Walmart’s holiday shopping season starts tonight. The retailer’s first of three Black Friday events, called Early Black Friday Deals, opens online at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, November 12, and in stores at 6 a.m. local time that same morning. For West Coast shoppers, the online start lands at 9:01 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, November 11. The event runs through Sunday, November 15.
This guide covers the exact dates and times, the one catch built into this year’s sale, and what Walmart has confirmed about deals so far. One warning up front: Walmart has not published item by item prices for this event yet, so any website listing exact early Black Friday prices today is guessing.
The full Walmart holiday calendar
Walmart announced three events in a press release on October 26, for a total of 14 days of deals, up from 10 days last year. Here is the schedule:
- Early Black Friday Deals, November 12 to 15. Online from 12:01 a.m. ET on November 12, and in stores from 6 a.m. local time.
- Black Friday Deals, November 23 to 29. Online from 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23, and in stores on Black Friday, November 27, from 6 a.m. local time.
- Cyber Monday Deals, November 30 to December 2. Online only.
Walmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26. That is why the main event starts online four days before stores join in.
How the sale works, and the Walmart+ catch
Most early Black Friday deals are open to every shopper from the moment the event starts. The exception is a set of online only offers that Walmart calls hot Deal drops. Walmart+ members, who pay for the membership program, can buy those drops starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 12. Anything left opens to all shoppers 24 hours later, at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 13. The same pattern applies to the main event on November 23.
You do not need Walmart+ to shop the sale. The membership only buys first access to the hot Deal drops, and those are sold while supplies last, so some will be gone before they open to everyone. If one drop item is the thing you want most, weigh the cost of a membership against the risk of missing it. Everyone else can shop the regular deals from 12:01 a.m. ET.
What deals are confirmed so far
Walmart’s October announcement named categories, not prices. The company promised thousands of gifts under $20 across the season, and it pointed shoppers to its Top Toys list, which includes 25 toys priced under $25. A sneak peek in the announcement pointed to savings across toys, fashion, beauty and home goods.
Beyond that, nothing is official yet. Walmart now posts its deal prices when each event opens rather than printing a full ad weeks ahead, so the real prices for this event appear on Walmart.com at 12:01 a.m. ET tonight. Be careful with leaked price lists on coupon sites: some are recycled from last year, and none can be checked until the sale goes live.
Where the deepest discounts usually show up
Walmart has not confirmed category discounts for this event, so treat this section as general guidance from past Black Friday sales, not a promise for 2026. In past years, TVs and big electronics have carried the headline doorbuster prices, while toys and small kitchen appliances have seen the steepest percentage cuts. Older models of laptops, tablets and game gear tend to drop more than current models. Clothing basics and home goods usually get broad but smaller cuts.
The early event leans toward gifts, toys and stocking stuffers. The biggest electronics push usually lands in the main event starting November 23, which is worth knowing if you can wait.
How the other big stores compare
Walmart is not the first to open this year. Target already ran its early Black Friday deals on November 5 to 7, and it is posting a new Deal of the Day every day through December 24, backed by a holiday price match guarantee that runs to December 24. Target had not announced its main Black Friday week dates as of November 10.
Best Buy began its Early Black Friday Deals and Doorbusters on November 6, with new drops every Friday, and its main run of 10 days of Black Friday deals starts November 19. Amazon’s Black Friday Week runs November 19 to 30, starting at 12:00 a.m. Pacific on November 19, and Amazon began posting early deals on November 10.
Practical tips before you buy
Shop online first. The early event opens online hours before stores do, and store pickup lets you skip the lines if your item is in stock nearby.
Check the model number, not just the brand. Big TVs and appliances made for Black Friday can carry the same brand name as regular models with different specs. The model number on the product page tells you which one you are getting.
Do not count on a price match. Walmart does not price match Black Friday deals, so the price you see at checkout is the price you pay. Checking Target, Best Buy and Amazon before you buy is the only real comparison.
Know the return rules before you gift. Walmart’s return policy gives most items 90 days, and most purchases made between October 1 and December 31 can be returned until January 31, which covers most holiday gifts. Shorter clocks apply to some items: consumer electronics get 30 days and wireless phones get 14 days. Items sold by third party Marketplace sellers follow the seller’s own terms, so check who the seller is on the product page.
Make a list and set a budget. Hot Deal drops sell out fast, and a second, bigger wave starts November 23, so a sold out item may come back. Chasing every drop is how a gift budget quietly doubles.
For more seasonal guides and everyday money explainers, see our Lifestyle coverage.