets reporting that its holiday savings event is beginning early. Costco typically runs member-only deals in phases, but exact 2026 dates and featured items should be verified on Costco’s website or in its printed savings book, since details can change.
Should You Buy Early or Wait?
Early sales are not automatically worse than Black Friday itself. Retailers often repeat the same price on a popular item across several events. The practical rule: if an item on your list hits a price you have already researched as a historical low, buy it. If it is a modest discount on something you can wait for, track it into Black Friday week. Most big-box stores also offer price-match or price-adjustment policies with specific conditions, so read the fine print before relying on them.
What 2025 Tells Us About Black Friday 2026 Trends
Forecasts for 2026 from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Adobe are typically released in late October or early November and were not available in the sources reviewed for this article. Last year’s results, however, offer a strong baseline.
Record Crowds, Online and In Store
According to an NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics release dated December 2, 2025, a record 202.9 million people shopped over the five days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday in 2025. That was up from 197 million in 2024, beat the previous record of 200.4 million set in 2023, and far exceeded NRF’s own forecast of 186.9 million.
The NRF also reported that 134.9 million people shopped online that weekend, up 9% from 124.3 million. Physical stores are not fading, though: the Sunday after Thanksgiving drew a record 32.6 million in-store shoppers, up 27% from 25.6 million. That Sunday has quietly become a less chaotic alternative to Friday morning crowds.
Bigger Baskets, Mostly Gifts
NRF data showed per-shopper spending over the 2025 holiday weekend was the highest since 2019’s record of $361.90, rising from $315.56 in 2024. About 67%, or $225.74, went toward gifts. In other words, people are using Black Friday to knock out holiday gift lists, not just to buy electronics for themselves.
The Shift Online Continues
Data from Numerator, reported by NACS on December 3, 2025, found that 56% of shoppers said they shopped mostly or only online over the holiday weekend, up from 52% the year before, compared with 16% who shopped mostly in stores. Amazon reached 87% of holiday-weekend shoppers, Walmart 65% and Target 42%.
Black Friday Is Not the Finish Line
One of the most useful NRF findings: by Black Friday weekend 2025, 84% of consumers had started holiday shopping, yet 53% still had more than half left to do. Expect continued promotions into December, especially with the short 2026 calendar between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
How to Prepare for Black Friday 2026 Shopping
Saving money is less about luck and more about preparation. This step-by-step plan works whether you shop on your phone or in line at 6 a.m.
- Set a total budget first. Decide what you can spend across the entire season, not just one day. Split it by person or category so a great TV deal does not swallow your gift budget.
- Build a specific list. Write the exact model numbers you want (for example, a specific vacuum model, not “a vacuum”). Retailers sometimes sell special Black Friday model variants with lower specs, and model numbers help you spot them.
- Record current prices now. Note prices in early November so you can recognize a real discount versus an inflated “original” price.
- Turn on price tracking. Amazon recommends using Alexa for Shopping to track prices and set deal alerts. Many browser extensions and retailer apps offer similar watchlists.
- Create accounts and save payment details. Log in to Target, Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy or Costco ahead of time. Popular doorbusters can sell out in minutes online.
- Review memberships. Some deals require paid memberships (Costco, Walmart+, Amazon Prime). Only pay for one if the savings clearly exceed the fee.
- Check return policies. Many retailers extend holiday return windows, but electronics and opened items often have shorter limits.
Black Friday 2026 Popular Ad Scans: How to Use Them
“Ad scans” are images or listings of retailers’ official Black Friday circulars, often published by deal sites as soon as they are released, and sometimes earlier through leaks. They are useful for planning, but treat them carefully.
- Official ads beat leaks. Leaked scans can be outdated drafts. Confirm prices on the retailer’s own site or app.
- Look for the event dates on each page. With Walmart running separate events from November 12–15 and November 23–29, an item’s price may only apply to one window.
- Note quantity limits and “while supplies last” language. Doorbusters are often limited in stock.
- Compare across ads. Line up the same model number in Target, Walmart, Amazon and Costco ads to find the lowest total price, including shipping and membership costs.
Expert Savings Tips for Black Friday
After years of covering holiday sales, a few habits consistently separate real savers from impulse buyers.
Practical Tips That Work
- Shop the Sunday instead of Friday. NRF’s record 32.6 million in-store shoppers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2025 shows it is popular, but it still tends to feel calmer than Friday morning, and many sales are still running.
- Stack savings legally. Combine a sale price with retailer gift-card promotions, cash-back credit card offers or store rewards where terms allow.
- Use Small Business Saturday for unique gifts. On November 28, local shops often run their own promotions, and gifts tend to be more distinctive.
- Watch Cyber Monday for tech and online-only deals. Walmart’s Cyber Monday event runs from November 30 through December 2 this year, giving you extra days to compare.
- Leave room for December. With more than half of shoppers still mid-list after Black Friday last year, deals rarely vanish completely.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying because it is “on sale.” A 50% discount on something you do not need is a 100% loss.
- Ignoring total cost. Shipping, membership fees, extended warranties and accessories can erase a discount.
- Falling for fake deal sites. Scam sites and phishing texts spike around Black Friday. Type retailer URLs directly instead of clicking links in unexpected messages.
- Using debit cards online. Credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protections for online purchases.
- Missing return windows. Keep receipts and order confirmations in one folder or email label.
Black Friday Around the World
Black Friday began as an American tradition tied to Thanksgiving, but global retailers have exported it. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and much of Europe now run Black Friday promotions on the same date, even without a Thanksgiving holiday. In Brazil and parts of Latin America, retailers often stretch it into a month-long “Black November.” In China, the biggest November shopping event is Singles’ Day on November 11, which predates Western-style Black Friday adoption in the region.
For U.S. shoppers buying from international sites, remember to factor in currency conversion, import duties and longer shipping times, which can push delivery past Christmas given the late 2026 calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions / FAQs
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26.
When is Cyber Monday 2026?
Cyber Monday 2026 is Monday, November 30. Walmart’s Cyber Monday event starts at 12:01 a.m. ET that day and ends December 2, according to TODAY.com.
Are early Black Friday deals as good as the real thing?
Often, yes. Retailers frequently repeat the same prices across early and main events. Track prices from early November and buy when an item on your list reaches a price you have confirmed is low.
When is Costco’s Black Friday sale in 2026?
News outlets reported in late October 2026 that Costco’s holiday savings event was starting early, but exact dates and items should be confirmed on Costco’s website or app, since Costco typically releases deals in phases.
Will stores be open on Thanksgiving Day 2026?
Store hours for Thanksgiving Day 2026 had not been confirmed in the sources reviewed as of October 30, 2026. Many large chains have closed on Thanksgiving in recent years while keeping online sales running, so check each retailer’s announcement in November.
Dates and retailer events in this article reflect information available as of October 30, 2026. Retailers can change sale dates, so verify details on their official sites before shopping.
