Walmart's first holiday sale, Early Black Friday, begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 12, which is tonight as of Nov. 11 evening ET. Walmart+ members get early access to "hot Deal drops" at the same moment, according to Walmart's release on Business Wire.
The three event windows
Walmart says it has three events from Nov. 12 through Dec. 2:
- Nov. 12-15, Early Black Friday: starts at 12:01 a.m. ET on Walmart.com and at 6 a.m. local time in stores.
- Nov. 23-29, Black Friday: starts at 12:01 a.m. ET on Walmart.com and at 6 a.m. local time in stores.
- Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Cyber Monday: Walmart.com only, starting at 12:01 a.m. ET.
When does Walmart Black Friday 2026 start?
Walmart's Black Friday event runs Nov. 23-29 and begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 23 on Walmart.com. Before that, Early Black Friday runs Nov. 12-15.
What time do Walmart stores open?
For both Early Black Friday and Black Friday, Walmart says in-store deals start at 6 a.m. local time. Its release does not say which day within the Nov. 23-29 window stores open for Black Friday deals, and it does not mention Thanksgiving hours or closures. Check Walmart's store hours page or call your local store.
Walmart+ early access
Walmart says Walmart+ early access to "hot Deal drops" begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 12 and again on Nov. 23. Any remaining drop items open to all customers at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 13 and Nov. 24, Walmart says.
Walmart also says select online-only deals are reserved for Walmart+ members for the first 24 hours of both the Early Black Friday and Black Friday events, while supplies last.
Walmart+ is a paid membership. Walmart's release gives one price: $120 a year for Walmart+ and Sam's Club Plus together, which auto-renews, with terms. Members also choose one ad-supported streaming service every 90 days, Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential.
Why it matters
Walmart+ members get the first look at limited "hot Deal drops" and some online-only deals, so a membership can change who gets an item. If you are not a member, expect to wait until the next day for drops that are still available.
What Walmart's release doesn't say
- No named products or deal prices. The release lists none.
- No in-store day for Black Friday week.
- No mention of a Black Friday ad.
Walmart does say there will be "thousands of gifts under $20" and that 25 toys on its Top Toys list cost under $25. It did not name them in the release.
What we checked
We read Walmart's Oct. 26 release on Business Wire on the evening of Nov. 11. All dates, times and membership terms above are Walmart's. We have not seen any deal listings or prices.
Related: Other retailers are also running early sales, such as Amazon's early Black Friday deals on Ring, Blink and Fire TV, and Apple's AirPods 4 at $79 at Walmart as of Oct. 11.
