As of 30 October 2026, we could not find an official announcement of Amazon’s Black Friday dates, so anyone quoting exact 2026 days is guessing. What we can say is what Amazon did in 2025: a 12-day event from 20 November to 1 December, starting at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time and finishing with Cyber Monday.
That pattern, together with Walmart’s confirmed early events, is the best clue to what will happen next. This guide separates what is known, what is not and what to do now, so you can shop smartly without waiting for a press release. It follows the same logic as our guide to reading Black Friday ads and our Black Friday 2026 timeline. For the basics, see what Black Friday is.
What Do We Know About Amazon’s Black Friday Event?
| Detail | 2025 (confirmed by PhoneArena) | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Event length | 12 days, 20 November to 1 December | Not announced |
| Start time | 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time on the first day | Not announced |
| Categories | Tech, home goods, beauty, apparel and more | Not announced |
| Where deals appear | New deals daily on Today’s Big Deals | Likely similar, but unconfirmed |
| Prime price | 14.99 dollars a month or 139 dollars a year, as reported in 2025 | Check Amazon for current pricing |
PhoneArena did not state a publication date for its article, so treat the Prime prices as 2025 information. Check Amazon’s own pages for what you would pay now.
What Kind of Discounts Did Amazon Advertise Last Year?
The PhoneArena report listed select JBL products at half price, Bose audio gear up to 45 percent off, select Amazon devices up to 50 percent off and Samsung and Google devices up to 35 percent off. It also described gift card promotions, including a 250 dollar gift card on approval for the Prime Visa card, and thousands of 50 dollar gift cards that required you to subscribe to marketing emails or allow push notifications.
Read that last line carefully. Giveaways that require marketing permissions are a trade, not a free gift. Decide whether the exchange is worth it for you.
How Should You Prepare Before Amazon Announces Dates?
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Put your wanted items on a wish list now | You can watch for changes |
| 2 | Record each item’s current price and date | Builds your own baseline |
| 3 | Use a price history tool | Shows past lows and fake discounts |
| 4 | Decide a ceiling price | Stops impulse buys |
| 5 | Check the same model elsewhere | Walmart’s events start 12 November |
The steps above are our recommendations. For tools, see the price history tracker guide, which explains how CamelCamelCamel charts Amazon.com prices and sends alerts.
Do You Need Prime to Get Black Friday Deals?
We could not confirm from the sources we checked whether every 2025 Amazon deal required Prime. The PhoneArena report mentioned Prime member perks, but its wording does not settle the question for every deal. Check each deal’s page before assuming you qualify, and compare the cost of membership with your expected savings before signing up for a trial.
How Does Amazon Compare With Walmart This Year?
Walmart has announced three 2026 events: Early Black Friday from 12 to 15 November, Black Friday Deals from 23 to 29 November and Cyber Monday from 30 November to 2 December. Amazon has announced nothing, which gives Walmart the first public move. Our head-to-head post on Walmart vs Amazon Black Friday deals sets out what each offers and when.
Which Amazon Deals Are Worth Waiting For?
Adobe’s 2025 Cyber Monday data showed the deepest peak discounts in electronics at 31 percent and computers at 23 percent, which matches the categories where Amazon advertised its examples. Our guide to the best Black Friday deals to wait for has the category-by-category view.
How Do You Avoid Fake or Misleading Amazon Deals?
Check who is selling, because Amazon marketplaces include third-party sellers. Compare the current price with the chart, use credit cards for protection as the FTC advises and keep your order confirmation. Our guide to spotting fake Black Friday deals covers the price tricks.
If you shop on the Indian site, the festival season works differently; see how to get the best prices in Amazon Great Indian Festival.
Should You Take a Credit Card Offer for a Gift Card?
PhoneArena’s 2025 report mentioned a 250 dollar gift card on approval for the Prime Visa card. Applying for a credit card usually involves a credit check, so think about whether you want the card beyond the sale. Our guides to understanding your credit score and credit card offers for the festive season explain the trade-offs.
Only apply if the card suits your normal spending and you will pay the balance in full. A gift card does not make up for interest on a balance you carry.
