When Is Black Friday 2026?

Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November. Cyber Monday follows on Monday 30 November. However, most major UK retailers now start their Black Friday sales much earlier, with some launching deals from the beginning of November. Amazon UK typically runs its Black Friday sale for a full two weeks.

The trend in the UK has shifted from a single day of deals to a month-long sales event. While some of the best discounts do appear on Black Friday itself, many retailers spread their deals across the whole of November to manage website traffic and logistics.

Best UK Retailers for Black Friday

How to Spot Fake Black Friday Deals

A Which? investigation found that 85% of Black Friday deals in the UK were available at the same price or cheaper at other times of the year. Retailers use several tactics to make discounts appear larger than they really are:

Inflated Reference Prices

Some retailers raise prices in October, then drop them back to normal levels for Black Friday, making it look like a significant discount. Always use price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon and PriceSpy for other retailers to verify the true price history.

Made-for-Black-Friday Products

Some manufacturers produce cheaper versions of popular products specifically for Black Friday sales. These products have different model numbers and lower specifications than the versions they resemble. Always check the exact model number and compare specifications before buying.

Limited Stock Tactics

Countdown timers and low stock warnings create urgency. While some deals do sell out quickly, these pressure tactics are often exaggerated to push you into a quick purchase. If you feel rushed, step away and check the price history before buying.

Black Friday Strategy: Before, During, and After

Before Black Friday (October)

Make a list of items you actually need. Set up price alerts on CamelCamelCamel and PriceSpy for each item. Note the current price so you can judge whether the Black Friday discount is genuine. Sign up for newsletters from your preferred retailers, as many send early-access deals to email subscribers.

During Black Friday (November)

Check your price alerts each morning. Compare deals across multiple retailers rather than assuming the first deal you see is the best. Remember that UK consumer rights give you 14 days to return online purchases for any reason, so buying early in November and returning if a better deal appears later is a valid strategy.

After Black Friday (December)

If you missed a Black Friday deal, do not panic. Boxing Day sales (26 December) often match or beat Black Friday prices, particularly on fashion, home goods, and department store items. January sales are also excellent for furniture, mattresses, and larger household items.

Best Categories to Buy on Black Friday UK

TVs: Consistently one of the best Black Friday categories. Genuine discounts of 20-40% are common on models being replaced by newer versions. Focus on brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony at Currys and Amazon.

Laptops and tablets: Good for mid-range models, with typical discounts of 15-25%. High-end laptops see smaller reductions. Chromebooks and iPads often see genuine discounts.

Smart home devices: Amazon Echo, Ring doorbells, and Google Nest products regularly see 30-50% discounts during Black Friday. This is consistently one of the best times to buy smart home tech.

Beauty and fragrances: Boots, Lookfantastic, and The Perfume Shop offer 20-40% off popular fragrances and beauty gift sets. This is an excellent time to buy Christmas presents.

Gaming: Console bundles with extra games or controllers are common. Individual game titles see discounts of 30-50% at retailers like Game and Amazon.