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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-qualitycoffee machine or a time-savingair 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
When will Black Friday 2026 sales end?
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
What is Cyber Monday?
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
Why is it called Black Friday?
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
If you’ve been eyeing up smart ring, now might just be the best time to grab one of thetop designs on the market, the Oura ring
IndyBest’s tech editor Alex Leetested this exact style over a series of months, considering everything from battery life to design, comfort, special features and more. He wrote in his Oura ring 4 review: “It has the best sleep tracking of any wearable, with a lot of science to back it up. There are new features rolling out all the time, and it’s the best activity tracker I’ve found in a smart ring so far.” Right now there’s £120 off at Boots, helping you to save on the smart ring.
Prices may vary
Time to upgrade your vacuum? IndyBest tester Zoe Griffin found that this pick from Shark “delivers serious cleaning power”, when she put it to the test for her review of the best Shark vacuum cleaners. Designed for households with furry friends, it comes with a motorised pet tool and anti-hair-wrap technology to guarantee a quality clean each time. Yes, this means you won’t have to worry about long pet hairs clogging up the rollers as they lift up with ease. Even better, you can currently save £100 on the model at Amazon.
Prices may vary
For her review of the Dyson airwrap id, beauty writer Elena Chabo tested the handy hair tool for weeks. She concluding that “if you have the budget to invest in a hair tool, this will set you up for almost every styling need, halve your styling time and minimise damage to hair.” If you’ve been thinking of investing in the premium device, you can currently save £150 on the price at John Lewis.
Prices may vary
Expert home appliances tester Rachael Penn awarded this Ninja model the top spot in her review of the best air fryers. “It’s compact, so it fits into my tiny kitchen well, and it cooks brilliantly,” says Rachael. “I’ve cooked so many meals in the crispi pro that I’ve almost forgotten I have an oven. The way it cooks perfectly fluffy jacket potatoes is like some kind of magic.” If you’re looking for a versatile, easy-to-navigate air fryer that’s powerful and dishwasher-safe, don’t miss out on this 20 per cent saving at Amazon.
Prices may vary
If you’re looking for a new autumn fragrance, Maison Margiela’s jazz club is one of our favourites and it’s reduced by 20 per cent at Sephora. “As someone who wears women’s, unisex and men’s fragrances depending on my mood, this feels unisex but on the masculine side, with peppery spiciness and tobacco balanced out with a comforting, slightly powdery sweetness,” said Indybest tester Samuel Mathewson in our guide to the best replica scents.
Prices may vary
Read more:Is Black Friday 2026 the best time to buy a beauty advent calendar?
