Every autumn, shoppers begin planning for the year’s biggest sales weekend. This year, Black Friday falls on 27 November, the day after Thanksgiving in the US, and it kicks off one of the busiest shopping periods on the calendar. Back Market is the largest online marketplace dedicated to refurbished electronics, making it an excellent starting point for those who want to organise key dates and deals before the offers become available.
When Exactly Is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday always falls on the last Friday of November, which puts it on 27 November this year. Retailers built the tradition around dropping their biggest discounts of the season on this one day, a habit that started in American shops decades ago and has since spread to nearly every corner of UK online shopping. So if you want a date to circle in your diary, that’s the one. However, as you will soon discover, the opportunity for great prices often extends far beyond just one Friday.
And Cyber Monday?
Three days later, on 30 November 2026, Cyber Monday continues the momentum of Black Friday. Black Friday grew out of in-store queues and doorbuster deals, while Cyber Monday was designed from the outset for online shoppers, with a sharper focus on tech and electronics. These days most retailers treat the two as one continuous event rather than separate sales, so don’t assume the good prices disappear once Friday’s over.
How Long Do the Deals Actually Last?
Despite the name, Black Friday stopped being a one-day affair years ago. Retailers usually start teasing discounts a week or two beforehand, then carry the sale through the whole weekend and straight into Cyber Monday. Some brands go further still and roll out early offers in the first days of November. If you spot a price you like before the 27th arrives, it’s generally safe to buy rather than hold out for something better that might never materialise.
Where Black Friday Came From
The name traces back to 1960s Philadelphia, where police coined it to describe the gridlock and crowds clogging the streets the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers later gave the phrase a friendlier spin, tying it to the day their ledgers flipped from red ink into black thanks to a surge in holiday spending. That story has stuck around for more than seventy years, mostly because people have never gone off a good bargain.
What to Expect in 2026, Tech, Fashion and Home
Every category joins in, but tech usually steals the show. Expect steep discounts on smartphones, laptops and headphones, alongside the usual clothing markdowns and homeware sales. This Black Friday, Back Market offers refurbished iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, MacBooks and iPads with warranty and guaranteed quality, which makes it a sensible place to compare prices before committing to anything, particularly if a flagship device is on your list without the flagship price tag attached.
Where to Buy an iPhone on Black Friday
Before clicking buy on the first listing that pops up, it’s worth a pause. Prices for the exact same iPhone model can swing wildly from one seller to the next, and not every markdown is as generous as the banner makes it out to be. Checking iPhone Black Friday deals through a refurbished marketplace tends to pay off here, since you get comparable performance for noticeably less money, backed by a proper warranty rather than a vague thirty-day promise buried in the small print.
Tips for Smart Shopping This Black Friday
Jot down what you need before the sales begin so a flashy discount on something you never wanted doesn’t talk you into a purchase you’ll regret later. Compare prices across a few sellers rather than trusting the first “50% off” banner you spot, and take a minute to check the returns policy and warranty terms before you check out. Black Friday tends to reward people who plan ahead over those who panic-buy at midnight, so give yourself those extra few minutes to compare.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
