Black Friday 2026 Deals: Dates, Early Sales & Smart Shopping Tips

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Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. Most big retailers started their sales weeks earlier, so families and teachers who plan ahead can spread holiday spending across November instead of cramming it into one weekend.

We’ve rounded up the confirmed 2026 sale dates from many stores, plus the books, school supplies, and craft deals our teacher and parent community asks about every year.

 

Black Friday 2026 at a glance

Quick tip: Before you shop, write down who you’re buying for and a firm budget. A list is the single best defense against “deals” on things nobody needed.

 

Black Friday 2026 sale dates by store

Most major retailers have now confirmed their 2026 plans; Amazon and Macy’s are the big holdouts. Here’s what’s confirmed as of early November.

Walmart

Walmart is running three events. Online deals start at 12:01 a.m. ET; Walmart+ members get first crack at limited “hot deal drops” for 24 hours before everyone else. During the main Black Friday Deals event, deals go live online Nov. 23, but in-store prices don’t start until 6 a.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 27.

Target

Target’s Early Black Friday Sale runs Nov. 5–7, and a new Deal of the Day drops daily through Christmas Eve. Join the free Target Circle program before you shop, because many sale prices are member-only. Target hasn’t released its Black Friday Week or Cyber Monday details yet; in 2025 those came out around Nov. 20.

Amazon

Amazon confirms Black Friday on Nov. 27 and Cyber Monday on Nov. 30, but hasn’t announced its Black Friday Week start. Last year’s sale ran Nov. 20 through Dec. 1, and deal trackers expect a similar Thursday-before-Thanksgiving start (Nov. 19) this year. Treat that as a projection until Amazon confirms it.

Warehouse clubs

Costco’s Black Friday deals are already live online in waves, and Costco will refund the difference if its own price drops within 30 days, so buying early carries little risk. Sam’s Club hasn’t announced 2026 Black Friday dates yet. New this year, Walmart offers a Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus bundle for $120 a year.

 

Books, school supplies, and craft deals

Black Friday can do double duty: gifts for the kids now, plus a head start on second-semester supplies and the teacher’s classroom wish list.

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble hasn’t published its 2026 Black Friday details yet. Last year, its sale started the Thursday before Thanksgiving with up to 50% off bestsellers and kids’ books, and many offers ran into December. Watch for its annual Black Friday signed editions too, which make great gifts for young readers.

Michaels

Michaels is the go-to for craft kits, art supplies, and holiday decor now that JoAnn has closed. Expect weekly ads with deep markdowns on seasonal items, plus app coupons you can stack. Teachers can also get 15% off every day through the Michaels teacher rewards program.

Office supply stores

Staples, Office Depot, and OfficeMax usually discount printers, ink, laptops, and paper during Black Friday week. It’s a smart time to restock the homework station before January.

Teachers Pay Teachers

TpT’s sitewide Cyber Sale typically runs the Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving. In 2025 it ran Dec. 1–2 with up to 20% off plus an extra 5% promo code. If that pattern holds, look for Nov. 30–Dec. 1 this year. Parents and homeschoolers can shop it too.

Gift idea that helps the classroom: Instead of another mug, check your child’s teacher’s TeacherLists wish list and grab an item on sale. See our guide to the Best Teacher Gifts on Amazon for 2026 for more ideas.

 

Tech, toys, home, and beauty deals

Tech and electronics

Best Buy is running its Black Friday Doorbusters Nov. 19–28, with Cyber Week deals Dec. 1–6. Its regular price-match policy excludes competitor prices from Nov. 19–30, so compare before you buy. Most holiday purchases can be returned through Jan. 15, 2027.

Apple hasn’t announced a 2026 event. Last year it gave Apple gift cards of up to $250 with eligible purchases from Black Friday through Cyber Monday instead of cutting prices. Retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Costco often beat Apple’s own deal on iPads and AirPods.

Buying a first tablet or smartwatch for a child? Set up parental controls before you wrap it, and check that the device works with the family plan you already have.

Toys

Walmart is giving Walmart+ members early access to some of the season’s most-wanted toys during its Nov. 12–15 and Nov. 23–29 events. Target’s weekly offers and Kohl’s Black Friday Week (with Kohl’s Cash) are also strong for toys. For the hottest items, buy when you see a fair price rather than waiting for Black Friday itself.

Home and holiday decor

Home Depot’s Black Friday Savings Event runs Nov. 5–25, with pre-lit trees, inflatables, and string lights. Lowe’s is running four weeks of Black Friday deals, with member doorbusters online Nov. 26. Costco’s Black Friday wave (Nov. 27–30) covers TVs, laptops, and household staples.

