When is Black Friday 2026? Plus early deals to shop now

Black Friday is fast approaching, which means we haven’t got long before retailers drop this year’s instalment of money-saving deals. This is great news for savvy shoppers gearing up to nab offers on wishlist items and Christmas gifts. Whether you’re looking for a top-rated 4K TV, a powerful laptop, a barista-quality coffee machine or a time-saving air fryer, Black Friday 2026 deals offer major discounts on big-ticket items.

Retailers drop deals earlier every year ahead of the main event on Friday, 27 November 2026. Major ones like Amazon, Very, and Currys often launch early Black Friday sales weeks in advance, giving savvy shoppers a chance to snap up early bargains.

Having covered Black Friday deals for over a decade, I’ve tracked thousands of prices to separate genuine discounts from false savings. Here is your ultimate Black Friday 2026 survival guide, including key sale dates, early live deals, and expert shopping tips.

When will Black Friday 2026 deals start?

When you’ve been covering Black Friday for as long as I have, the date is pretty much impossible to forget. But if you’re less familiar with the history, Black Friday always takes place the day after Thanksgiving in the US. That means the calendar date changes each year, but it will always fall on the same day of the week.

This year, Black Friday lands on 27 November. Of course, it's no longer just a one-day event – brands and retailers have turned Black Friday into a weeks-long shopping festival.

Last year, several retailers even launched their offers in October – yes, really. Currys and John Lewis & Partners both kicked off their discounts on 30 October, with Argos joining the celebrations a day later on 31 October. I’d expect the same again this year – maybe even earlier than that.

While retailers are starting their Black Friday sales earlier than ever, most still wrap things up on Cyber Monday. This year, Cyber Monday falls on 30 November 2026, and many of the biggest deals will disappear at midnight, like Cinderella in her pumpkin carriage.

That said, last year, some retailers continued offering discounts well into December, with Lookfantastic extending its sale until 3 December last year. A number of retailers also launched “Cyber Week” promotions, extending the sale even further into the first week of December. It goes on and on.

Cyber Monday is the online shopping event that follows Black Friday. It takes place on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend in the US. This year, Cyber Monday will fall on 30 November 2026.

While Cyber Monday was originally created to encourage shoppers to buy online, we’re living in the 21st century and everyone shops on the internet, making the concept of Cyber Monday slightly redundant. It’s now just an extension of Black Friday, giving you a final chance to save before Christmas.

Some brands and retailers have tried to popularise other shopping events, but most have had about as much success as Gretchen Wieners trying to make “fetch” happen.

There's Travel Tuesday, for example, which takes place on the day after Cyber Monday and focuses on deals for flights, hotels and package holidays, and Small Business Saturday, which encourages shoppers to support independent retailers instead of the big chains.

It’s one of those campfire tales that’s been passed down through the generations. There are so many different origin stories that no one can say for certain which is true.

The earliest recorded use of “Black Friday” dates back to 1869, when the term was used to describe a financial panic triggered by two financiers whose attempt to corner the US gold market ended in a spectacular crash. It's an interesting story, but it almost certainly isn't the origin of the shopping tradition.

The most widely accepted origin for the shopping version of Black Friday can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s. Police officers used the term to describe the traffic, crowds and shoplifting that followed Thanksgiving in Philadelphia.

There’s also one more slightly more cheerful reading of the tale, and that it was the day retailers went from being “in the red” to being “in the black”, meaning they were finally profitable as Christmas shoppers flooded their stores.

Is Black Friday really the cheapest time to buy?

After a decade of tracking prices across all kinds of products, I can confidently say yes. Black Friday is the one shopping event I actually save for, and in my experience, it beats both the January sales and Boxing Day deals.

Last year, I saw some seriously impressive price cuts, as retailers pulled out all the stops to attract shoppers during a particularly difficult year for household finances. I expect that competition to remain strong in 2026, which could mean plenty of opportunities for shoppers to make meaningful savings.

Which retailers take part in Black Friday?

A better question might be: which retailers don’t? Black Friday has become such a huge event in the retailer calendar that almost every major retailer and brand takes part, even if it’s just for one day.

You’ll be able to shop discounts at Amazon, Currys, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, AO, Very, Boots, Samsung, Shark, Ninja, Dyson, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Adidas, Nike, Asos, Zara and plenty more.

There are still a few notable exceptions, however. Apple doesn't discount its products, instead it offers gift cards in exchange for selected purchases. Ikea and Lush don’t have Black Friday sales either, while The Ordinary shuts down its website and stores for 24 hours to protest over-consumerism.

Even so, you'll often find discounts on their products elsewhere. Apple devices, for example, are regularly reduced by retailers such as Amazon, Currys and John Lewis during Black Friday, often making them a better place to shop than buying direct.

How can you tell if a Black Friday deal is genuine?

The easiest way is to check a product's price history. If it's been the same price for weeks before Black Friday, or the discount is only a few pounds, it probably isn't as impressive as it looks. Make sure to write a list of everything you want and need, noting down the current price so you can check the discount in November.

I also recommend comparing prices across multiple retailers, Just because something has a big percentage off doesn't automatically make it a good deal.

Best early Black Friday deals

When Black Friday rolls around I’m expecting to see lots of discounts on TVs, laptops, smartphones, headphones, smart home devices, coffee machines, air fryers, vacuum cleaners, mattresses, gaming consoles and wearables, as well as fashion, beauty, toys and home appliances.

But if you’re already in the mood for some bargains, here are some of the best early Black Friday deals that already live, with big savings across tech, appliances, beauty and more.