*Please note that these are simply our predictions based on years of tracking these sales, but they are not guarantees.*
It’s our favorite time of the year – HUGE HOLIDAY SALES! We look forward to Black Friday and Cyber Monday every year, because we can shop for gifts and save tons of money. After years of posting the best Black Friday deals, we’ve kept detailed logs and noticed patterns.
Important Dates
- Black Friday – November 27th
- Cyber Monday – November 30th
- Green Monday – December 14th This is the last big push from retailers, and allows 10 business days for shipping to arrive before Christmas
- Free Shipping Day – December 14th On this day, free shipping offered by thousands of retailers, with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. It’s often accompanied with sales.
New Consumer Trends for 2026
- Shopping earlier: Research in consumer trends has been showing that shoppers are kicking off their holiday gift buying in October – earlier than years previously.
- AI shopping: AI is playing a HUGE role this year, helping shoppers find personalized deals within their specific budgets.
- Highest demand: Analysts have declared that shoppers want discounts on very specific items. So, retailers will give us that – and focus more on discounts of high-demand items rather than storewide markdowns.
Predictions for 2026
- Basic predictions: Stores have already started to promote Black Friday deals! Although these might not be the lowest prices of the season (wait for actual Black Friday), they will be great discounts and a perfect time to shop and save.
– Shop earlier this year to avoid stock and shipping issues.
– Opt for free in-store pickup at retailers that offer it to avoid shipping.
– If you’re buying online, wrapping at home, and shipping out boxes of gifts, order them and have them shipped directly to the recipient to save on shipping AND time.
– When you see an item you want, grab it. You might see it on sale for cheaper again later in the season, but that stock will likely be very limited and you could easily miss out.
– Be willing to accept earlier models & styles of the products you want. The newer models will be very low in stock, and probably sell out extremely quickly. Opting for last year’s release might be the way to go this year.
- When to shop: Black Friday sales will start much earlier this year – in fact, some have already begun to pop up (like Target & Amazon). November is the best month to score holiday gifts with the best sales and lowest prices. Shop this month and take advantage of the early Black Friday deals. Jump online on Thanksgiving if you can sneak away! Freebie Shark will be posting hot deals all day, and we’re expecting to see more 1-day deals like last year.
- Amazon Daily Deals: These sold out extremely fast last year between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You’ll want be awake and online early to score them, as most sold out before 9am in 2025!
- Retail Winners: Online retail winners for the last few years have steadily been JCPenney and Kohl’s. We’ve been less and less impressed with Walmart’s sales, and noted that Macy’s has been offering better deals every year. Keep an eye on our top three: JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Macy’s this year.
- Coupons: Stacking coupon codes is always a winning strategy! Our favorite place to do this is Kohl’s. For the last several years, they’ve offered amazing sale prices + 20% off code + $10 off $50 (home items) + $15 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. We are predicting the same this year, with discounts starting the Monday of Black Friday week.
- Rebates: These are a great way to save on holiday gifts. There are two retailers we can count on every year for rebates on items for the kitchen (small appliances, knife sets, utensils & kitchen accessories). JCPenney and Macy’s are predicted to hold strong for another year with their sale prices and high value rebates!
- Skincare & Beauty: The push for skincare in recent years has grown big time! We’re going to see 50-60% savings on skincare and beauty items like gift sets, perfumes, bundles & so much more!
- Video Consoles & Games: If a game console is on the kids’ wish list this year (like the Nintendo Switch 2), be prepared to order quickly when they are available. Discounts of nearly $500 are already showing up! If it’s games you want, we predict great deals and bundles on games for all consoles this year! Handheld games are on the rise, as well – we are already seeing sale prices on these at Target & Costco.
- Computers & Laptops: Searching for a bargain on a new laptop? We’re predicting some better deals this year compared to last year. The early markdowns are already at 37% off regular prices. Act quickly when you see what you need, because they will sell out very quickly and not be restocked.
- TVs: The OG Black Friday item! This prediction won’t surprise you – we’re expecting Best Buy to be the leader again for TVs, as they are almost every other year. Stock will be limited, as with everything else, but we anticipate pricing to be fairly decent in terms of discounts.
- Watch out: Just because it’s on sale during Black Friday week, doesn’t mean it’s a great deal! First, we have to understand that prices will be higher this year, even on sale. For us to consider something a great deal, the final price needs to reflect the same relative discount of previous years – even if the starting price is higher. Don’t worry – Sharky has your back and his calculator! We only post the best deals we find, so you won’t have to hunt them down OR do math! 🙂
What We Know
- Amazon has already started the deals – although no official announcement has been made about Black Friday. We don’t really need one, though – you can start shopping now!
- Walmart announced it’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale events:
Event 1: November 12-15
Event 2: November 23-29
Event 3 on November 30 – December 2
- Target’s Deal of the Day (for Target Circle members) event is November 1 – December 24. Limited Time additional offers over the weekends. Early Black Friday official days: November 5-7.
Shopping In-Store vs. Online
- In-store: Brick & mortar stores will generally open super early – between 6am-7am on Black Friday. Be sure to check your local store for the exact time. You’ll see Black Friday deals in-store just like you’ll find them online. Some will be exclusively for in-store shoppers. In the past, we’ve seen coupons and extra savings for those that shop in-store!
- Thanksgiving Day: Many stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day – a new tradition that started because of the pandemic. But online shopping is at its best on Thanksgiving & Black Friday!
- AI: AI is playing a BIG part in Black Friday this year! Retailers will take advantage to help personalize offers throughout the season. Shoppers can use it to price-compare and research the best deals!
- Memberships: Whether it’s Amazon or Kroger – you’ll want to become a member wherever you shop. This will give you the best prices & access to special deals that non-members won’t see. You’ll even get some freebie perks from multiple apps, so download the apps!
Our best piece of advice this year – be prepared, not disappointed! Freebie Shark will be focusing on the positives, and staying in the holiday spirit – and that’s the attitude we suggest everyone take this year. Be prepared for stocking issues, shipping delays, and higher prices – but hope for the best. Let’s make the best of 2026 sales, and get excited about the holiday season!
