Black Friday 2026 will officially take place across the UK on Friday, November 27, with the event rounded out by Cyber Monday on Monday, November 30. As one of the biggest shopping events in the country, it typically brings four days of deals across a wide range of product categories.
While the main sale day is still over five weeks away, many retailers and brands tend to launch promotions or teasers from mid to early November, with some starting as early as a month in advance. Deals often remain in place over the weekend, although this depends on individual retailers, so shoppers are advised to double check this year to avoid missing any important savings.
Why Is It Called Black Friday?
The term Black Friday has several origin stories, with one suggesting it was coined by US police to refer to the crowds of shoppers that came with the Christmas season. It began to be associated with Friday in the 1950s, when factory workers would call in sick on the day after Thanksgiving.
Since then, it has largely been used in relation to the day retailers launch massive deals and discounts at the end of November. After gaining a large following in America, the shopping event came to the UK in 2010. Today, Black Friday is considered one of the biggest shopping events in both the UK and the US.
In fact, it has become bigger than Boxing Day (December 26), with recent research from consumer insight platform Attest finding that nearly half (46%) of the UK population say it is "the biggest shopping event of the year."
Early Deals and What to Expect
With 37 days left until the big day, it is worth bookmarking some Black Friday landing pages. For all things beauty and self-care, Boots' deals are often the most anticipated. In the past, the health and beauty giant has slashed thousands of products to up to over half-price, with major brands like Braun, Charlotte Tilbury and MAC included.
Fellow Black Friday favourite John Lewis is anticipated to offer up to 70 percent off, although this is based on previous years and is yet to be confirmed for 2026. Deals have often covered everything from tech and white goods to fashion and homeware.
Online retailer Very has confirmed its sale this year will be "bigger than ever". Shoppers are currently being urged to sign up for an account to avoid missing out on any deals that can also be up to 50 percent off. For toys or family products, Argos tends to be a good choice, with the retailer known for launching early discounts ahead of the Friday, with prices previously discounted between 30 and 50 percent.
