Oct 5–11Announced dates
Walmart Deals
Walmart · Open to everyoneReported dates: October 5–11. Confirm participating products and current event terms with Walmart.
Source checked 2026-10-06 · Calendar reference: US Eastern
THE BLACK FRIDAY 2026 GUIDEBlack Friday 2026.
Black Friday 2026.
Friday, November 27.
The sales announced so far, where last year’s deepest discounts were, how to budget, and how to prepare. Shop for the people on your list — not for the countdown.
Friday, November 27, 2026
Sales we know about
Reported event dates, with a source for each listing. Last researched October 6, 2026. Date badges describe a calendar window, not verified product stock or live discounts. Exact offer start and end times may vary; confirm them with the retailer.
Oct 6–7Announced dates
Target Circle Deal Days
Target · Free Target Circle members · paid Circle 360 members get early access Oct 5Target announced discounts across fall and holiday categories for Circle members. Check the current offer and exclusions on Target’s event page.
Source checked 2026-10-06 · Calendar reference: US Eastern
Oct 6–7Announced dates
Prime Big Deal Days
Amazon · Prime members onlyStarts 12:01 a.m. PT on Oct 6 and runs 48 hours. Amazon says new deals drop three times a day.
Source checked 2026-10-06 · Calendar reference: US Pacific
Black Friday events themselves: This guide does not yet list verified 2026 Black Friday retailer-event schedules. Use the retailer links below to check new announcements; October events above are separate from Black Friday.
The key dates
- Nov 26ThanksgivingThursday
Most big-box stores stay closed. Online sales usually keep running.
- Nov 27Black FridayFriday
The day itself — though many sales start weeks earlier.
- Nov 28Small Business SaturdaySaturday
A good day to shop the local makers on your list.
- Nov 30Cyber MondayMonday
Online-focused sales. Often overlaps with Black Friday offers.
- Dec 1Giving TuesdayTuesday
A day for charitable giving, if that is part of your plan.
Where the deals are: trending categories
Specific Black Friday prices aren’t out yet, so here is what last year’s data shows. Peak discount off listed price by category, Cyber Monday 2025.
What to focus on for the best deals
- Electronics, toys and apparel
These saw the deepest peak discounts last year — 31%, 28% and 25% off listed price at their Cyber Monday peak. If a big electronics purchase is on your list, this is the window to compare.
- Big-ticket items you already planned
A percentage matters most on a large price. A planned TV, laptop or appliance is a better use of the week than a pile of small impulse buys.
- Don’t panic after Cyber Monday
Discounts didn’t vanish: in early December 2025, toys were still about 23% off and computers and electronics 19–20% off. If you miss a deal, there will be another.
- Read the membership fine print
Prime Big Deal Days is members-only, and Target and Walmart give paid members early access. Count a membership fee in the price if you would join only for the sale.
- Gift cards and books count too
Clothing (51%), toys (32%), books and media (28%) and gift cards (26%) were the most-bought categories over Thanksgiving weekend 2025, per NRF.
Budgeting for Black Friday
- 01Decide the total first
Pick one number for the whole week, before you see a single ad. For context, shoppers spent $337.86 on average over Thanksgiving weekend 2025 — about two-thirds of it on gifts. That is an average, not a target.
- 02Set aside a little each week
Spread your total over the weeks left until Black Friday, so the money is there before the sales are.
- 03Give every dollar a person
Put the people on your list and a planned amount next to each name. Anything not on the list waits until after the sales.
- 04Treat “pay later” as spending now
Buy-now-pay-later drove over $1 billion of Cyber Monday 2025 spending (Adobe). Installments still come out of the same budget — count the full price today.
- 05Keep a small buffer
Hold back some of the total for shipping, gift wrap and the thing you forgot. Leftover money is flexibility, not a reason to keep shopping.
How to prepare, week by week
Now — early October
- Make your gift list, with a person beside every idea.
- Set your total budget and start setting a little aside each week.
- Decide whether any October sale (above) is worth shopping, or whether you’ll wait.
Late October
- Note the exact model numbers of anything big you plan to buy.
- Check the retailer’s current price so you know a real discount when you see one.
- Make sure you can sign in to the retailer accounts you’ll use; remove saved cards you don’t want used.
