Black Friday 2026: Dates, Early Sales and How to Spot a Fake Deal
Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday November 30, but Target, Best Buy and Walmart start early. Key dates, what to buy, and how to tell a real tech deal.
Black Friday 2026 is November 27, and Cyber Monday is November 30. But the big US stores are starting much earlier this year. Here's the calendar and how to make sure you're actually getting a deal.
Key dates
| Store | Early sale |
|---|---|
| Target | Early Black Friday sale Nov 5 to 7 |
| Best Buy | Early deals from Nov 6 |
| Walmart | Early event Nov 12 to 15, then a second event Nov 23 to 29 (Walmart+ members get online deals first for 24 hours) |
| Everyone | Black Friday Nov 27, Cyber Monday Nov 30 |
Check each store's site for final dates, as they sometimes shuffle.
What tends to be a good deal
- AirPods and earbuds: AirPods Pro 3 were already $199 at Amazon (down from $249) in early November. (See AirPods Pro 3 vs Galaxy Buds4 Pro.)
- Last year's laptops and tablets, especially when new models just launched. Apple's new Macs and iPad mini arrive November 6, so older stock gets discounted.
- TVs and streaming sticks (see best streaming devices)
- SSDs and storage, handy if you need room for GTA 6 (212GB on PS5)
- Subscriptions: VPNs, password managers and cloud storage often run their best yearly prices
What usually isn't
- Brand-new phones: carrier "deals" often lock you into long contracts
- No-name TVs and laptops made just for Black Friday with cheaper parts
- "Bundles" stuffed with accessories you don't need
How to spot a fake deal
Check the price history
A "40% off" tag means nothing if the price was raised last month. Use a price tracker like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel for Amazon, or just search the exact model and compare.
Compare the exact model number
Stores sometimes sell slightly different versions of a product for Black Friday. Check the model number, not just the name.
Watch out for fake shops
Scam sites pop up with brand logos and prices that are too good. Red flags:
- A new domain you've never heard of
- Payment only by bank transfer, gift card or crypto
- No real address or contact details
- Links from texts and social ads instead of the store's own site
More on that in how to spot phishing emails.
Pay with a credit card
A credit card gives you the best protection if something goes wrong. Avoid debit cards on unfamiliar sites.
My advice
Make a short list now of what you actually need and the price you'd be happy to pay. When a deal hits that price, buy it. Shopping from a list beats shopping from a countdown timer.
