19 Stores with the Best Seasonal Sales and When They Happen

The biggest seasonal sales in 2026 followed a predictable calendar: Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty in March and late summer, Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday in April, REI’s Anniversary Sale in May, Prime Day in June, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale in July, and Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days with Target and Walmart’s rival sales in early October, before Black Friday. Below are 19 stores, the sales worth waiting for at each, and how to get the most out of them.

1. Target

Website: Target

Target’s biggest events are its Target Circle Deal Days, which run against Amazon’s Prime events, plus back-to-school and Black Friday. In October 2026, Deal Days ran October 6 and 7 for Target Circle members.

• Key sales: Target Circle Deal Days (June and October), back-to-school in July and August, Black Friday deals through November, and after-Christmas clearance on holiday decor and toys.

Target Circle is free to join; paid Target Circle 360 members got early access to the October 2026 sale.

2. Macy’s

Website: Macy’s

Macy’s runs sales almost every week, so the ones worth planning around are the events that add an extra discount on top of sale prices.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Friends & Family: An extra percentage off with a code, a few times a year.
  • Holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day sales, strongest on home goods and bedding.
  • Black Friday: Doorbusters and extra-off codes through November.

Final markdowns are tagged Last Act, Macy’s clearance label, both online and in stores.

3. Best Buy

Website: Best Buy

Best Buy’s prices drop most around Black Friday, back-to-school and long holiday weekends, when TVs, laptops and appliances go on sale.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, with the widest range of TV, laptop and smart home deals.
  • Back-to-school: July and August, mainly laptops, tablets and headphones.
  • Holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day, the usual time for appliance sales.

Open-box items, returned products sold below the new price, are worth checking during any sale.

4. Amazon

Website: Amazon

Amazon now runs two Prime member sales a year. In 2026, Prime Day ran in June and Prime Big Deal Days ran October 6 and 7, with deals across more than 35 categories.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Prime Day: Summer, for Prime members only.
  • Prime Big Deal Days: Early October, for Prime members only.
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, open to all shoppers.

A Prime free trial lasts 30 days, enough to cover one event; Prime costs $14.99 a month after that if you don’t cancel.

5. Nordstrom

Website: Nordstrom

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is unusual because it discounts new fall arrivals rather than leftovers. In 2026 it was open to everyone from July 18 to August 9.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Anniversary Sale: July to August, with early access for Nordstrom cardmembers (from July 14 in 2026).
  • Half-Yearly Sale: Twice a year, on clothing, shoes and accessories.
  • Nordstrom Rack: Clear the Rack events add an extra discount to clearance prices.

Nordstrom cardmembers shop the Anniversary Sale first, by tier, before it opens to the public.

6. Kohl’s

Website: Kohl’s

Kohl’s sales are most valuable when Kohl’s Cash is being issued, because you earn credit to spend in a later redemption window.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Black Friday: November, with Kohl’s Cash on top of sale prices.
  • Holiday sales: December, including last-minute gift deals.
  • Clearance: After each season, on clothing and home goods.

Kohl’s lets you use Kohl’s Cash and a coupon code on the same order, so check DealHack’s Kohl’s page before you pay.

7. Home Depot

Website: Home Depot

Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday in April is its main event for garden, outdoor and tool deals, with Labor Day and Black Friday sales later in the year.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Spring Black Friday: April, for grills, patio furniture, lawn care and power tools.
  • Labor Day: September, for appliances and end-of-summer outdoor items.
  • Black Friday: November, for tools, appliances and holiday decor.

8. Walmart

Website: Walmart

Walmart runs its Walmart Deals events against Amazon’s Prime sales and adds Black Friday and back-to-school deals. In October 2026, Walmart Deals ran October 5 to 11.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, mainly electronics, toys and home goods.
  • Back-to-school: July and August, for school supplies, clothing and dorm items.
  • Clearance: At the end of each season for outdoor furniture, grills and holiday decor.

9. Old Navy

Website: Old Navy

Old Navy has sitewide percentage-off sales most weeks, so the best prices come from end-of-season clearance and holiday sales.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • End-of-season clearance: Summer styles in late summer and winter styles after the holidays.
  • Black Friday: Sitewide discounts in November.

10. Bath & Body Works

Website: Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works has two events worth planning around: the Semi-Annual Sale and Candle Day. On Candle Day 2025 (December 5 to 7), 3-wick candles were $9.95, down from $26.95 to $29.95.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Semi-Annual Sale: January and June, on body care, fragrance and candles.
  • Black Friday: November, on gift sets and holiday collections.
  • Candle Day: Early December, the year’s lowest 3-wick candle price.

The free My Bath & Body Works Rewards program earns points toward free items.

11. JCPenney

Website: JCPenney

JCPenney discounts clothing and home goods heavily around Black Friday and holiday weekends.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November doorbusters on clothing, home goods and small appliances.
  • Holiday weekends: Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day sales on home and outdoor items.
  • Clearance: After each season, on clothing and shoes.

12. Ulta Beauty

Website: Ulta Beauty

Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty runs twice a year with 50% off daily deals on makeup, skin care and hair care. In 2026 it ran from March 6 and from August 28 to September 17.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • 21 Days of Beauty: March and late August to September.
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, mainly gift sets.
  • Holiday sales: December, for gift sets and fragrance.

Ulta Beauty Rewards is free and earns 1 point per $1 spent, which you can use on sale purchases.

13. Sephora

Website: Sephora

Sephora’s main sale is the Beauty Insider Savings Event, held in spring and fall, when the discount grows with your tier: Insider, VIB or Rouge.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Savings Event: Spring and fall, a percentage off most purchases for Beauty Insider members.
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, mainly gift sets.

Beauty Insider is free to join and includes a birthday gift every year.

