Black Friday 2026: Walmart Starts Nov. 12, Amazon Sets Nov. 19-30

Holiday discounts are arriving earlier than the calendar suggests. Walmart's first Black Friday event begins Nov. 12, and Amazon says its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales will run Nov. 19-30, according to Lifehacker and Fox News. Black Friday itself falls on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, TODAY reported.

For shoppers, that means roughly three weeks of overlapping sales from the biggest retailers, with some discounts already live.

The retailer schedule so far

Walmart, event one: Nov. 12-15, online and in stores starting at 6 a.m. local time, according to Lifehacker.
Walmart, event two: Nov. 23-29. Online deals start Nov. 23 at 12:01 a.m. ET, and in-store deals begin Nov. 27 at 6 a.m. local time.
Walmart Cyber Monday: Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, online only, starting at 12:01 a.m. ET.
Amazon: Nov. 19-30 for its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, Fox News reported.
Target: A three-day Early Black Friday Sale ran Nov. 5-7, and the retailer plans new weekly deals through the season, according to TODAY.

Lifehacker described Walmart as the first major retailer to lay out its full plan and said Best Buy, Target and Amazon would each run their own versions. Amazon's dates were announced later the same day, per Fox News, so the picture is still filling in.

What this means for shoppers' timing and wallets

The biggest change is how long the buying window is. Walmart's three events and Amazon's 12-day run mean there is no single day when discounts appear, and Target is releasing deals weekly. TODAY noted that many consumers began holiday shopping in October, citing research.

Walmart says it will discount electronics, toys, fashion, beauty, home goods, gifts and everyday essentials. Lifehacker said the company gave few specifics in its press release. It added that last year's sales included TCL TVs, Dyson vacuums, Dreo appliances and Lego toys. Lifehacker also noted that online and in-store deals at Walmart can differ, so a product advertised in one place may not be available in the other.

Membership affects timing. Walmart+ members get six hours of early online access at the start of each of the two Black Friday events, but Lifehacker said membership is not required to get the deals. The outlet listed a free 30-day trial and an annual plan at $98, or $8.17 a month. Fox News said Amazon shoppers do not need Prime for its event, though Prime can unlock exclusive deals and occasionally faster shipping.

Early deals already live

Fox News listed several early Amazon markdowns:

A Dyson handheld vacuum with $70 off its original $300 price.
A 1,088-piece Lego Star Wars set for less than $100, down from $140.
Select colors of Bose noise-canceling headphones at $60 off the original $359.
Faux-fur-lined slippers at more than 30% off.

TODAY pointed to markdowns of nearly 60% off a two-piece Staub baking dish set at Target and 45% off a shirt at Walmart. Prices and availability can change quickly during sale periods.

Are the sales still worth watching?

Lifehacker's view is that Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals have lost some of their impact but still offer discounts that are rare during the rest of the year. It singled out appliances and electronics. The outlet also said the old split, with Black Friday for pricey tech and Cyber Monday for cheaper items and smaller sellers, has largely disappeared because major retailers now discount on both days. It suggested price trackers for shoppers who know what they want.

What happens next

Walmart's first event opens Nov. 12, followed by Amazon's sales starting Nov. 19. Walmart's second event begins Nov. 23, and its stores open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday, Nov. 27. Cyber Monday deals at Walmart start Nov. 30 and run through Dec. 2, the same day Amazon's event is scheduled to end.

Around Prague, based on reporting by TODAY.com, Fox News, Lifehacker

Cover photo: Walmart Corporate from Bentonville, USA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped

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