The Black Friday Calendar: Target Starts Tomorrow, Walmart Splits It Into Three, Best Buy Runs 10 Days

Darlings, the costume comes off tonight and the shopping season starts tomorrow morning. Black Friday is no longer a Friday; it is a six-week calendar, and the big three retailers have already published theirs. Here is who opens when, what the membership programs buy you, and how to shop the season like an editor rather than a tourist.

The calendar at a glance

• Sun., Nov. 1: Target’s Deal of the Day returns, with a new deal every day through Dec. 24.
• Thu., Nov. 5 to Sat., Nov. 7: Target’s Early Black Friday Sale.
• Fri., Nov. 6: Best Buy’s Early Black Friday Deals and Doorbusters begin, with new deals every Friday.
• Thu., Nov. 12 to Sun., Nov. 15: Walmart’s Early Black Friday Deals (Walmart+ early access Nov. 12).
• Thu., Nov. 19: Best Buy’s 10-day Black Friday Sale begins.
• Mon., Nov. 23 to Sun., Nov. 29: Walmart’s Black Friday Deals online; in stores Nov. 27 at 6 a.m.
• Mon., Nov. 30 to Wed., Dec. 2: Walmart’s Cyber Monday Deals.
• Tue., Dec. 1 to Sun., Dec. 6: Best Buy’s Cyber Week.

Target: a deal a day, starting tomorrow

Target opens first. According to TODAY, Target’s Deal of the Day returns Nov. 1, with a new offer each day through Dec. 24, and its Early Black Friday Sale runs Nov. 5 to 7, followed by new limited-time offers every weekend. In the meantime, the retailer’s Halloween décor, costumes and lighting were marked up to 50 percent off, per the same report, which makes this weekend the moment for anyone who plans next year’s party now.

Walmart: three events, and a head start for members

Walmart has split the season into three. Its Early Black Friday Deals run Nov. 12 to 15, starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern online and 6 a.m. local time in stores, according to the company’s Oct. 26 announcement. Walmart+ members get early access to hot drops at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 12, with the rest open to everyone on Nov. 13. Black Friday Deals follow online from Nov. 23 to 29, with Walmart+ early access beginning Nov. 23 and stores opening the deals Nov. 27 at 6 a.m.; Cyber Monday Deals run Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. Walmart says select online-only deals are exclusive to Walmart+ members for the first 24 hours.

“It’s all about helping our customers save more, discover more and make more room for what matters,” Julie Barber, Walmart’s chief merchandising officer, said in the release.

RelatedWho’s Who in New York: The Makers Behind the 53rd Village Halloween Parade

Best Buy: Fridays, a long Black Friday, and a generous return window

Best Buy’s holiday calendar is the most detailed. Its DoorBOOsters began Oct. 30; Early Black Friday Deals and Doorbusters start Nov. 6, with new deals every Friday; the Black Friday Sale runs 10 days beginning Nov. 19; Cyber Week is Dec. 1 to 6; and Last-Minute Savings run Dec. 18 to 24, according to the company. My Best Buy Plus and Total members earn double rewards from Nov. 19 to Dec. 6. The retailer is offering a Holiday Price Match Guarantee, will extend store hours starting Nov. 1, and will keep stores closed on Thanksgiving.

The fine print worth framing: Best Buy says most purchases made between Oct. 30 and Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 15, 2027, or through Jan. 31 for Plus and Total members. “Everyone does their holiday shopping a little differently,” Patrick McGinnis, the company’s chief revenue officer, said in the announcement.

How to shop it like an editor

Write the list before the deals write it for you. The calendars above are designed to keep you browsing for six weeks. Decide in advance what you are replacing, set a ceiling for each item, and only then watch the dates.

Use the return windows as insurance, not permission. A long return window means buying early is lower risk when a price drops later; it does not mean buying twice. If a retailer price-matches, keep receipts organized in one folder.

Count the membership honestly. Early access only pays if the item you want is actually in the early drop. If not, the public sale a day later is the same shelf.

“Models are a business,” Eileen Ford told the Toronto Star in 1988. So is a holiday budget. Treat the season as a booking calendar, show up on the dates that matter, and skip the rest.

Sources

1. TODAY: Target announces Black Friday sale details for 2026 (updated Oct. 26, 2026)
2. Walmart: Walmart unwraps three major holiday shopping events (Oct. 26, 2026)
3. Best Buy Corporate: 2026 holiday calendar (Oct. 27, 2026)
4. The Globe and Mail (Associated Press): Agency founder Eileen Ford set standard for modelling industry

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