14. REI

Website: REI

REI’s Anniversary Sale in May is its biggest of the year. In 2026 it ran May 15 to 25, with 25% off REI Co-op brand gear and up to 25% off other outdoor brands.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Anniversary Sale: May, the best time for tents, packs and REI Co-op brand clothing.
  • Labor Day: September, end-of-summer outdoor gear.
  • Black Friday: November, on clothing and gear.

15. Zappos

Website: Zappos

Zappos discounts shoes most at the end of each season and around Black Friday, and shipping and returns are free in the US.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • End-of-season sales: Winter boots after the holidays, sandals at the end of summer.
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, on major shoe brands.
  • Sale section: Last-season styles all year.

Returns must be made within 60 days, unworn and with tags, and final-sale items can’t be returned.

16. Gap

Website: Gap

Gap’s best prices come from its Friends & Family events and end-of-season clearance.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Friends & Family: An extra percentage off sitewide, a few times a year.
  • End-of-season clearance: January and July.
  • Black Friday: November, sitewide discounts.

Gap Good Rewards points earned on sale purchases can be used across Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta.

17. Dick’s Sporting Goods

Website: Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick’s Sporting Goods discounts athletic shoes and gear most during back-to-school, Black Friday and end-of-season clearance.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Back-to-school: July and August, for athletic shoes, backpacks and team sports gear.
  • Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November, for fitness equipment and outdoor gear.
  • End-of-season clearance: After each sports season.

ScoreCard, Dick’s free rewards program, earns points toward rewards on every purchase, including sale items.

18. Victoria’s Secret

Website: Victoria’s Secret

Victoria’s Secret’s Semi-Annual Sale in January and June is its biggest discount event.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • Semi-Annual Sale: January and June, on bras, sleepwear and beauty.
  • Black Friday: November, on gift sets.

19. H&M

Website: H&M

H&M’s end-of-season sales in January and July bring its lowest prices on clothing and outerwear.

• Key Sales to Watch For:
  • End-of-season sales: January and July.
  • Black Friday: November, on clothing and accessories.
  • Holiday sales: December, on cold-weather clothing.

H&M membership is free and adds member offers on top of sale prices.

How to get more from seasonal sales

Knowing the calendar is half the job. These habits help you tell a real sale from a routine one:

1. Check the price history

Use a price tracker, or the price history in Google Shopping, to see whether a sale price is lower than usual. This matters most for flash sales and countdown deals, which are designed to make you buy before you compare.

1. Buy out of season

Winter coats and holiday decor are cheapest in January clearance, patio furniture and grills at the end of summer, and mattresses and appliances around holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and Labor Day.

1. Use card rewards

Cards with rotating categories can add 5% back during the right quarter: the Chase Freedom Flex pays 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories you activate each quarter.

1. Use store apps and cash back

Target Circle and the Amazon and Walmart apps show member deals, and browser extensions such as Rakuten and Capital One Shopping add cash back or test coupon codes at checkout.

1. Stack a code on the sale price

Many stores accept a coupon code on top of sale prices. Check the store’s DealHack coupon page during a sale before you check out.

Seasonal sales by store

Store	Best Seasonal Sale Event	When	Top Product Categories
Target	Target Circle Deal Days	June and October	Home, electronics, essentials
Macy's	Friends & Family, Black Friday	Several times a year; November	Clothing, home
Best Buy	Black Friday & Cyber Monday	November	TVs, laptops, appliances
Amazon	Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days	June; October	Electronics, household
Nordstrom	Anniversary Sale	July to August	Fall clothing, shoes, beauty
Kohl's	Black Friday	November	Clothing, home, toys
Home Depot	Spring Black Friday	April	Garden, outdoor, tools
Walmart	Walmart Deals	Summer and October	Electronics, toys, home
Old Navy	End-of-season clearance	End of each season	Clothing
Bath & Body Works	Semi-Annual Sale, Candle Day	January and June; early December	Candles, body care
JCPenney	Black Friday	November	Clothing, home
Ulta Beauty	21 Days of Beauty	March; late August to September	Makeup, skin care, hair care
Sephora	Savings Event	Spring and fall	Makeup, skin care, fragrance
REI	Anniversary Sale	May	Outdoor gear, clothing
Zappos	End-of-season sales	End of each season	Shoes
The Gap	Friends & Family	Several times a year	Clothing, denim
Dick's Sporting Goods	Back-to-school, Black Friday	July to August; November	Athletic shoes, gear
Victoria's Secret	Semi-Annual Sale	January and June	Lingerie, sleepwear, beauty
H&M	End-of-season sales	January and July	Clothing, outerwear

A seasonal sales calendar

January: post-holiday clearance and the Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret semi-annual sales. March: Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty. April: Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday. May: REI’s Anniversary Sale and Memorial Day. June: Prime Day, Target Circle Deal Days and more semi-annual sales. July and August: the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and back-to-school. October: Prime Big Deal Days, Target Circle Deal Days and Walmart Deals. November: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. December: Candle Day and holiday sales.

FAQ

When are Target’s biggest sales?

Target Circle Deal Days (in June and on October 6 and 7 in 2026), back-to-school in July and August, Black Friday in November and after-Christmas clearance.

When are Amazon’s big sales events?

Prime Day in summer (June in 2026) and Prime Big Deal Days in October (October 6 and 7 in 2026), both for Prime members, plus Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

When is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?

In July and August. In 2026 it ran July 18 to August 9 for everyone, with early access for Nordstrom cardmembers from July 14.

When is Bath & Body Works’ biggest sale?

The Semi-Annual Sale in January and June, plus Candle Day in early December, when 3-wick candles were $9.95 in 2025.

When is Home Depot’s Spring Black Friday?

In April. It is Home Depot’s main sale for grills, patio furniture, lawn care and power tools.