Black Friday Shopping 2026
Black Friday Shopping 2026 is on Friday, November 27, 2026 (in 46 days), the day after Thanksgiving. It is the start of the holiday shopping season and is not a federal holiday.
- Date
- Friday, November 27, 2026
- Countdown
- In 46 days
- Federal holiday
- No
- Date rule
- Day after Thanksgiving (the Friday after the fourth Thursday of November)
- Possible dates
- November 23 to November 29
- Next occurrence
- Friday, November 26, 2027
Black Friday Shopping dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | November 28, 2025 | Friday | 318 days ago |
| 2026 | November 27, 2026 | Friday | in 46 days |
| 2027 | November 26, 2027 | Friday | in 13 months |
| 2028 | November 24, 2028 | Friday | in 2 years |
| 2029 | November 23, 2029 | Friday | in 3 years |
| 2030 | November 29, 2030 | Friday | in 4 years |
| 2031 | November 28, 2031 | Friday | in 5 years |
| 2032 | November 26, 2032 | Friday | in 6 years |
| 2033 | November 25, 2033 | Friday | in 7 years |
| 2034 | November 24, 2034 | Friday | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for November 2026.
How the date of Black Friday is set
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is the fourth Thursday of November. That puts it between November 23 and November 29. Thanksgiving 2026 is on Thursday, November 26, 2026. In 2027 Black Friday is on Friday, November 26, 2027.
Where the name comes from
In the 1950s and 1960s, Philadelphia police used "Black Friday" for the crowds and traffic jams on the day after Thanksgiving, when shoppers and fans arrived for the Army-Navy football game the next day. Retailers later promoted a friendlier explanation, that stores moved from losses ("in the red") to profits ("in the black") on that day.
The shopping weekend
Black Friday starts a run of shopping days with their own names. Small Business Saturday, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was launched by American Express in 2010 to encourage shopping at local stores. Cyber Monday follows on the Monday, and Giving Tuesday, started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y in New York with the United Nations Foundation, asks people to donate to charities on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
How Black Friday has changed
Doorbuster sales once began before dawn on Friday morning, and over the years many stores moved their openings to Thursday evening, which pulled Thanksgiving itself into the shopping season. Some retailers resisted: the outdoor chain REI, for example, has closed its stores on Black Friday since 2015 and encourages employees and customers to spend the day outside. Sales have also moved online, and many Black Friday deals now start days or weeks earlier. Prices, return policies and price adjustments are set by each store, so check the terms before you buy.
Is it a day off?
Black Friday is not a federal holiday, and federal offices are open. Some states, including Texas, Washington, Nevada and Maryland, treat the day after Thanksgiving as a state holiday under various names, so state offices there may be closed. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open and close early, at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Monday after Thanksgiving is often called Cyber Monday, a term coined in 2005 for the start of online holiday shopping. In 2026 it is on Monday, November 30, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about Black Friday Shopping
When is Black Friday Shopping 2026?
Black Friday Shopping 2026 is on Friday, November 27, 2026.
When is Black Friday Shopping 2027?
Black Friday Shopping 2027 is on Friday, November 26, 2027.
Is Black Friday a federal holiday?
No. Federal employees work on Black Friday, although some states give state employees the day off.
Is the stock market open on Black Friday?
Yes, but it closes early. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close at 1:00 p.m. ET on the day after Thanksgiving.
Why is it called Black Friday?
Philadelphia police used the name in the 1950s and 1960s for the traffic and crowds on the day after Thanksgiving. The "in the black" explanation was a later retail story.