Black Friday 2026: Dates, Early Deals and the Full Sales Calendar for the US and UK

Black Friday 2026 is on Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is on November 30. Target’s Early Black Friday Sale runs November 5 to 7, and Walmart’s first deals event runs November 12 to 15. Adobe expects a record $275.1 billion in US online holiday spending, with Cyber Monday alone reaching $15.2 billion. Discounts on electronics are expected to peak at around 30% off. In the UK, Black Friday 2026 also falls on November 27, with Amazon, Argos, Currys and John Lewis expected to take part.

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The biggest shopping weekend of the year is one month away, but the deals have already started. Major retailers are rolling out early sales, and shoppers who plan ahead could save hundreds of dollars or pounds on gifts, electronics and household items.

Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. Cyber Monday follows on Monday, November 30.

Here is your guide to Black Friday 2026, including the key dates, which stores have announced sales, what experts expect and how to make sure you are getting a real bargain.

When Is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday is always the day after the fourth Thursday in November, which is Thanksgiving in the US. This year:

Event	Date
Veterans Day sales	Wednesday, November 11
Thanksgiving	Thursday, November 26
Black Friday 2026	Friday, November 27
Small Business Saturday	Saturday, November 28
Cyber Monday	Monday, November 30

Because Thanksgiving falls fairly late this year, there are fewer days between Black Friday and Christmas. That is one reason many retailers are starting their deals early.

Black Friday began as a US tradition but has spread around the world, including to the UK and much of Europe, where it falls on the same date.

Early Black Friday Deals Already Announced

Black Friday is no longer just one day. Most big stores now run deals across several weeks in November. Here is what has been announced so far.

Target Black Friday 2026

Target will hold an Early Black Friday Sale from November 5 to 7. It is a three-day event, and the store plans to add new weekly deals throughout the holiday season.

Walmart Black Friday 2026

Walmart has announced three separate events:

• Early Black Friday Deals: November 12 to 15
• Black Friday Deals: November 23 to 29
• Cyber Monday Deals: starting November 30 at 12:01 a.m. ET and running through December 2

Walmart+ members usually get early access to deals a few hours before everyone else, so it is worth checking if you are a member.

Amazon Black Friday 2026

Amazon has not yet announced the dates for its Black Friday event. In recent years, it has started its Black Friday week sale about a week before Thanksgiving and run it through Cyber Monday.

Amazon already held its Prime Big Deal Days on October 6 and 7. According to Adobe, US shoppers spent about $9.9 billion online during that two-day event.

Best Buy Black Friday 2026

Best Buy released its holiday preview in September and began holiday savings in October. In past years, it has offered “Black Friday prices” early in November and opened stores on Black Friday morning, while keeping stores closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Other Retailers

Stores including Costco, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Macy’s usually run large Black Friday events too. Most will release their full ad scans in early to mid November.

Black Friday 2026 Sales Forecast: A Record Season Expected

Shoppers are expected to spend more than ever online this holiday season, even with higher prices.

Adobe, which tracks online spending at major US retailers, forecasts:

Period	Forecast online spending	Change from last year
Full season (November 1 to December 31)	$275.1 billion	Up 6.7%
Cyber Week (Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday)	$47.5 billion	Up 7.4%
Cyber Monday	$15.2 billion	Up 6.2%
Black Friday	$12.9 billion	Up 9.2%
Thanksgiving Day	$6.9 billion

If those numbers are right, Cyber Monday will once again be the biggest online shopping day in US history.

Deloitte expects total holiday retail sales to grow between 4% and 4.8%, to about $1.7 trillion, from November through January. It sees online sales growing faster, by 7.5% to 8.4%.

What Will Be the Best Black Friday Deals?

Adobe expects discounts to peak during Cyber Week, with some categories reaching 30% off the listed price.

• Electronics: Discounts expected to peak at about 30% off. This includes TVs, laptops, tablets and headphones.
• Toys: Average discounts of about 29%, slightly better than last year.
• Clothing, furniture and appliances: Deals expected to be similar to last year.

Gaming could be a big category this year. Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, just one week before Black Friday, and many retailers are expected to offer console bundles and gift card deals around it.

Black Friday 2026 Sales Calendar Week by Week

Here is how the Black Friday 2026 season is shaping up, based on what retailers have announced so far:

Week	What to expect
November 2 to 8	Target’s Early Black Friday Sale (November 5 to 7) and early tech deals
November 9 to 15	Veterans Day sales and Walmart’s Early Black Friday Deals (November 12 to 15)
November 16 to 22	Expected start of Amazon’s Black Friday week and early ad scans from other stores
November 23 to 29	Walmart’s Black Friday Deals, Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2026 itself
November 30 to December 2	Cyber Monday and follow-up online deals

Dates for Amazon and some other stores are still to be confirmed, so check back as more retailers announce their plans.

