BFCM refers to the weekend following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, encompassing Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This four-day period represents the biggest shopping event of the year, marking the official start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday, traditionally focused on in-store retail sales, begins immediately after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday, emerging in the mid-2000s, focuses on online shopping deals.
This shopping period has evolved significantly with the rise of e-commerce, leading many retailers to extend their sales across the entire weekend and even beyond. Businesses often see their highest revenue during BFCM, with some generating 25-40% of their annual sales during this period. The event has expanded globally, with many countries adopting similar shopping holidays.
For businesses, BFCM represents a critical opportunity to:
- Clear existing inventory before year-end
- Acquire new customers at a lower cost
- Build email and customer lists for future marketing
- Boost Q4 revenue
- Launch new products with significant initial sales
Modern BFCM strategies often integrate omnichannel approaches, combining in-store experiences with digital commerce, mobile shopping, and social media marketing to maximize reach and sales potential.
When Are Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Here is a table of the next ten years of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Thanksgiving Day is always on the fourth Thursday of November:
| Year | Thanksgiving Day | Black Friday | Cyber Monday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 26 | November 27 | November 30 |
| 2027 | November 25 | November 26 | November 29 |
| 2028 | November 23 | November 24 | November 27 |
| 2029 | November 22 | November 23 | November 26 |
| 2030 | November 28 | November 29 | December 2 |
| 2031 | November 27 | November 28 | December 1 |
| 2032 | November 25 | November 26 | November 29 |
| 2033 | November 24 | November 25 | November 28 |
| 2034 | November 23 | November 24 | November 27 |
| 2035 | November 22 | November 23 | November 26 |
