Everything You Should Know About This Year's Black Friday Sales

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As is often the case with major sales these days, retailers are increasingly blurring the lines between early deals and the official start of a sale. Black Friday sales appear to be becoming a month-long event, with early deals appearing in the first week of the month. If you haven't been paying attention, major retailers have already put out their plans and even started churning out deals. But you're still in time to make this upcoming Black Friday sale a great one. Here is everything you need to know to prepare you for the big sale.

When is Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday starts at midnight on Nov. 27. Cyber Monday is the Monday following Black Friday, which starts at midnight on Nov. 30.

What retailers are doing Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?

The major retailers doing sales are the usual: Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Home Depot, and many others. Currently, Walmart has publicized its plans already and has early deals available. Best Buy is offering one of the largest Black Friday and Cyber Week sales, with multiple events and early deals. Target has a three-day event. Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Cyber Monday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, November 30, 2026.

When do Black Friday 2026 sales start?

• Amazon Black Friday: TBD

• Best Buy Black Friday: November 19

• Walmart Black Friday: November 23

• Target Black Friday: November 27

Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?

Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, the distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing. The “best” deal will always depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers that can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot.

What deals can I expect during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Unlike Spring or Summer sales, Black Friday doesn't focus on specific categories, which means everything is fair game for discounts. In previous years, we've seen tech, tools, fitness equipment, outdoor supplies and furniture, bedding, video games, kitchen appliances, and more. This is one of the best times to make a list of what you need and start tracking prices. You're likely to find what you're looking for discounted, and probably at its lowest price it has ever been. If you'd like to avoid having to do all that work, we always do it for you. Just follow our Black Friday coverage.

What are some early Black Friday deals worth checking out right now?

• The WH-1000XM5 were at the top of their class until they were supplanted by the XM6. On the plus side, by virtue of being older, they're currently discounted to $198 (originally $399.99).

• The Bose SoundLink Plus hasn’t been on the market for long, but it’s already earned strong reviews—CNET labeled it “the Goldilocks of Bose Bluetooth speakers,” and it’s down to $179 (originally $269).

• The all-in-one Eufy E25 robot vacuum and mop has a self-cleaning roller mop, and it is 40% off, reaching $599.98 (originally $999.99). The roller is rinsed with clean water as it mops, then cleaned at the dock, meaning you don't need to spend as much time cleaning it yourself.

• Amazon is selling both right now at a $200 discount. That brings the 13-inch MacBook Air to $1,099.99 (down from $1,299) and the 15-inch MacBook Air to $1,299 (originally $1,499), reaching their lowest prices since the June price hikes.

• The Apple Watch Ultra 4 only launched in September, and it’s already seeing an early Black Friday discount of $100 on Amazon, bringing it down to $699.99 (originally $799).