When are Black Friday and Black Week in 2026?

For many people, the end of November is the most eagerly awaited time in the shopping calendar. If you’re wondering when Black Friday will take place in 2026 and how long the Black Week sales will last, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, you’ll find the exact dates, a brief history of Black Friday, the differences between the various sales events, and tips on how to prepare for your shopping so you don’t miss out on the best deals.

When is Black Week and when is Black Friday 2026? Exact dates

Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, and Black Week will run from Monday 23 November to Sunday 29 November.

The rule is simple and hasn’t changed for years: Black Friday is always the last Friday in November. It falls on the day after American Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving itself is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, which is why the date of the entire shopping marathon shifts slightly each year.

By way of comparison, Black Friday 2025 fell on 28 November, which is one day later than the 2026 edition. The other dates shift in a similar way. Black Week 2025 ran from 24 to 30 November, and Cyber Monday fell on 1 December. In 2026, everything kicks off a little earlier.

If you’re planning any major purchases, make a note of these dates now. Many shops launch their offers even before the official start date, so it’s worth keeping an eye on prices in advance.

What is Black Friday and where did it come from?

Black Friday falls at the end of November. For years, it has marked the start of the pre-Christmas shopping season, during which shops around the world offer products at discounted prices.

The event originated in the United States and is inextricably linked to the American calendar. As Thanksgiving is a public holiday and most Americans also take Friday off, it created the perfect opportunity to start the hunt for Christmas presents.

The history of Black Friday dates back to the 1950s and 1960s. Initially, the term had nothing to do with sales. Police officers in Philadelphia used it to describe the traffic chaos that gripped the city the day after Thanksgiving, when crowds set off for shopping and other "long weekend" events.

Black Friday, Black Week, Black Weekend and Cyber Monday - how do they differ?

All these events relate to the same sales period, but differ in duration and sales channel. Black Friday lasts one day, Black Weekend covers Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Black Week extends the promotions across the whole week, and Cyber Monday brings the sales season to a close on Monday.

Why so many different formats? The retail sector quickly realised that a single day full of bargains wasn’t enough to cater for everyone. Shops therefore began to extend their promotions, giving customers more time to make decisions. This is how Black Week came about, and many brands are going even further by extending their offers throughout November.

How does Cyber Monday differ from Black Friday? First and foremost, it’s the sales channel. Black Friday has historically been the domain of high-street shops, although today the promotions cover both channels. Cyber Monday has been an online shopping event from the very beginning. It originated in the US in 2005 as the e-commerce sector’s response to the high-street shopping frenzy and, to this day, focuses on e-commerce offers, particularly on electronics and software and app subscriptions.

In practice, the lines between these events are becoming increasingly blurred. If a shop runs promotions as part of Black Week, the same discounts usually apply on Friday and over the weekend. For you as a shopper, this means one thing: you don’t have to drop everything and rush to get everything done on a single specific day, although the best deals can disappear quickly.

Read also: Cyber Monday 2026 - when is Cyber Monday? >>>

Are prices cheaper on Black Friday, and is it worth buying?

Yes, on Black Friday you can buy many products at a lower price, but not every promotion is as attractive as it seems. Some shops raise their prices a few weeks before the November peak, only to later showcase an impressive discount. That’s why it’s worth approaching Black Friday deals with a calculator, rather than on a whim.

Fortunately, there are tools available today that make it easier to check. Under the EU Omnibus Directive, shops must state the lowest price from the 30 days prior to the promotion when offering a discount. You should also check price history on price comparison websites. If the product you want to buy has cost the same for the past six months, and the discount has been calculated based on an inflated starting price, you’re better off looking for another deal.

So, is it worth shopping on Black Friday? In many cases, yes. The biggest sales of the year are a good time for pre-planned purchases: equipment you were planning to replace anyway, or Christmas presents bought without the December rush.

The order is key: first, make a list of what you need; then, hunt for bargains.

What’s worth buying on Black Friday 2026?

On Black Friday, it’s most worthwhile to buy electronics, household appliances and products that have been on your wish list for a long time. These are the categories that shops are most keen to discount, and it’s here that you’ll find the best bargains.

Why? The new models for the coming year, from the latest collection, will be arriving soon, and shops are keen to clear their stock before the end of the year.

