Black Friday 2026: Dates, early deals and how to spot fake discounts
Key takeaways
- Black Friday 2026 falls on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday 3 days later on Monday 30 November.
- However, early Black Friday deals have already started popping up.
- Watch out for misleading discounts, including inflated "was" prices and exclusions hidden in the fine print. Three retailers were fined a combined $59,400 last year over their 2024 Black Friday advertising.
Here's when Black Friday deals start in Australia, what to expect and how to spot an offer that's genuinely good.
When is Black Friday 2026 in Australia?
Black Friday falls on the fourth Friday of November, the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday.
This year, that's Friday 27 November.
Cyber Monday follows 3 days later, on Monday 30 November.
You'll notice Black Friday deals starting to trickle in well before the actual day.
Many major retailers kick off their promotions a week or more early, with sales often continuing through Cyber Monday and into early December.
What deals can you expect this Black Friday?
Electronics and appliances tend to attract plenty of attention during Black Friday sales, but you'll also find discounts on fashion, beauty, software and subscriptions.
Mobile and internet providers, and even some energy retailers, use the sales period to roll out special offers too.
Finder research shows Australians spend an average of $531 on Black Friday alone, contributing to an estimated $4.5 billion in total national spending.
Of shoppers who take part in the big sales events, 40% said Black Friday is the one they prioritise, compared with just 17% who said the same of Cyber Monday.
Early Black Friday deals in Australia
Some retailers go all-in on Black Friday branding, while others simply slash prices without calling it a Black Friday sale.
Here are some early deals we've spotted:
- Lenovo: Up to 50% off plus 6% cashback through Finder Shopping
- LG: Up to 40% off plus 3% cashback through Finder Shopping
- Myer: Up to 50% off cookware, fashion and more
- JB Hi-Fi: Black Friday sales haven't officially kicked off yet, but there are already deals around, including $315 off the Dyson V8 Advanced + Car Cleaning Kit.
This is also a great time to shop around for a good internet or mobile plan deal.
Here are some offers worth checking out.
Internet deals
How the Finder Score helps you find a better broadband plan
We designed the Finder Score to simplify your search for the best NBN and Home Wireless plans. By analysing hundreds of options from 40+ providers, we evaluate pricing, speeds, data allowances and plan features. Each factor is weighted and combined to generate a score out of 10 — helping you quickly spot the most competitive plans on the market. Read the full breakdown.
Mobile plan deals
Finder Score for mobile plans
We've scored over 290+ mobile plans on everything from cost to data allowance and important features.
Our experts give each plan a score out of 10 - totally fair, with no commercial strings attached.
How to spot a real bargain, not a fake discount
Not every discount is as good as it looks. Something could be marked as 60% off for Black Friday, but is normally 50% off.
In fact, the ACCC's Black Friday sweep found several misleading discount tactics.
Some retailers advertised "sitewide" sales while excluding certain products.
Others buried restrictions in the fine print or used inflated original prices to make discounts look bigger. And while some ads promised "up to X% off", only a small number of products actually had the biggest discounts.
Last year, the ACCC fined Michael Hill, MyHouse and Hairhouse Online a combined $59,400 after alleging their 2024 Black Friday "sitewide" ads excluded some products from the discount.
Here's how to avoid getting caught out:
- Keep an eye on prices in the weeks before the sale. Screenshot them or use a price tracker so you can tell if you're getting a genuine discount.
- Don't take "up to 50% off" at face value. Often, only a handful of products get the biggest discounts.
- Check the returns policy before buying. Some retailers have different rules for change-of-mind returns on sale items.
- Pay by credit card where possible. You may have chargeback options if something goes wrong with your purchase.
- Keep up with your repayments if you use buy now, pay later, as late fees can quickly eat into your savings. Ideally, you should only buy things you've budgeted for.
- If you spot what looks like a fake discount, keep screenshots of the advertised price and report it to the ACCC.
Ask a question