Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, marking the start of the holiday shopping season. Retailers offer big price cuts, early morning sales, and online discounts to attract buyers. Today, this annual event has spread around the world, driving major online and in-store sales throughout the full weekend leading into Cyber Monday.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Millions of shoppers look for major deals on TVs, phones, clothes, and home goods. Physical stores open early in the morning, while online shops launch web deals that run through the entire weekend.

What started as a single day of sales in stores has grown into a global shopping event. Shops in many countries now run week-long sales events, often called Black Week, so buyers can find savings both in local stores and on major web sites.

The big shopping event boosts trade and helps shop owners sell off seasonal goods. For many families, comparing prices and finding early holiday gifts has become a fun annual habit shared with friends and loved ones.

Many stores also offer bundle deals, gift cards, and free shipping to attract early holiday shoppers. These special offers allow families to buy holiday gifts well ahead of time while staying within their seasonal budget plans.

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday always takes place on the Friday right after Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Because Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, Black Friday moves each year, falling on a date between 23 November and 29 November.

While the main event is on Friday, bargain sales no longer end at midnight. Most shops run discount deals through Saturday and Sunday, leading straight into Cyber Monday, which focuses on online web deals.

Many top stores now post sales flyers weeks ahead of time. Early online deals often launch at the start of November, giving shoppers more time to plan their purchases and avoid big store crowds.

The four-day shopping weekend gives buyers plenty of time to look for top bargains. Having several sale days helps stores manage crowd sizes and gives shoppers extra time to compare prices across different outlets.

The Origin and History of Black Friday

The earliest recorded use of the name Black Friday happened on 24 September 1869. Gold traders Jay Gould and Jim Fisk tried to corner the United States gold market, causing a sharp price collapse that ruined many investors and hurt the national economy.

The modern shopping name has a very different past. In the 1950s and early 1960s, officers with the Philadelphia Police Department used Black Friday to describe heavy traffic jams, crowded sidewalks, and shoplifting risks on the day after Thanksgiving. By 1950, the phrase was already tied to the crowded post-Thanksgiving shopping period in Philadelphia.

Local store owners disliked the bad image attached to the name and tried to rename the day Big Friday in 1961. When that new name failed to catch on, retail shops reframed the story during the 1980s.

Stores explained that for most of the year, retail account books ran in the red, showing net losses. On the day after Thanksgiving, heavy sales volume pushed account books into the black, showing clean profit for the shop year.

Around the same time, factory managers in the 1950s also called the day Black Friday because many workers called in sick to create a long four-day weekend. Understanding these facts helps clear up common myths about how the shopping day got its name.

How Black Friday Expanded Worldwide

Over the past twenty years, major retail chains exported Black Friday to global markets. Shops across Europe, Latin America, and Asia adopted the sale event to encourage early winter holiday shopping.

Even in nations without a Thanksgiving holiday, such as Nigeria, Uganda, and Pakistan, online shopping sites offer big discount deals during this time. Web sales help global buyers order goods from top brands.

Local store owners change the event to fit local habits. In some places, shops run weekend sales, while others hold web-only deals to reduce store crowds and handle shipping dates smoothly.

Global online platforms have made Black Friday a major event in many countries. International shipping and web deals allow shoppers everywhere to enjoy seasonal discounts regardless of where they live.

Modern Shopping Habits and Trends

Shopping habits have changed a lot over time. In past years, buyers waited outside store doors in long lines overnight to get doorbuster items. Today, much of that sales work has moved online to web sites and phone apps.

Smart buyers plan ahead by making shopping lists, setting price limits, and checking price history. Simple price checking tools help shoppers see if advertised deals offer real savings compared to standard retail prices.

Mindful shopping trends have also grown in recent years. Some store brands suggest buying quality goods that last, helping people balance deal hunting with smart and careful shopping habits.

Many families now treat Black Friday as a fun group activity during the holiday break. Sharing deal lists, shopping together, or browsing web sales at home has become a warm annual tradition for millions of people.

Black Friday Dates

This year Black Friday is celebrated on Friday, Nov 27, 2026

Year	Date	Day
2026	Nov 27	Friday
2027	Nov 26	Friday
2028	Nov 24	Friday
2029	Nov 23	Friday
2030	Nov 29	Friday
2031	Nov 28	Friday

How to Make the Most of Black Friday

Follow these practical steps to shop safely and secure real savings during the sales event.