Early November
- Watch for each retailer’s Black Friday announcement and ad — many publish weeks ahead.
- Read return windows and price-adjustment policies before you buy early.
- Decide in store vs. online for each item.
Black Friday week
- Shop your list first. Pause on anything that isn’t on it.
- Compare the delivered total — shipping, tax and required memberships included.
- Keep receipts and order numbers in one place, with each return deadline.
01Make the list first
Decide who you’re shopping for before the sales start.
02Set one holiday totalInclude wrapping, shipping, and the little extras.
03Check it’s really a dealExact model, real reference price, full delivered cost.
04Keep the receipts togetherNote the return window while it’s still fresh.
05Make it Friend FridayInvite the squad, add matching shirts, bingo, a memory stop, and something worth remembering.
Retailer by retailer
Each link goes to the retailer’s own site, where the current ad, terms, and prices live. We don’t republish ad scans or coupon codes — they change too fast to show accurately.
Amazon
- Online only. In recent years its Black Friday event has run for more than a week, through Cyber Monday.
- Some offers are limited to Prime members — check before counting on one.
Walmart
- Stores have closed on Thanksgiving Day every year since 2020.
- In recent years, Walmart+ members have been offered early online access to some deals.
Target
- Stores have closed on Thanksgiving Day every year since 2020.
- Holiday sales tend to roll out in weekly waves through November.
Best Buy
- Stores have closed on Thanksgiving Day every year since 2020.
- For electronics, match the exact model number before comparing prices.
Costco
- Warehouses close on Thanksgiving Day.
- A membership is needed to shop most of the warehouse — include the fee if you are joining just for a deal.
Sam's Club
- Membership warehouse club; check whether an offer is members-only.
- Confirm Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours with your local club.
Kohl's
- Kohl’s Cash is earned now and redeemed later, within set dates. It is a future coupon, not money off today’s total.
Ulta Beauty
- Gift-with-purchase offers are common in beauty. A free gift is not cash off your total.
- Check the shade and size before buying for someone else.
The Home Depot
- Stores have closed on Thanksgiving Day in recent years.
- For big items, add delivery and haul-away costs before comparing.
Store hours
Retailers usually confirm Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours in November, and hours vary by location. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco, and The Home Depot have closed on Thanksgiving Day every year since 2020. Before you go, check your store’s own page for its hours, stock, and any purchase limits.
Black Friday questions
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026 — the day after Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). Cyber Monday is November 30.
When do Black Friday sales start?
Earlier every year. Many large retailers now run “early Black Friday” promotions from the first weeks of November. The last Friday of November is the peak, not the start.
Are Black Friday ads released early?
Usually, yes. Retailers typically publish or preview their Black Friday ads in the weeks before the day. Read them on the retailer’s own site so you see the current terms, dates, and exclusions.
Are stores open on Thanksgiving?
Many big-box stores — including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco, and The Home Depot — have closed on Thanksgiving Day every year since 2020. Hours vary by location, so check your store’s page before you go.
Are Black Friday deals available online?
Yes. Most large retailers run the same or similar offers online, often starting earlier than in store. Compare the delivered total, including shipping and any membership costs.
Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better?
It depends on the item. Cyber Monday leans online and has historically featured electronics and online-only offers, but the two events overlap heavily. If the exact item you planned for hits a price you are happy with, you don’t need to wait.
How do I know if it is really a deal?
Compare the exact model and variant, look for a real reference price (not just a “was” price), and add shipping and required costs. Our handbook has a five-point checklist.
How should I prepare?
Make your list and set your budget first. Then you shop for the people you planned for — not for whatever is on sale.
What sales are happening in October 2026?
Walmart Deals runs October 5–11 and is open to everyone. Target Circle Deal Days (for free Target Circle members) and Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days (Prime members only) both run October 6–7.
How much should I budget for Black Friday?
Whatever fits your own plan — decide the total before you see the ads. For context, NRF found shoppers spent $337.86 on average over Thanksgiving weekend 2025, about two-thirds of it on gifts.
The best deal is the gift you planned.
Keep your people, ideas, and budget in one place.
Independent guide, not affiliated with any retailer. Retailer details checked September 27, 2026; sales list checked October 6, 2026. Confirm current terms, hours, and prices with the retailer.