Economic ‘Mass Blackout’ planned to protest Trump administration
An economic “Mass Blackout” is planned on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to protest the Trump administration.
Black Friday may still be a few weeks away, but popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target have already announced early deals and big sale plans.
Thanks to shifting consumer trends, sales once reserved for a single day or the weekend after Thanksgiving have expanded into the weeks leading up to and after the day, giving consumers more chances to develop their holiday shopping plan of attack and nab more deals.
Whether you’re looking for the latest tech, toys and goodies for the little ones in your life, or a great price on fashion and beauty products you’ve been holding off on buying, early savings events and Black Friday day-of flash sales are some of the best times to cross items off your list.
Here is our guide to Black Friday prep, including when and where to shop for popular deals.
When is Black Friday 2025?
Black Friday happens the day after Thanksgiving, which is Thursday, Nov. 27 this year. That means the shopping holiday falls on Friday, Nov. 28.
What is Black Friday?
Black Friday has become known as one of the biggest shopping and sales events of the year. Happening the day after Thanksgiving, it is believed to have earned the title “Black Friday” in the 1950s when Philadelphia police coined the term to describe the chaos they observed thanks to suburban shoppers flooding the city, USA TODAY previously reported.
By 1961, the name stuck in Philly. But it didn’t go nationwide until the late 1980s, when retailers seized the opportunity to reframe the day as something more positive. They concocted the analogy of stores going from being “in the red” (experiencing financial deficit) until the explosion of sales on the day after Thanksgiving, bringing them back into “the black” (being profitable).
Many still believe this to be the real origin of Black Friday’s name, according to previous USA TODAY reporting.
When do Black Friday 2025 sales start?
With a rising preference for online shopping, retailers have started rolling out “Black Friday” deals earlier and making them run longer, giving customers more time to cash in. You can already find price cuts at a number of retailers, including Macy’s, Target, Walmart, Amazon and Best Buy. Some of the biggest deals, however, are usually reserved for the day of.
When does Black Friday start on Amazon?
Amazon’s Black Friday 2025 sale starts early on Thursday, November 20. USA TODAY’s shopping team expects deals to roll out throughout Cyber Week, with the best deals being unveiled on Black Friday proper before the discounts wind down at the end of Cyber Monday on December 1.
Deals include up to 50% off on select Amazon devices, including Echo smart speakers, Fire Smart TVs, Fire Sticks, Kindles and Ring doorbells. There’s also up to 55% off popular apparel and home brands, including Levi’s, Carhartt, Nike, Dyson, KitchenAid and Bissell.
When does Black Friday start at Walmart?
Walmart’s Black Friday deals start online only from Nov. 25-27, then online and in stores from Nov. 28 through 30. Deals include up to 60% off everything from cookware and beauty products to toys and clothing.
Ahead of Black Friday, Walmart is also offering 50% off its Walmart+ annual membership, which grants users early access to deals, free shipping and delivery, Paramount+ streaming, fuel discounts and more perks.
Walmart stores will be closed on Thanksgiving but will open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday.
When does Black Friday start at Target?
Target’s week-long Black Friday event begins online on Sunday, Nov. 23. The retailer started even earlier on Sunday, Nov. 2, offering weekly deals that refresh each Sunday and run through Christmas Eve. Additionally, it offers daily deals with even deeper discounts, usually around 50% off.
This week’s deals (Nov. 16-22) include $20 Thanksgiving meals to feed four, up to 40% off Christmas decor, up to 50% off national toy brands and discounts on tech like Beats headphones and Samsung televisions.
Target will be closed on Thanksgiving. Stores will open at 6 a.m. local time on Friday, Nov. 28.
When does Black Friday start at Best Buy?
Best Buy’s Black Friday deals start a little over a week early on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Fresh discounts will be added to the sale after the initial release on Nov. 21 and again on Black Friday itself, upping the ante in the lead-up to the holiday. And those who missed a good deal won’t have to wait long – Best Buy’s Cyber Sunday and Monday sale starts right after on Sunday, Nov. 30.
Sneak peaks show up to 25% off Apple products like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and iPhone 16, up to 45% off laptops like the HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 and Lenovo Yoga 16-inch Intel Core Ultra 7, and up to 50% off televisions like the TCL 55″ Class F35 Fire TV and the Samsung 65-inch Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K TV.
Best Buy is closed on Thanksgiving and opens early on Nov. 28 at 6 a.m., with extended hours lasting until 10 p.m.
When does Black Friday start at Macy’s?
Macy’s has a litany of Black-Friday related sales, the earliest of which, a “parade of deals,” began on Nov. 2. The department store’s Black Friday Early Access event ran from November 10-13, while its Black Friday Starts Now deals run from November 14-22 and its Black Friday Week sales run from November 23-30.
What’s the difference between all of these? Not much, really, besides giving Macy’s a reason to offer discounts for longer. Sales include 40-50% off women’s shoes and 75% off fine jewelry, 50-60% off men’s coats, 20-40% off LEGO building sets, 70% off select mattresses and $50-$350 off Dyson homecare products.
Macy’s stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and will reopen with extended hours on Black Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
When does Black Friday start at Kohl’s?
Kohl’s, like competitor Macy’s, hosted a Black Friday Early Access event from Nov. 7–9, and will have an extended Black Friday Week event from November 23-29.
During the event, shoppers get 15% off qualifying purchases and earn $15 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. Limited-time sales will be available online on Thursday, Nov. 27, and limited-time deals will run from Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 29. Saturday shoppers can also take an additional $10 off a $50 qualifying purchase.
Sales include 50% off games, puzzles and toys, 50% Nike, Adidas and Under Armour clothing and around 60% off Toastmaster kitchen appliances.
Kohl’s stores will be closed on Thanksgiving and will open on Friday, Nov. 28, at 5 a.m.
When does Black Friday start at Ulta?
Ulta’s main Black Friday deals start online on Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. CT (9 p.m. ET) and in-store on Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. local time.
Popular Shark Beauty tools, which have presented real competition to the more expensive Dyson styling products, will be up to 40% off, along with Morphe and the Ulta Beauty collection. Luxury makeup and hair brands Tarte and It’s A 10 will offer products at 50% off, along with 30% off Olaplex and 35% off MILK.
Ulta stores will be closed on Thanksgiving.
When does Black Friday start at Sephora?
Beauty competitor Sephora is opting for a full Cyber Week in 2025, starting on Monday, Nov. 24, with early access beginning on the app on Saturday, Nov. 22.
Unique deals will be offered each day of the week, starting with early in-app sales offering 30% off Elemis & Pureology brands on Saturday, Nov. 22 and 30% off Biossance & Kate Somerville on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Each day through Thursday, Dec. 4, will feature 30% off deals for brands including NARS, Lancôme, Tarte, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Viktor&Rolf, Urban Decay, Vegamour, fresh, Sunday Riley, Fenty Beauty, Paula’s Choice, Drunk Elephant, Estée Lauder, Peter Thomas Roth, OLEHENRIKSEN, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Ralph Lauren, Ariana Grande, Youth To The People, First Aid, Too Faced, Bumble and bumble, Milk Makeup, Marc Jacobs Fragrances, Laura Mercier, IT Cosmetics and Hugo Boss.
Additional deals will also be available through Monday, Dec. 1, like 50% off select beauty products and 50% off fragrances. Beauty Insiders can also get free gifts with some purchases, such as a free sample bag and 4x points on fragrances.
Sephora usually has some in-store deals on Black Friday as well, but the chain has not announced this year’s plans. Its primary sales will all happen online, however.
