Black Friday 2026: key dates and how to plan ahead
Black Friday falls on 27 November 2026 and Cyber Monday on 30 November. Here's how to get ready wherever you shop, so you only buy real bargains.
Key dates
- Thanksgiving (US): Thursday 26 November 2026
- Black Friday: Friday 27 November 2026
- Cyber Monday: Monday 30 November 2026
Black Friday is no longer a single day. In most countries, big retailers start their sales a week or more early and keep them going into December. In the UK, consumer group Which? treats the sale period as roughly four weeks long.
Why there's no need to panic-buy
Price studies keep finding that Black Friday is rarely the only time a product is cheap. In the UK, Which? tracked 175 products from eight major retailers for a year around Black Friday 2024: 83% were the same price or cheaper at least once outside the sale period, and none hit their lowest price of the year on Black Friday itself.
Plan in five steps
- Make a shortlist now. Write down what you actually need, the model numbers, and a price you'd be happy to pay.
- Check the price history. Every Dealizard deal page shows past prices and other stores. Price trackers such as CamelCamelCamel (Amazon only) help too.
- Set alerts so a price drop comes to you.
- Know the returns rules. Many retailers extend returns over the holidays. Check before you buy gifts.
- Pay safely. Paying by credit card usually gives you more protection than a debit card or bank transfer. In the UK, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes the card provider jointly liable for purchases between £100 and £30,000. In the US, the Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute credit card charges for billing errors, including goods that weren't delivered as agreed, if you write to the card issuer within 60 days of the statement.
Example products to price-track now
Popular categories often go on sale; check the price history before you buy: