UK Black Friday 2026 Sales Live Early: Dates, Deals & Spending
UK retailers have already opened Black Friday 2026 sales, with shoppers set to spend £6.7 billion over the weekend and most deals live before November 27.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ank Kumar
LONDON — Black Friday 2026 is still almost two weeks away, but the sales have already started. Dozens of British retailers opened their November discount events this week, with shoppers expected to spend £6.7 billion across the weekend, according to a study from PayPal.
The main event falls on Friday, November 27, with sales running until Cyber Monday on November 30. Last year it was the biggest shopping day of the year in Britain, with £1.16 billion spent in a single day and £26.9 billion across the month, according to Adobe — up 4.1 per cent year on year.
Key Takeaways
- Black Friday is November 27; Cyber Monday is November 30.
- PayPal forecasts £6.7 billion of weekend spending.
- 57 per cent of UK consumers plan to buy, CACI found.
- Eight in ten products were not at their cheapest last year, Which? found.
When Do Black Friday 2026 Sales Start in the UK?
The sales window now lasts all of November, and most large retailers have already gone live. Boots is running early offers on fragrance, gifting and electricals, including a No7 gift set cut from £85 to £39 and £100 off the Dyson Airwrap. Currys is offering up to 40 per cent off electrical items, John Lewis has up to £300 off Samsung televisions, and Lakeland has up to 50 per cent off homeware.
Amazon starts its sale on November 19, Adidas and PlayStation are expected on November 20, and the Disney Store, Gymshark and Hotel Chocolat are due in the week of November 23. Apple, ASOS and LEGO are expected to wait until Black Friday itself.
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon sale starts | November 19 | Goes live |
| Adidas and PlayStation | November 20 | Expected |
| Disney, Gymshark, Hotel Chocolat | Week of November 23 | Expected |
| Black Friday | November 27 | Main day |
| Cyber Monday | November 30 | Final day |
How Much Will UK Shoppers Spend?
PayPal puts weekend spending at £6.7 billion, and spending is expected to stay strong. Research from CACI, in a survey of 2,000 people, found 57 per cent of consumers plan to buy something over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period, with 58 per cent buying Christmas gifts and 40 per cent buying for themselves.
Savvy found 77 per cent of UK shoppers plan to take part, with clothing and footwear the top category at 37 per cent, ahead of electrical goods at 34 per cent. eBay Advertising found 48 per cent are likely to buy Christmas gifts, rising to 73 per cent of Generation Z, who plan to spend 37 per cent of their festive budget on Black Friday, against 22 per cent overall.
In the United States, consumer prices rose 0.4 per cent in October and producer prices rose 6.5 per cent over the year, while employers added 165,000 jobs with unemployment at 4.1 per cent.
Are Black Friday Deals Really Cheaper?
Not always. Which? studied 175 items from eight major stores last year and found eight out of ten were not at their best price during the sale. In all, 83 per cent were cheaper, or the same price, at least once outside the four-week sale period, and not a single product was at its lowest price on Black Friday itself.
Check before you buy: look up the recommended retail price and use a tracker such as CamelCamelCamel to see what an item has cost over the past year, compare prices across several retailers, and ignore countdown timers and “selling fast” warnings unless stock is genuinely low.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Black Friday 2026 in the UK?
Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday, November 27, the day after US Thanksgiving. The sales period runs until Cyber Monday on Monday, November 30, although most UK retailers started earlier in November.
How much are UK shoppers expected to spend on Black Friday 2026?
PayPal forecasts £6.7 billion across the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend. Last year, shoppers spent £1.16 billion on Black Friday itself and £26.9 billion across November, Adobe said.
Are Black Friday deals really cheaper than at other times of the year?
Often they are not. Which? found eight in ten products were not at their cheapest during last year’s sale, and 83 per cent were cheaper or the same price at least once outside the four-week sale period.
Amazon opens its sale on Thursday, November 19, followed by Adidas and PlayStation on November 20. The main event arrives on Friday, November 27, with Cyber Monday closing the sales period on November 30.
