Events & ActivitiesWhen Is Black Friday 2026? Start and End Dates Explained
Updated November 2026
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving. As a single day it starts at midnight and ends at 11:59 p.m. on November 27, but the sales around it last much longer: many stores began early Black Friday deals in late October or early November, and most Black Friday offers run through Cyber Monday on November 30, with some lasting into the first week of December.
Black Friday 2026 Quick Facts
| Question | Answer for 2026 |
|---|---|
| When is Black Friday? | Friday, November 27, 2026 |
| When is Thanksgiving? | Thursday, November 26, 2026 |
| When do early Black Friday deals start? | Already started at several stores (from October 30 at Best Buy and Costco) |
| When does Black Friday end? | The day ends November 27; most sales end on or after Cyber Monday, November 30 |
| When is Black Week? | Usually Monday, November 23 to Sunday, November 29 (or through Cyber Monday) |
| When is Cyber Monday? | Monday, November 30, 2026 |
| Is Black Friday a public holiday? | No, but some US states give state workers the day off |
How the Black Friday Date Is Set
Black Friday is always the Friday after US Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday of November. That means Black Friday can land anywhere between November 23 and November 29. Congress fixed Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday in 1941, two years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday a week earlier to give stores a longer shopping season before Christmas.
Because the date moves, here are the next few years for planning:
| Year | Thanksgiving | Black Friday | Cyber Monday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 27 | November 28 | December 1 |
| 2026 | November 26 | November 27 | November 30 |
| 2027 | November 25 | November 26 | November 29 |
| 2028 | November 23 | November 24 | November 27 |
Countries outside the US, including the UK, Canada, Australia and much of Europe, use the same date even though they do not celebrate US Thanksgiving.
When Do Black Friday 2026 Sales Start?
Black Friday sales now start weeks before the day itself. Here is what major US retailers have announced for 2026 so far. Stores that are not listed have not published dates yet.
| Retailer | Announced 2026 dates |
|---|---|
| Walmart | Early Black Friday Deals November 12-15; Black Friday Deals online from November 23, in stores from 6 a.m. on November 27, through November 29; Cyber Monday November 30-December 2 |
| Best Buy | DoorBOOsters from October 30; early Black Friday deals from November 6; Black Friday event reported as November 19-28 |
| Target | Deal of the Day from November 1 to December 24; Early Black Friday sale November 5-7 |
| Home Depot | Black Friday Savings Event November 5-25; Black Friday doorbusters from November 27; Cyber Monday deals from November 30 |
| Costco | Early deals from October 30; online-only deals on Thanksgiving; Black Friday sale reported as November 27-30 |
| Amazon | Not announced yet. In 2025, Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday deals ran November 20-December 1 |
You can follow the latest offers on our Walmart, Target, Best Buy and Amazon store pages.
Are early Black Friday deals worth it?
Often, yes. Many retailers now offer the same or very similar prices in their early events as on Black Friday, and some add price-match promises. Best Buy and Target, for example, have offered holiday price guarantees in past years. The best approach is to compare an early price with the item's normal price over the last few months. If it is clearly lower and the item is something you need, waiting rarely brings a much bigger saving.
When Does Black Friday End?
Strictly, Black Friday ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 27, 2026. Retail sales do not follow that clock, though. In recent years the pattern has been:
- In-store doorbusters usually end on Black Friday or when stock runs out.
- Online Black Friday prices often stay live through the weekend and into Cyber Monday.
- Cyber Monday deals often run one to three extra days, and some stores call the following days "Cyber Week". Walmart's 2026 Cyber Monday event, for example, runs until December 2.
For most shoppers, the realistic end of Black Friday 2026 deals is Monday, November 30 or the first few days of December. After that, the next big date is Green Monday on December 14.
How Long Does Black Friday Last?
The day is 24 hours, but the event is much longer. Looking at 2025, Amazon's Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday sale ran for 12 days, and several large stores started their first "Black Friday" deals in late October. In 2026, Best Buy's first holiday deals started on October 30 and Walmart's Black Friday Deals event runs for a week. So the honest answer is: one day officially, about one to two weeks for the main sales, and close to a full month if you count early deals.
