When Black Friday 2026 starts at Costco, Target and Walmart
When Black Friday 2026 hits the calendar, shoppers will not have to wait until Nov. 27. Costco’s holiday savings begin Oct. 30, Target’s early Black Friday runs Nov. 5–7, and Walmart’s early event is Nov. 12–15, with more waves through early December.
Several major retailers have already mapped out pre-Thanksgiving markdowns, according to reporting from the Times Union. With budgets under pressure, the early windows give households more time to spread spending and lock in gifts before the peak rush.
Key Takeaways
- Black Friday 2026 falls on Nov. 27, but Costco, Target and Walmart are launching deals weeks earlier.
- Costco’s Holiday Savings Event runs Oct. 30–Nov. 30 across five deal waves; a membership is required.
- Target offers daily deals Nov. 1–Dec. 24, plus Early Black Friday Nov. 5–7.
- Walmart stages three events from Nov. 12 through Dec. 2, with Walmart+ early access on select drops.
When is Black Friday 2026 at Costco?
Costco’s month-long holiday sale starts Oct. 30 online and in warehouses and continues through Nov. 30, per NJ.com and Martha Stewart. The first wave runs Oct. 30–Nov. 15; a second round follows Nov. 16–30.
Warehouses close Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26), when Costco will run online-only deals. Black Friday weekend pricing is set for Nov. 27–30 in stores and online, with additional Cyber Monday online offers on Nov. 30. Ads highlight savings on TVs, laptops, home goods, furniture, appliances, clothing and jewelry.
A Costco membership is required. Gold membership is listed at $65 a year and Executive at $130; new members signing up by Dec. 20 can receive a $45 Costco Shop Card, according to NJ.com.
When do Target and Walmart start early Black Friday deals?
Target is introducing more than 8,000 new gifts—more than half exclusive—and thousands priced at $5 or less. Daily deals run Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, with Early Black Friday offers Nov. 5–7 and new limited-time deals each weekend. The retailer is also testing Ask Target, an AI shopping assistant on Target.com and its app.
Walmart will host three major holiday events from Nov. 12 through Dec. 2. Early Black Friday is Nov. 12–15, Black Friday deals Nov. 23–29, and Cyber Monday Nov. 30–Dec. 2. Online events begin at 12:01 a.m. EST; in-store deals for the first two events start at 6 a.m. local time. Walmart+ members get early access to select hot deals, including some online-only offers reserved for members during the first 24 hours.
What should shoppers watch for before Thanksgiving?
Not every Costco discount lasts the full month—electronics, appliances and home essentials rotate by window, and some items are warehouse- or online-only, Martha Stewart notes. Previewed examples include seasonal décor and gift towers in the first wave, with deeper electronics cuts in mid-to-late November.
For more retail and culture headlines, browse Celebrity Breaking News on BlasterPost. Circle Oct. 30 for Costco, Nov. 5 for Target’s early sale, and Nov. 12 for Walmart—then plan around the traditional Black Friday weekend of Nov. 27–30.