Are Black Friday Deals Really Worth It?

Not always.

Consumer groups have warned for years that some Black Friday “deals” are not as good as they look. In the UK, the consumer group Which? has found in past investigations that many products were the same price or cheaper at other times of the year.

A big “was” price does not always mean you are getting a bargain. Some prices are raised in the weeks before the sale so that the discount looks bigger.

That does not mean all deals are bad. It means you should check before you buy.

How to Find Real Black Friday 2026 Bargains

Follow these simple steps to make sure you are getting a good deal:

1. Make a list now. Decide what you actually need before the sales start. It helps you avoid impulse buys.
2. Track prices early. Check the current price of items on your list today so you know if the Black Friday price is really lower.
3. Use price history tools. Sites and browser tools that show price history can tell you if a “deal” is truly the lowest price.
4. Compare stores. Retailers often price match, so check a few before you buy.
5. Check model numbers. Some TVs and gadgets are made specially for Black Friday with cheaper parts. Compare the exact model number.
6. Read the return policy. Many stores extend holiday return windows, but not all do.
7. Set a budget. It is easy to overspend when everything looks like a bargain.

Buy Now, Pay Later: Use It With Care

Buy now, pay later services let you split a purchase into smaller payments. They are becoming more popular every year.

Adobe expects shoppers to spend $21.3 billion using buy now, pay later this holiday season, including more than $1 billion on Cyber Monday alone.

These plans can be useful, but they can also make it easy to spend more than you can afford. Missed payments can bring late fees and may hurt your credit score. With interest rates high and prices rising, it is wise to only use them for purchases you know you can pay off.

Black Friday 2026 in the UK

Black Friday 2026 in the UK is also on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on Monday 30 November.

Major UK retailers expected to take part include Amazon UK, Argos, Currys, John Lewis, Boots and Very. As in the US, many sales are likely to start weeks before the big day.

UK shoppers have strong legal protections:

• Online purchases: Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, you usually have 14 days to cancel most online orders after the item arrives, for any reason.
• Faulty goods: The Consumer Rights Act gives you the right to a refund, repair or replacement if an item is faulty.
• Credit card protection: Paying by credit card for items over £100 can give extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Shoppers in the UK are also facing higher prices, with inflation rising to 3.5% in September, so careful planning matters this year.

Shopping in Store on Black Friday 2026

Doorbuster deals are not what they used to be. Most big US chains, including Walmart, Target and Best Buy, now keep their stores closed on Thanksgiving Day and open early on Black Friday morning instead.

If you plan to shop in person on Black Friday 2026, check store hours the week before, download the store’s app to see which deals are online as well as in store, and arrive early for limited items. Many retailers also offer buy online, pick up in store, which can save time and avoid long lines.

Black Friday in Europe

Black Friday has become a big shopping event across Europe, especially in Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Most European retailers follow the same date, Friday, November 27, with many running “Black Week” sales during the days around it.

EU rules require shops to show the lowest price from the previous 30 days when they advertise a discount. That makes it easier for European shoppers to tell if a deal is genuine.

Shopping Safety Tips for Black Friday 2026

Scammers are very active during the holiday shopping season. Protect yourself with these tips:

• Shop on trusted websites. Type the store’s web address yourself rather than clicking links in emails or texts.
• Be careful with deals that look too good. A brand new laptop for a fraction of the normal price is likely a scam.
• Watch out for fake delivery texts. Scammers often send messages claiming a parcel is waiting.
• Use a credit card. Credit cards usually offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards.
• Check your bank statements. Look out for any charges you do not recognize.

How Inflation Could Affect Black Friday 2026

Prices are rising again. In the US, consumer prices rose 3.7% over the past year in September, driven mostly by energy and gasoline. That means some shoppers may have less to spend, while others may hunt harder for deals.

Retailers know this, which is why many are offering early discounts and spreading deals over several weeks to keep shoppers coming back.

Black Friday 2026 vs Cyber Monday: Which Is Better?

Both days offer big discounts, but they tend to suit different products.

Black Friday	Cyber Monday
TVs and large electronics	Laptops and tech accessories
In-store doorbusters	Online-only deals
Toys and games	Clothing and beauty
Home appliances	Travel and subscription deals

The best approach is to watch prices across the whole of Cyber Week, from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Adobe, Deloitte, Today, NationalWorld, ShopBack