Holiday sales start this week, nearly a month before Black Friday on November 27. Best Buy begins on Friday, October 30, when most items in Costco's first holiday round also go on sale. Target follows on November 1, and Walmart waits until November 12. Each retailer runs its own sequence of shorter events, so the "Black Friday" deal you want may arrive on a different weekend at each store.
The 2026 calendar
| Retailer | Event | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Best Buy | DoorBOOsters | Starts Oct. 30 |
| Costco | Holiday Savings, first round | Oct. 30 to Nov. 15 |
| Target | Deal of the Day | Nov. 1 to Dec. 24 |
| Target | Early Black Friday | Nov. 5 to 7 |
| Best Buy | Early Black Friday Deals and Doorbusters | Starts Nov. 6, new deals each Friday |
| Walmart | Early Black Friday Deals | Nov. 12 to 15 |
| Costco | Holiday Savings, second round | Nov. 16 to 30 |
| Best Buy | Black Friday Doorbusters and Deals | 10 days from Nov. 19 |
| Walmart | Black Friday Deals | Nov. 23 to 29 (stores from 6 a.m. Nov. 27) |
| Costco | Black Friday items | Nov. 27 to 30 |
| Walmart | Cyber Monday | Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 |
| Best Buy | Cyber Week Deals | Dec. 1 to 6 |
| Best Buy | Last-Minute Savings | Dec. 18 to 24 |
What changes from store to store
Membership matters at Walmart. During its two November events, Walmart's announcement says Walmart+ members get the first 24 hours on some online deals, and "hot Deal drops" open to members at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 12 and Nov. 23, a day before everyone else. Online deals start at the same hour; store deals start at 6 a.m. local time. Edit USA's earlier look at Walmart's plan has the member details.
Best Buy spreads its deals across the season. Its holiday calendar adds new doorbusters every week, a Holiday Price Match Guarantee if a Best Buy price drops during the season, and a longer return window: most items bought between Oct. 30 and Dec. 31 can go back until Jan. 15, 2027, and paying members of My Best Buy Plus or Total get until Jan. 31. Those members also earn double rewards from Nov. 19 to Dec. 6.
Target's daily deals run every day from Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve, and its announcement promises a one-day early look at coming deals so shoppers can plan, and fresh short-term deals each weekend after the Nov. 5 to 7 early sale.
Costco's holiday savings page lists items in dated groups, and each item's discount runs only for its listed dates. Prices can differ in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, at Business Centers and online.
Thanksgiving Day
Best Buy and Costco stores are closed on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26. Best Buy's app and website stay open. Walmart's Black Friday store deals start at 6 a.m. local time on Nov. 27.
