When Is Black Friday 2026? Dates, Deals & What to Expect

When is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November. It is always the day after American Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday of November. Cyber Monday follows on 30 November, and the wider "Black Week" sales period typically runs from Monday 23 November through to Monday 30 November.

Key Black Friday 2026 Dates

When Do Black Friday Deals Actually Start?

Despite the name, Black Friday deals in the UK now start well before the actual date. Most major retailers begin their sales up to two weeks early, with the trend accelerating each year.

Amazon typically launches "Early Black Friday Deals" from the first week of November. In 2025, their early sale started on 21 November — a full week before Black Friday itself.

Currys usually begins their "Black Friday Deals" event around 10 days before the main date, with new deals dropping daily.

Argos tends to launch their full Black Friday sale on the Monday of Black Week (23 November), with preview deals appearing earlier.

John Lewis often waits until Black Friday week itself but matches competitor prices throughout, thanks to their "Never Knowingly Undersold" policy.

What Should You Buy on Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday is genuinely the best time of year to buy certain product categories. Based on historical UK pricing data, these categories see the biggest and most consistent discounts:

• Smart home devices — Ring doorbells, Amazon Echo, and Philips Hue regularly see 40-50% off
• Air fryers — The Ninja AF400 and Tower T17088 hit their lowest ever prices on Black Friday
• Apple products — AirPods, iPads, and Apple Watch see genuine 15-25% discounts
• Gaming — Nintendo Switch bundles and game discounts of 20-30%
• Beauty tech — Dyson Airwrap and GHD products at their annual lowest prices
• TVs — Previous-year models see 20-40% off as retailers clear stock
• Coffee machines — Nespresso and Sage machines with significant discounts plus free pod bundles

How Big Is Black Friday in the UK?

Black Friday has become the UK's largest single shopping event, surpassing the Boxing Day sales. In 2025, UK consumers spent an estimated £13.3 billion during the Black Friday weekend, with over 65% of transactions happening on mobile devices.

Over 450 UK retailers now participate in Black Friday. You can browse all participating stores on our site to compare deals across every major retailer.

Tips for Getting the Best Black Friday Deals

1. Make a wishlist now — Decide what you want before the sales start. Impulse purchases are rarely good deals.
2. Track prices in advance — Use price tracking tools to verify that a "deal" is genuinely discounted, not just marked down from an inflated price.
3. Set up deal alerts — Sign up for retailer newsletters and enable app notifications from Amazon and Currys for early access.
4. Compare across stores — The same product is often at different prices across retailers. Check our store comparison pages before buying.
5. Check returns policies — Most UK retailers extend their returns window over the Christmas period, giving you until mid-January to return items.
6. Shop early — The very best deals sell out fast. Don't assume the deal will still be available on Cyber Monday.

Black Friday 2026 Predictions

Based on trends from previous years, here's what we expect for Black Friday 2026:

• Earlier start than ever — Expect deals from early November, with Amazon potentially launching in late October
• App-exclusive deals — More retailers will offer their best prices only through their mobile apps
• AI-powered pricing — Dynamic pricing algorithms mean deals may change hour-by-hour
• Refurbished growth — Amazon Renewed and back-market refurbished deals are growing rapidly in the UK
• Subscription bundles — Expect more deals bundled with streaming services, cloud storage, and extended warranties