Beauty and self-care

Ulta Beauty discounts vary by brand, so check its weekly ad and app for early Black Friday offers. Bath & Body Works traditionally runs buy-3-get-3 deals across body care and home fragrance; Rewards members often get early access. Macy’s hasn’t announced 2026 dates yet; last year’s Black Friday Week ran Nov. 23–30.

 

8 ways families can save more this Black Friday

A list, a budget, and a few free loyalty programs will save you more than any single doorbuster.

 

1. Make a list and a budget first. Write each person’s name, one or two gift ideas, and a dollar limit. Shop the list, not the ads.
2. Join free loyalty programs now. Target Circle, Kohl’s Rewards, MyLowe’s Rewards, and Ulta Rewards unlock member prices and early access at no cost.
3. Decide whether a paid membership is worth it. Walmart+ and Prime early access mostly matters for limited-quantity toys and electronics. If you’d cancel after the holidays, set a reminder.
4. Check price history. A browser price tracker shows whether a “deal” is actually lower than the usual price.
5. Match model numbers. Some TVs and laptops are made just for Black Friday with cheaper parts. Compare the exact model, not just the brand.
6. Know the price-adjustment rules. Target matches its own lower price within 14 days, Costco within 30 days. Keep receipts in one folder or email label.
7. Check holiday return windows. Many stores extend returns into January. Amazon purchases made Nov. 1–Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31, 2027.
8. Involve the kids. Give older kids a small budget to shop for siblings or a teacher. It’s a real-world math lesson and a lesson in giving.

Don’t forget Giving Tuesday (Dec. 1)

After a weekend of shopping, Giving Tuesday is a chance to give back as a family. Ideas that take five minutes:

• Fund a classroom project on DonorsChoose or buy an item from a teacher’s TeacherLists wish list.
• Donate gently used coats, books, or toys to a local shelter or school drive.
• Let your kids pick a cause and add a dollar from their own savings.

For more, see our list of World Kindness Day 2026: 25 Easy Ways to Spread Kindness as a Family.

 

Frequently asked questions

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 26). Many retailers started sales in early November.

 

When is Cyber Monday 2026?

Cyber Monday 2026 is Monday, November 30. Walmart’s Cyber Monday event runs Nov. 30–Dec. 2, and Best Buy’s Cyber Week runs Dec. 1–6.

 

When does Walmart’s Black Friday sale start?

Walmart’s Early Black Friday Deals start online at 12:01 a.m. ET and in stores at 6 a.m. on Nov. 12. Its main Black Friday Deals event runs Nov. 23–29, with in-store deals starting Nov. 27.

 

When does Amazon’s Black Friday sale start in 2026?

Amazon hasn’t announced it yet. Last year’s Black Friday Week started the Thursday before Thanksgiving and ran through Cyber Monday. Early deals are already live in Amazon’s Holiday Shop.

 

Are stores open on Thanksgiving 2026?

Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Home Depot, and Lowe’s stores are closed on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. Many still run online deals that day.

 

Is it better to shop early or wait for Black Friday?

For popular toys and limited-quantity items, buy when you see a good price, because they can sell out. For electronics, compare the early-sale price to Black Friday week and use price-adjustment policies if the price drops.

 

What are the best Black Friday deals for teachers and classrooms?

Look for books at Barnes & Noble, art and craft supplies at Michaels, tech and printers at office supply stores, and the Teachers Pay Teachers Cyber Sale the week after Thanksgiving. Families can also shop a teacher’s TeacherLists wish list during the sales.

 

Black Friday shopping checklist

Before

• ☐ List everyone you’re buying for, with a gift idea and budget for each
• ☐ Join free loyalty programs (Target Circle, Kohl’s Rewards, and others)
• ☐ Note exact model numbers for big-ticket items
• ☐ Check your child’s teacher’s TeacherLists wish list

During

• ☐ Check price history before you buy
• ☐ Buy hot toys when the price is fair, not perfect
• ☐ Stick to the list and the budget

After

• ☐ Keep receipts in one folder or email label
• ☐ Watch for price drops within adjustment windows
• ☐ Note return deadlines on your calendar
• ☐ Pick a Giving Tuesday project as a family

Shop smart, save more, give back

Black Friday is now a month-long season, not a single day. When you shop with a list, a budget, and the dates above, you can save on gifts, and still have something left to give back.

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