When is Black Friday 2026? Early deals, key discounts, and shopper strategies revealed

Black Friday 2026 is still some way off but shoppers don't need to wait until the actual day to start saving. A number of retailers are already offering early deals and more are expected to come in during the course of November. Black Friday this year is on 27th November (the day after Thanksgiving in the US). As ever you can expect deals across the board from electronics and home goods through to fashion and beauty.

But with sales starting earlier and discounts coming in waves, knowing when to buy can actually make a difference. Here's what you can expect from Black Friday 2026 and how to go about the biggest shopping day of the year, as per a report by New York Post.

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27th November. It's the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season, though of course many retailers will have been running their sales long before that date actually arrives.

Some stores start off with discounts in late October, others have them rolling through November. The promotions can go on right through to Cyber Monday (Nov 30).

That means shoppers have multiple opportunities to find some savings rather than just relying on one day. The retailers will also be updating their offers as Thanksgiving gets closer so it's worth checking prices on a regular basis to see if you can find any good deals.

Which Black Friday deals are worth watching?

Early Black Friday deals are already out in a number of key categories.

Amazon shoppers can pick up the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm at a reduced price of $60 (was $75). The DeWalt 20V MAX Drill and Impact Driver set is now $139 (was $239) and the Carote 20 piece non-stick cookware set is $69.99 (was $109.99).

Walmart's initial offers are a KitchenAid Deluxe Series stand mixer at $299.99 (vs $449.99), an HP 14" laptop at $199 and a Shark Steam & Scrub mop at $98.

Other retailers are in the process of promoting discounts too. Ulta Beauty and JCPenney are both advertising up to 50% off. Béis luggage and travel sets are 25% off. Balsam Hill is having up to 50% off and Sur La Table is on a 20% deal.

Fashion shoppers can also pick up some early offers. The Lululemon Define Jacket is listed at $99 and the Sam Edelman Saige Booties have gone from $170 to $99.90.

Black Friday v Cyber Monday: which should you pick?

The better shopping day really comes down to what you're after. Black Friday is typically the day you'll find the best deals on the big buys (TVs, laptops, kitchen appliances etc). Cyber Monday is the day to keep an eye out for deals on tech accessories, clothing, beauty and the like.

However there is a lot of overlap in the discounts. It's better to compare prices over the full sales period rather than assume that one day will always be the lowest.

Should you shop early this year?

PwC's Holiday Outlook 2026 found that 80% of consumers plan to use a budgeting strategy this holiday season. Ali Furman, PwC's consumer markets industry leader, is also urging shoppers to get out there and look for the specific product, size and colour they want as early as possible.

"Apparel, skincare, food and beverage and the more popular of the seasonal items all move very quickly once the promotions get going," Furman told the NY Post. Before you buy, check the prices at other retailers and look at the product's recent price history. A discount doesn't automatically make for a good value just because it's a Black Friday deal.