Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov. 27 this year, and shoppers should expect many retailers to run deals well before that date as part of extended holiday sales.
Major chains are already rolling out early promotions: Walmart announced a three-part holiday schedule with an “Early Black Friday Deals” event running Nov. 12–15, a main Black Friday event Nov. 23–29 and Cyber Monday sales from Nov. 30–Dec. 2, with online deals starting at 12:01 a.m. ET and stores opening at 6 a.m. local time, the retailer told MassLive.
Industry trackers and shopping guides say the broader Black Friday season will stretch through most of November. BlackFriday.com — cited by SILive — predicts many retailers will begin pre-Black Friday sales around Nov. 20, and that early November markdowns and weeklong events are likely to be common again this year.
That means consumers looking for specific discounts should start watching ads and retailer pages now instead of waiting for Nov. 27. MassLive notes Walmart will reserve some online “hot deal drops” and select discounts for Walmart+ members during the first 24 hours of each event, then open remaining eligible offers to all shoppers the next day.
Expect the usual Black Friday categories to feature prominently: large-ticket electronics, toys and kitchen appliances. SILive reports that trackers expect TVs, popular wearables and toys to see notable markdowns, while retailers often highlight gifts under $25 or $20 in their holiday guides.
Shoppers who want to compare prices or verify a true markdown should note current prices before the sales begin and check retailer terms on limited-time offers. Early deals can arrive in multiple waves — some in early November, others the week of Thanksgiving and some running through Cyber Monday — so planning can help avoid impulse buys.
For general holiday-shopping context and local consumer alerts, readers may also find recent retail coverage useful, including reporting that Aldi prices fall this fall and a separate update on Dollar General settling deceptive-pricing cases, both of which reflect broader attention to pricing and promotions this season.
Sources
- MassLive — Walmart’s announced 2026 holiday schedule, dates and details on Walmart+ early access and deal windows.
- SILive — BlackFriday.com guidance that many retailers will run pre-Black Friday sales around Nov. 20 and trackers’ expectations for categories likely to be discounted.
