Black Friday is still almost four weeks away, but in 2026 the biggest US retailers are not waiting. Costco’s holiday deals went live on October 30, Target’s daily deals start today, and Walmart and Best Buy have already published their full event calendars. That is why “Black Friday 2026” is climbing in Google searches this weekend. Here is every confirmed date so far, what each store is offering, and how to plan your shopping so you do not miss the best prices.
Quick answer: Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving (November 26). Cyber Monday is November 30. Early sales have already begun: Costco’s deals run from October 30 to November 30, Target’s Early Black Friday sale is November 5–7, Walmart’s first event starts online on November 12, and Best Buy’s main Black Friday sale runs November 19–28.
Why Black Friday 2026 is trending now
Search interest jumped after Costco’s full Thanksgiving and Black Friday ad became public, with outlets such as IGN, 9to5Toys and Costco Insider publishing the pages. In the same week, Walmart announced a three-stage sale and Best Buy confirmed its calendar. Together, these moves have turned November into one long shopping season rather than a single day.
The bigger picture is a strong spending forecast. On October 15 the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicted that US holiday retail sales in November and December will grow 4.2% compared with 2025, reaching about $1.013 trillion, up from $972 billion last year. NRF also expects retailers to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal workers. NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said consumers “will prioritize the holiday season even as they remain mindful of their budgets.”
Black Friday 2026 key dates at a glance
| Retailer | Event | Dates (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Costco | Holiday / Black Friday ad deals | Oct 30 – Nov 30 |
| Costco | Thanksgiving online offers | Nov 26 (warehouses closed that day) |
| Best Buy | “DoorBOOsters” Halloween sale | Oct 30 – Nov 1 |
| Target | Deal of the Day | Nov 1 – Dec 24 |
| Target | Early Black Friday sale | Nov 5 – Nov 7 |
| Best Buy | Early Black Friday deals and doorbusters | From Nov 6, new deals every Friday |
| Walmart | Early Black Friday deals | Nov 12 – Nov 15 |
| Best Buy | Black Friday doorbusters and deals | Nov 19 – Nov 28 |
| Walmart | Black Friday deals | Nov 23 – Nov 29 |
| All | Black Friday | Friday, Nov 27 |
| Best Buy | Cyber Sunday and Monday | From Nov 29 |
| Walmart | Cyber Monday deals | Nov 30 – Dec 2 |
| Best Buy | Cyber Week deals | Dec 1 – Dec 6 |
Costco Black Friday 2026
Costco has spread its savings across the whole month. According to Costco Insider, the ad is split into five sections: deals valid October 30 to November 15, deals valid November 16 to 30, Thanksgiving Day online offers on November 26, Black Friday weekend deals from November 27 to 30, and Cyber Monday offers on November 30.
Some of the deals spotted in the ad include:
- SimpliSafe 10-piece security system with Outdoor Camera Series 2 for $99.99 after $100 off
- Ninja Luxe AutoBarista Pro espresso machine, $160 off
- NEX Playground for $289.99 after $60 off (Black Friday weekend)
- Jackery 600v2 solar generator, $100 off
- Smaller grocery savings, such as $5 off an Olipop prebiotic soda variety pack and $4.50 off Annie’s Organic cinnamon rolls
Costco warehouses will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, so the November 26 offers are online only. Most Costco deals require a membership, so check whether yours is active before the big weekend.
Walmart Black Friday 2026: three stages
Walmart has split its sale into three events, as reported by 9to5Toys.
Stage 1: Early Black Friday deals (Nov 12–15)
Deals go live on Walmart.com at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 12. Walmart+ members get early access to the “hot Deal drops” at that time, and the remaining drop items open to everyone at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 13. In-store deals start at 6 a.m. local time.
Stage 2: Black Friday deals (Nov 23–29)
Online deals start at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23, again with Walmart+ early access, and open to all shoppers on November 24. In stores, Black Friday deals begin at 6 a.m. local time on November 27. Walmart stores will be closed on Thanksgiving.
Stage 3: Cyber Monday (Nov 30–Dec 2)
Cyber Monday deals begin on Walmart.com at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 30 and run until December 2.
Target Black Friday 2026
Target’s season starts today. According to TODAY, its Deal of the Day returns on November 1 and runs every day until December 24, and for the first time Target will give a one-day preview of upcoming daily deals. A three-day Early Black Friday sale follows from November 5 to 7, and new limited-time offers will drop every weekend through the holidays. Early examples listed by TODAY included Beats Studio Pro headphones at $199.99 and a Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven at $139.99, although prices can change.
Best Buy Black Friday 2026
Best Buy has published one of the longest calendars. After the “DoorBOOsters” Halloween sale (October 30 to November 1), early Black Friday deals start on November 6 with fresh deals every Friday. The main Black Friday Doorbusters and Deals event runs for 10 days, from November 19 to 28. A Cyber Sunday and Monday event starts on November 29, Cyber Week deals run December 1 to 6, and a Last-Minute Savings event runs December 18 to 24.
Best Buy has not shared discount amounts yet, but it named products it plans to feature, including Meta smart glasses, RGB LED TVs, GTA VI, Googlebooks, NVIDIA RTX Spark PCs and the Oura Ring 5. If GTA VI is on your list, our guide to 15 confirmed changes in GTA 6 vs GTA 5 explains what is new. My Best Buy Plus and Total members get “added rewards,” according to the retailer.
What about Amazon?
Amazon has confirmed that Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday is November 30, 2026, but it has not announced official start dates for its Black Friday sale yet. Early deals are already live in its Holiday Shop. Amazon also points shoppers to Alexa for Shopping, which can track prices, send deal alerts and buy an item automatically when it hits a target price.
How to get the best Black Friday deals in 2026
- Make a list now. With sales spread across five weeks, decide what you need before deals tempt you into impulse buys.
- Track prices. Use price-tracking tools or retailer alerts so you can tell whether an “early” price is actually the lowest of the season.
- Check membership perks. Walmart+ and Costco members get early or exclusive access, and Best Buy gives extra rewards to paid members. Work out whether the fee pays for itself.
- Read return policies. Many stores extend holiday return windows, but rules differ for electronics and opened items.
- Watch your budget. Higher everyday costs, including gas prices still above $4 in places, mean a deal is only a saving if you would have bought the item anyway.
This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Prices and dates can change, so always check the retailer’s website before buying.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30.
When do Black Friday 2026 sales start?
Many have already started. Costco’s deals began on October 30, Target’s Deal of the Day starts November 1, Target’s Early Black Friday sale runs November 5–7, Best Buy’s early deals begin November 6, and Walmart’s first event starts online on November 12.
Are Walmart and Costco open on Thanksgiving 2026?
No. Walmart stores and Costco warehouses will both be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Costco will run some online-only offers on November 26.
When is Amazon’s Black Friday sale in 2026?
Amazon has confirmed Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30) but has not yet given official start dates for its sale. Early holiday deals are already live.
How much will Americans spend this holiday season?
The National Retail Federation forecasts that November and December retail sales will rise 4.2% to about $1.013 trillion in 2026, up from $972 billion in 2025.
Sources: Costco Insider, 9to5Toys, TODAY, IGN, About Amazon, National Retail Federation.
