When Is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, 27 November 2026 — the day after US Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday follows on 30 November. In practice, UK retailers now run "Black Friday" sales for the entire last two weeks of November, with some deals appearing as early as 1 November. The peak day for the deepest discounts remains Black Friday itself and the following weekend.
Which Products Actually Get Discounted?
Genuine, significant discounts during Black Friday in the UK are most common in these categories: TVs (often the deepest annual discounts), laptops (particularly Windows ultrabooks and Chromebooks), headphones and earbuds, small kitchen appliances (air fryers, coffee machines), and gaming (consoles, accessories, games). Amazon's own devices (Echo, Fire TV, Kindle) see their lowest annual prices of the year.
What to Be Sceptical About
Not all Black Friday deals are genuine. Research by Which? consistently finds that a significant proportion of Black Friday "deals" are products that were priced higher in the weeks before the sale specifically to make the discount look larger. The only way to verify a deal is real is to check the price history — look for tools that show 90-day price charts to confirm the current "sale" price is actually lower than the typical selling price.
How to Prepare Now
- Start your wishlist today — add items you're considering buying to Smart Shopper UK price alerts
- Note current prices so you can calculate the actual discount percentage in November
- Check which retailers to watch: Amazon, Currys, Argos, John Lewis, AO, and Very all run major Black Friday events
- Look for John Lewis price-match — if you buy before Black Friday and the price drops, they'll refund the difference within 28 days
Cyber Monday vs Black Friday: Which Is Better?
In the UK, Black Friday generally offers the best deals on electronics, TVs, and appliances. Cyber Monday originally focused on online-only deals and now primarily features leftover Black Friday stock plus additional discounts on software, subscriptions, and digital products. If you miss a deal on Black Friday, check again on Cyber Monday — some retailers refresh their offers on Monday specifically.