What Time Do Black Friday Christmas Sales Start in 2026?
Shop early online with exact 2026 start times for Walmart, Target, and Best Buy holiday sales.
Black Friday Christmas sales in 2026 start online at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23, with in-store openings at 6 a.m. local time on Friday, November 27.
Black Friday, the large post-Thanksgiving sales event focused on Christmas gifts, runs through the weekend into the following week. Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving, according to T-Mobile's holiday shopping guide. Many retailers start promotions during Thanksgiving week and extend them into the following week.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 06, 2026.
When is the main Black Friday start?
Walmart anchors the main window with Black Friday Deals from November 23-29, then Cyber Monday from November 30-December 2. Online drops begin at 12:01 a.m. ET and stores open at 6 a.m.
local time, as reported by Chain Store Age in its report on Walmart's holiday schedule. That timing means the date and the hour are different. The date window covers a full week online.
The early-morning hour applies to physical stores on Black Friday itself.
What early sales start in October and early November?
Best Buy starts holiday savings Friday, October 30 with DoorBOOsters, then Early Black Friday deals November 6 with new Doorbusters weekly, according to Best Buy's corporate holiday calendar. It then runs a 10-day Black Friday event from November 19. Target offers an Early Black Friday event November 5-7, according to Target's holiday announcement via Morningstar.
That gives general-merchandise shoppers a short early window before the longer November 19-29 stretch.
Why can online shoppers buy earlier than store shoppers?
Online drops often go live just after midnight Eastern. Walmart.com drops go live at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 12 and 23.
Walmart+ members get hot Deal drops 24 hours early on November 23 before remaining items open to all shoppers November 24. That one-day gap matters for limited-quantity items. Check membership status before the drop day.
What runs daily through Christmas Eve?
Target offers a new Deal of the Day every day from November 1 through December 24 with a one-day preview. The daily format suits shoppers with a short gift list. It rewards a quick daily check rather than a single long shopping trip.
Preview the next day's item, then decide whether to buy or wait. Missed days do not return.
How should you plan around these start times?
List each retailer window with its start date and time zone. Eastern midnight drops start late the prior evening in other zones. Store openings use local time.
- Note the 12:01 a.m. ET drop time for each Walmart event
- Mark November 6 for Best Buy and November 5-7 for Target
- Mark November 19 for the start of extended Black Friday events
- Set an alarm for November 23 online and November 27 in store
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to wait until November 27 to shop?
No. Early events begin October 30, November 5-7, November 6, and November 12-15, with extended Black Friday events starting November 19 and 23.
When should Walmart+ members shop?
Walmart+ members can shop hot Deal drops 24 hours early on November 23, before remaining items open to all shoppers November 24.