What exactly is worth buying at a great price?

• Smartphones - sales often include last year’s flagship models, which see the biggest price drops following the launch of new models. This also applies to Apple smartphones, although the discounts here tend to be more modest than those offered by the competition.
• TVs - shops are keen to discount last year’s 4K models to make way for new ranges.
• Laptops and computers - a good time to buy both work equipment and a gaming setup. Gamers are also on the lookout for deals on consoles, graphics cards and accessories.
• Wireless headphones, smartwatches and tablets - smaller electronic items regularly feature on sale lists and often end up under the Christmas tree as gifts for loved ones.
• Household appliances - from coffee machines to washing machines. Large household appliances are purchases planned months in advance, so a discount can make a real difference to your budget.
• Clothing and cosmetics - the fashion and beauty industries have a strong presence during Black Week, particularly in e-commerce.

Black Friday is also a great time to buy Christmas presents. It falls early enough that you’ll have time to get everything sorted before the December rush, and you can pick up those dream items for your loved ones at discounted prices whilst you’re at it.

However, the rule from the previous section still applies here. Buy what you were planning to buy anyway, not just what happens to be on sale!

How to prepare for Black Week shopping?

Proper preparation starts a few weeks before the sale begins, not on the day itself. Here’s a tried-and-tested plan of action to protect your wallet:

1. Make a shopping list. Write down what you really want to buy and set a maximum budget. A list protects you from impulsive decisions when everything around you is screaming "-70%".
2. Keep an eye on prices in advance. Add items to your shopping cart or wishlist as early as October and monitor how their prices change. This way, you’ll know straight away whether a November offer represents a genuine discount.
3. Sign up for newslettersand follow the shops’ social media profiles. Many brands send offers to subscribers in advance or give them access to pre-sales. Also check the shops’ mobile apps - they sometimes offer additional discounts.
4. Compare offers across several shops. The same model can cost different amounts depending on the retailer. Using a price comparison site will only take a moment, but it could save you a fair bit.
5. Act quickly on limited-time offers. The most attractive deals disappear within a few hours. If a product on your list appears at a good price, don’t put off your decision until the evening.

Also remember that the season of shopping bargains doesn’t end with Black Week. Cyber Monday follows hot on its heels, and in December there’s Free Delivery Day, when shops waive their delivery charges.

If you don’t manage to snap something up in November, you’ll have another chance.

Black Friday from an e-commerce perspective

For online shops, Black Week is the busiest week of the year. Website traffic skyrockets, customers compare offers across several sites at once, and purchasing decisions are often made in a matter of minutes. The shops that come out on top are those that have prepared in advance: they’ve finalised their offers, optimised their website performance and refined their communication with customers (including automated communications).

It is communication that makes the biggest difference during this period. A newsletter announcing a promotion, a text message about the start of a sale, a notification about a product that’s back in stock at a lower price. Each of these touchpoints can determine where a customer spends their money.

Marketing automation platforms, such as ExpertSender, allow you to link these channels into coherent workflows and handle the peak season without having to send every campaign manually.

Do you want your shop to maximise the potential of Black Friday? Book a free demo and see how automated communication helps you sell more during the busiest week of the year.

Book a free ExpertSender demo >>>

Find out how to prepare your shop for the November peak before your competitors snap up your customers.

FAQ - frequently asked questions about Black Friday and Black Week

When will the Black Friday 2026 sales start?

Officially, the sales will start on Friday 27 November 2026, but most shops will launch their promotions as early as 23 November, at the start of Black Week.

Some brands start even earlier and extend their offers throughout November, so it’s worth keeping an eye on prices from the start of the month.

How long does Black Week last?

Black Week lasts seven days - the entire week ending on the last Sunday in November. In 2026, it falls on 23-29 November.

During Black Week, some shops extend their promotions right through to Cyber Monday, 30 November. It’s probably only a matter of time before some shops start running ‘Black Month’-style promotions.

Is it worth shopping online on Black Friday?

Yes, Black Friday online shopping is a convenient way to take advantage of special offers without queues or crowds. It also marks the start of the festive shopping season, so it’s a great opportunity to snap up some attractive discounts.

Online retailers often release their offers sooner than high-street shops, and comparing prices takes just a moment. Just remember to check the discounts and buy from reputable sellers.