Black Friday 2026: frequently asked questions

Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). Amazon's own Black Friday FAQ confirms the date.

Cyber Monday 2026 is Monday, November 30, 2026. Some retailers stretch it out: Walmart's Cyber Monday event runs Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, and Best Buy runs Cyber Week Deals Dec. 1 to 6.

Earlier than ever. Best Buy started DoorBOOsters on Oct. 30 and Early Black Friday deals on Nov. 6. Target runs Early Black Friday deals Nov. 5 to 7. Walmart's Early Black Friday Deals run Nov. 12 to 15, and its main Black Friday Deals event starts online Nov. 23. See the full sale calendar.

The day itself ends at midnight on Friday, Nov. 27, but most sales don't. Walmart's Black Friday Deals run through Nov. 29, and Best Buy's Black Friday doorbusters last 10 days from Nov. 19. Cyber Monday deals then take over on Nov. 30.

Not the big ones we've confirmed so far. Walmart says its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, and Best Buy says its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, though its app and website stay open. We'll add other retailers to our store hours page once they announce.

Walmart says its Black Friday Deals reach stores on Friday, Nov. 27 at 6 a.m. local time. Online, the event starts Monday, Nov. 23 at 12:01 a.m. ET.

No. Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, but the day after is not on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's federal holiday list. Many employers give it off anyway, so check with yours.

The name was coined by Philadelphia police in the 1950s and early 1960s to describe the traffic chaos of the day after Thanksgiving, when shoppers and Army-Navy game crowds flooded the city. The popular "stores go from red into the black" explanation came later, in the 1980s. Read the full history.

Online, Cyber Monday. According to Adobe Analytics, U.S. shoppers spent $14.25 billion online on Cyber Monday 2025, compared with $11.8 billion on Black Friday 2025.

Black Friday 2027 falls on Friday, November 26, 2027, the day after Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 25, 2027. Cyber Monday 2027 is November 29.

No. We're an independent guide. We aren't affiliated with, endorsed by, or speaking for any retailer, brand, or government body. "Official" is part of our domain name, not a claim of authority. Always confirm details on the retailer's own site.