Updated 31 May 2026 by Linda Garrould.
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27 November 2026. It is the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday and marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season, with retailers in the UK and around the world running their biggest discounts of the year.
Key 2026 dates
- Black Friday 2026: Friday 27 November 2026
- Cyber Monday 2026: Monday 30 November 2026
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the Friday immediately after American Thanksgiving, which is always the fourth Thursday in November. In the United States it has long been one of the busiest shopping days of the year, as people with the day off begin their Christmas shopping. Over the past couple of decades the event has spread to the UK and much of the world, and now usually runs as a week (or more) of online and in-store deals rather than a single day, rolling straight into Cyber Monday the following Monday.
Linda’s view: a slightly odd import
I will be honest, I have always found Black Friday a slightly peculiar thing for us to have adopted in Britain. The whole event is pinned to the day after American Thanksgiving, a holiday we simply do not mark here. So we have imported the shopping frenzy without the family holiday that gives it its meaning and its timing in the United States. There is no British reason for the sales to land on that particular Friday in November at all, beyond our retailers following the American calendar.
None of which means you should not take advantage of a genuine bargain. But I do think it helps to remember that Black Friday is a marketing date borrowed from another country’s traditions, not a British one, and to shop on your own terms rather than be swept along by the noise.
When is Black Friday each year?
Because it depends on the date of US Thanksgiving, Black Friday moves each year, always falling between 23 and 29 November.
| Year | Black Friday |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday 27 November |
| 2027 | Friday 26 November |
| 2028 | Friday 24 November |
Is Black Friday worth it? Tips for UK shoppers
Some Black Friday deals are excellent and some only look it. A few sensible habits help:
- Check the price history of anything before you buy, so you can spot a price that was quietly raised beforehand.
- Shop from a list. The event is built to encourage impulse buys, so decide what you actually need first.
- Mind the delivery deadlines. Buying in late November leaves plenty of time before Christmas, but check each retailer’s cut-off dates.
- Compare retailers. The same item is often cheaper elsewhere without the Black Friday label.
Having a look? You can browse the current Black Friday deals on Amazon UK to compare prices, but do check an item’s price history before you buy.
As an Amazon Associate, Christmas Countdown earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are shown on Amazon and can change.
Black Friday FAQs
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27 November 2026, the day after US Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday follows on Monday 30 November.
Why is Black Friday linked to Thanksgiving?
Black Friday is the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday, the fourth Thursday of November, when many Americans have a day off and begin Christmas shopping. The UK has adopted the sales event even though we do not celebrate Thanksgiving.
What is the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, traditionally focused on in-store deals, while Cyber Monday, the following Monday, focused on online deals. Today most UK retailers run both, often across the whole week.
Are Black Friday deals actually cheaper?
Some are genuinely good, but not all. Check an item’s recent price history and compare retailers so you can tell a real saving from a relabelled one.
Carry on planning with our guide to Cyber Monday, check the latest Christmas delivery slots, and keep organised with our Christmas to-do lists.