Black Friday 2026 will take place on Nov. 27, but shoppers do not need to wait until the Friday after Thanksgiving to find deals. Retailers have already begun rolling out price reductions, and many official sales are scheduled to start well before the main event.
The early activity makes planning particularly important. Rather than rushing to buy every promotion, shoppers can prepare a list of products they want, monitor prices and check when individual retailers begin their campaigns.
Amazon has not announced its official Black Friday dates yet. However, its 2025 sale began on Nov. 20, more than a week before Black Friday, suggesting that early promotions could again appear in November.
Best Buy has also yet to publish its complete schedule. The retailer has said it will bring back its day-after-Thanksgiving sale, with significant technology discounts and another group of promotions for Cyber Monday. Deals are expected both online and in stores, although some offers may be exclusive to physical locations. Based on previous years, additional promotions may appear throughout November.
Walmart has announced three major November sales periods. Its early Black Friday event is scheduled for Nov. 12 through Nov. 15, followed by the main Black Friday sale from Nov. 23 through Nov. 29. Online-only deals will run from Nov. 23 through Nov. 26, while Walmart's Cyber Monday event is scheduled to run online from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2.
Target's first Early Black Friday sale will run from Nov. 5 through Nov. 7. The retailer will also offer a Deal of the Day promotion from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, with new offers each day, as well as limited-time holiday deals on weekends after Nov. 7. Its full Black Friday lineup has not yet been released.
Apple products are expected to be among the items discounted during Black Friday. Retailers such as Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy commonly compete on prices for products including MacBooks and AirPods. Apple itself is expected to offer its usual promotion: a gift card with the purchase of selected devices. Shoppers seeking the lowest direct price may therefore find better value through other retailers.
Expected discounts extend well beyond Apple devices. Categories likely to see promotions include MacBooks, Windows laptops, video games and consoles, robot vacuums, standard stick vacuums, drones, trading cards, books, board games and power tools. TVs and everyday products such as paper towels may also be included in retailer sales.
Many of the strongest Black Friday promotions are expected to remain available through Cyber Monday, which falls on Nov. 30. Some offers may continue beyond that date, while certain campaigns, including Walmart's online sale, are scheduled to run into December. Target's daily promotions also indicate that sale prices may continue through much of the holiday season.
For shoppers hoping to find the widest selection and avoid missing limited-stock offers, Black Friday weekend remains the main period to watch. However, checking prices and retailer schedules earlier may provide opportunities to shop before the busiest days.
Sources: Mashable.