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After-Christmas sales 2026: dates, deals and what’s worth buying

From 26 December, holiday stock drops in steps: about 50% off first, 70–80% around New Year, 90% in early January. The choice is best in the first three days; the prices are best later.

Dates 26 – 31 Dec 2026 Updated 21 Oct 2026

When are After-Christmas sales 2026?

Saturday 26 to Thursday 31 December 2026 Our estimate

Our estimate from when it ran in past years (below). We mark it as announced the moment stores confirm it. That is 6 days of deals.

After-Christmas sales: past dates
YearDatesDaysWhat happened
202626 – 31 Dec 20266Our estimate Coming up.
202526 – 31 Dec 20256Walmart cut holiday items to 50% off on 26 December and 75–80% on the 29th. Target held 50% until 2 January, later than usual. Adobe counted 1 in 7 of the season's returns in these six days.
202426 – 31 Dec 20246Christmas fell on a Wednesday, so the sales opened midweek.
202326 – 31 Dec 20236Christmas on a Monday gave the sales a full first week.

What gets cheapest during After-Christmas sales

Usual discounts from past years
Holiday decor and lights50–90% offWalmart and Home Depot started at 50% off on 26 December 2025. Walmart reached 75–80% by the 29th and 90% on 5 January.
Wrapping, cards and gift bags50–75% offThe cheapest time of year to stock up for next Christmas.
Gift sets, candles and beauty50–75% offBath & Body Works' Semi-Annual Sale starts on 26 December with up to 75% off; Macy's halved beauty gift sets in 2025.
Winter clothing and boots30–70% offKohl's ran 30–70% off from 26 December 2025, with more items at 70% from 1 January.
Home and fitness30–60% offHome goods and fitness gear get cut as January resolutions start, at stores such as Wayfair, Target and Amazon.
ElectronicsRarely a new lowAfter-Christmas TV and laptop deals are usually Cyber Monday leftovers.

Buy now, in the sale, or wait?

Buy now

Nothing on this list. Decor, wrapping and gift sets bought before Christmas cost two to four times their 26 December price.

Buy in the sale

Decor, lights, wrapping and gift sets on 26–28 December for the best choice at about 50% off. Popular items are often gone by the 28th.

Wait

Leftover decor and wrapping reach 70–90% off in the first full week of January, if you do not mind what is left.

Stores to watch for After-Christmas sales

WalmartIn 2025, holiday items went 50% off on 26 December, 75–80% on 29 December and 90% on 5 January. The best picks are often gone by the 28th.
Target50% off Wondershop holiday items from 26 December to 2 January in 2025, then 70% on 4 January and 90% on 7 January.
Home Depot and Lowe's50–75% off trees, lights and outdoor decor from 26 December into January. Lowe's went to 75–90% at select stores.
Kohl's30–70% off from 26 December, with a bigger range at 70% from 1 January in 2025.
Bath & Body WorksIts Semi-Annual Sale starts on 26 December, with up to 75% off.

How to shop After-Christmas sales

The markdown ladder: 50, 70, 90

Holiday clearance drops in steps. In 2025 most big stores started at 50% off on 26 December, moved to 70–80% around the turn of the year and reached 90% in the first week of January. The deeper the cut, the less is left: the best trees, lights and gift sets go in the first three days.

Buy next Christmas now

Decor, lights, wrapping paper, cards and gift bags are the clear winners. Buy for next year, store it with the decorations, and you have cut next December's bill in half. Test bulbs and plugs before you buy lights, because clearance is final sale at some stores.

Gift sets and gift cards

Beauty and candle gift sets that were bundles at full price before Christmas get real discounts from 26 December. If you were given a gift card, this is a good week to spend it, but compare with the store's own January sale, which can go deeper.

What not to buy

  • Electronics: after-Christmas TV and laptop deals are usually Cyber Monday leftovers, not new lows.
  • "Compare at" prices: inflated reference prices are common, especially from marketplace sellers. Check the price history.
  • Final-sale items you are unsure about: no returns means no second thoughts.

Returns first, then shop

The days after Christmas are also returns week: Adobe counted 1 in 7 of the 2025 season's online returns between 26 and 31 December. Return or swap the gifts that missed first, then shop the sale with the refund or store credit.

After-Christmas sales questions, answered

When are After-Christmas sales 2026?
We expect After-Christmas sales 2026 to run Saturday 26 to Thursday 31 December 2026. That is our estimate from when it ran in past years; we mark it as announced once stores confirm. Last time it ran 26 – 31 Dec 2025.
When do after-Christmas sales start?
On 26 December at most stores, and online on Christmas Day at some, such as Macy's in 2025. Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe's start cutting holiday items a week or two before Christmas.
How low do after-Christmas sales go?
Holiday decor usually opens at 50% off, reaches 70–80% around New Year and 90% in the first week of January. The choice shrinks at every step.
Are after-Christmas sales good for electronics?
Rarely. TVs, laptops and headphones are usually cheapest on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. After Christmas, look at decor, gift sets, winter clothing and home goods instead.
Can I use a gift card in the after-Christmas sales?
At almost every store, yes. A store gift card works on clearance items like any other purchase.

Other sales coming up

Full sale calendar →
27 – 29 Nov 2026Black FridayBiggest drops: TVs, laptops, toys and home goodsSee the sale → 30 Nov 2026Cyber MondayBiggest drops: electronics, software and fashionSee the sale → 14 – 24 Dec 2026Christmas salesBiggest drops: toys, electronics and gift setsSee the sale →

A sale is only as good as the code

Dates get you to the right week. A code that works at the checkout gets you the price. We test every one of ours in a real cart.

How we test Browse stores
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