What Is Black Week?
Black Week is the name many retailers, especially in Europe, use for the week of Black Friday. It usually runs from the Monday before Black Friday to the Sunday after it, which would be November 23 to November 29, 2026. Some stores extend it through Cyber Monday. In the US, "Black Friday Week" means much the same thing.
Black Friday Dates Outside the US
Black Friday is now a global sales event, and nearly every country uses the US date, November 27, 2026. What changes is how long the sales run:
- UK and Ireland: retailers usually run deals for a week or more before Black Friday and finish on Cyber Monday.
- Germany, Austria and much of Europe: "Black Week" is the common format, typically the Monday to Sunday around Black Friday.
- Canada: sales follow the US calendar closely, even though Canadian Thanksgiving is in October.
- Australia and New Zealand: stores often call the period "Black Friday to Cyber Monday" or "Cyber Weekend", from November 27 to November 30.
If you shop from international stores, check the time zone on each offer. A deal that "ends Monday" in Europe may end several hours before a US-based deal with the same wording.
Black Friday 2026 Calendar: The Full Holiday Shopping Weekend
- Thursday, November 26 - Thanksgiving: Most big US stores are closed, but many online sales go live.
- Friday, November 27 - Black Friday: The main shopping day, in stores and online.
- Saturday, November 28 - Small Business Saturday: A day to support local and independent shops.
- Sunday, November 29: Some stores start their Cyber Monday sales early.
- Monday, November 30 - Cyber Monday: Usually the biggest online shopping day of the year. In 2025, Adobe Analytics recorded $14.25 billion in US online spending on Cyber Monday.
- Tuesday, December 1 - Giving Tuesday and Travel Tuesday: Charity giving plus airline and hotel sales.
- Monday, December 14 - Green Monday: One of the last big online sale days before holiday shipping cut-offs.
What Time Do Black Friday Sales Start?
Online sales often start at midnight, either 12:01 a.m. Eastern or 12:01 a.m. Pacific depending on the store. Walmart's 2026 online events start at 12:01 a.m. ET, and its stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Most other chains have not yet confirmed their 2026 Black Friday store hours. In 2025, many large stores opened between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Black Friday, and most major retailers stayed closed on Thanksgiving Day. Always check your local store's hours before you go.
How to Plan for Black Friday 2026
- Set a budget and a list before early deals begin, so you are not buying just because something is on sale.
- Sign up for store newsletters and apps. Retailers often send early-access links to members.
- Track prices on the items you want so you can tell a real discount from a raised "was" price.
- Check promo codes on our Black Friday deals page and individual store pages before checkout.
- Know the return policy. Many stores extend holiday returns, but some sale items are final.
Department stores like Kohl's and Macy's usually run several waves of sales across the whole week, so it can pay to check more than once.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday, November 27, 2026.
When does Black Friday 2026 end?
The day ends at midnight on November 27, but most Black Friday deals run through Cyber Monday, November 30, and some continue into early December.
Is Black Friday always the day after Thanksgiving?
Yes. It is always the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November, so it falls between November 23 and 29.
When does Amazon's Black Friday 2026 sale start?
Amazon has not announced it yet. In 2025, its Black Friday Week began on November 20, eight days before Black Friday, and ran through Cyber Monday on December 1.
When is Black Friday 2027?
Black Friday 2027 will be on Friday, November 26, 2027, after Thanksgiving on November 25.
Is Black Friday a federal holiday?
No. It is not a federal holiday, although several states give state employees the day off, and many businesses close or reduce hours.
Conclusion
Black Friday 2026 falls on November 27, but you do not need to wait for that day to start saving. Early deals are already live at several big stores, and most Black Friday prices will run until Cyber Monday on November 30. Bookmark our Cyber Monday deals page as well, so you can catch the offers that arrive after the weekend.
About Liza Kavin
Liza Kavin is a content strategist and marketer who helps brands captivate their audiences through compelling, scroll-stopping storytelling. She’s partnered with companies like Boosted Commerce, Mashable, and Motherly to turn high-impact growth strategies into real revenue. When she’s not working, she’s likely planning her next points-funded trip, lost in a good book, or tracking down the best deal in sight.