Black Friday officially takes place on Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving in the United States. However, consumers looking for holiday savings do not need to wait until late November. Major retailers, including Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, have already launched early shopping events, transforming the traditional discount weekend into a month-long savings period throughout November.
When Is Black Friday 2026? Key Dates to Know
The major shopping dates for the 2026 end-of-year holiday season follow the traditional Thanksgiving schedule:
Early Wave Sales: Started October 30 and run through mid-November across select retailers.
Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26, 2026 (primarily online sales as physical stores close).
Black Friday: Friday, November 27, 2026 (in-store and online promotions).
Cyber Monday: Monday, November 30, 2026 (e-commerce-focused deals).
While Black Friday remains the core anchor for big-ticket technology items and doorbusters, major stores now stagger price cuts across several weeks to manage store traffic and warehouse inventory.
Costco Unveils Multi-Wave 2026 Holiday Schedule
According to IGN, wholesale retailer Costco has revealed its full Holiday Savings advertisement catalog, detailing multiple discount periods that stretch from late October into early December. The company's initial savings wave began on October 30 and runs through November 15.
Costco confirmed that most deals are available both online and inside warehouse locations. However, specific promotions will be exclusive to online shoppers on Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, when physical warehouse doors are closed.
Early-month discounts span a wide range of goods, including frozen foods, snacks, kitchen appliances, televisions, and gaming monitors. Retail reporting indicates that many early electronics sales will remain active through Cyber Monday while supplies last.
Top Tech and Household Deals Highlighted
While early sales are underway, some of the largest discounts on electronics and home appliances arrive with the official Black Friday wave right after Thanksgiving. According to IGN, key advertised items in Costco's lineup include:
Gaming Computers: A desktop PC featuring an Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card marked down by $300.
Televisions: 4K televisions available for under $1,000.
Groceries: Food promotions including $5 off Costco's signature frozen lasagnas.
Specific one-day deals are also scheduled. Thanksgiving online offerings feature Dickies men's cargo pants and overalls for $30, while Cyber Monday features gift card savings, such as discounts on Applebee's gift cards.
Best Buy, Walmart, and Target Join Early Sales Push
Costco is not alone in kicking off holiday promotions before November arrives. Best Buy launched its "DoorBOOster" event around Halloween after announcing its complete Black Friday 2026 calendar. Additionally, Walmart and Target have confirmed their sale schedules for November, setting up an intense month of retail competition.
With sales starting early across multiple chains, shoppers planning major purchases are encouraged to check store schedules and stock levels ahead of peak Thanksgiving weekend shopping.
Alberta officially ended biannual clock changes on Nov. 1, 2026, adopting year-round daylight time known as Alberta Time despite darker winter mornings.
