Black Friday in France has become an established part of the shopping calendar, particularly as Christmas approaches. Every November, French retailers advertise discounts on everything from televisions and smartphones to clothing, furniture and household appliances.
There is something rather paradoxical about this.
While the French have never really adopted the American holiday of Thanksgiving, they have enthusiastically embraced the shopping event that follows it!
What began as an American tradition has developed into a major commercial occasion in France, both online and in physical shops.
And Black Friday is no longer confined to a single Friday. It now comes with Black Week, Cyber Monday and, sometimes, promotional campaigns lasting much of November.
But where did Black Friday come from? How did it become so popular in France? And are those apparently enormous discounts always as good as they seem?
What Is Black Friday in France?
Black Friday is a major shopping event that takes place on the Friday following American Thanksgiving.
Retailers advertise special offers and temporary price reductions, often encouraging customers to begin their Christmas shopping early.
In France, the event is simply called Black Friday. Although Vendredi noir is the literal French translation, the English expression is overwhelmingly used by retailers and in advertising.
Unlike the traditional French soldes (sales), Black Friday does not take place during a government-regulated sales period.
It is a commercial event organised by retailers, who decide which products to discount and how long their promotions will last.
Some offers are available for just a few hours. Others continue throughout the weekend or form part of a longer promotional campaign.
Black Friday is particularly prominent in electronics, fashion, beauty products, household appliances and online shopping.
It has also become an opportunity for French consumers to purchase Christmas presents in advance.
The Great Hall and the perfume section © French Moments
When Is Black Friday in 2026?
In 2026, Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November.
It follows American Thanksgiving, which takes place on Thursday 26 November.
The dates for the main events are:
| Shopping event | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| American Thanksgiving | Thursday 26 November |
| Black Friday | Friday 27 November |
| Black Friday weekend | 28–29 November |
| Cyber Monday | Monday 30 November |
Although Black Friday has a specific date, many shops begin advertising discounts well before the Friday itself.
You may therefore encounter expressions such as Black Week, Black Friday Week or early Black Friday deals.
These are commercial terms rather than officially regulated periods.
In practice, some retailers now promote their offers for much of November.
The American Origins of Black Friday
Black Friday originated in the United States, where the Friday after Thanksgiving gradually became associated with the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
The expression itself has an interesting history.
Where Does the Name Black Friday Come From?
One widely repeated explanation claims that Black Friday refers to the moment when American retailers moved from financial losses, traditionally recorded in red ink, into profits, recorded in black ink.
It makes a neat story, but it is not the original explanation.
The term was associated with Philadelphia in the 1960s, when police used it to describe the heavy traffic and crowds descending on the city after Thanksgiving.
The combination of shoppers, visitors and the annual Army–Navy football game placed considerable pressure on the streets and police.
Retailers were not particularly enthusiastic about such a negative-sounding expression.
The more positive explanation involving red and black accounting figures became popular later.
The Library of Congress discusses this distinction in its account of the origins of Black Friday.
Over time, the expression spread across the United States, becoming synonymous with major discounts and the unofficial beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
In some American shopping centres, Black Friday became notorious for enormous crowds, long queues and shoppers rushing to secure limited offers.
Fortunately, shopping in France has not generally involved the same degree of spectacle.
But the commercial enthusiasm certainly crossed the Atlantic.
How Black Friday Became Popular in France
Black Friday arrived in France during the early 2010s, initially through online retailers and international companies already familiar with the American event.
According to a study published by INSEE, the French national statistics institute, the first French edition took place in 2013.
The following years saw a growing number of retailers participate.
Large chains such as Fnac, Darty, Auchan and La Redoute helped make the event increasingly visible.
By the middle of the decade, Black Friday was becoming familiar to French internet users, particularly those shopping for electronic devices and household appliances.
Black Friday and the Rise of Online Shopping
The internet played a central role in bringing Black Friday to France.
Unlike the traditional American event, which was initially closely associated with physical shops, the French version developed strongly through e-commerce.
Online retailers could advertise promotions nationally without relying on customers visiting a particular store.
This was particularly attractive for products such as computers, smartphones, televisions and other electronics.
An INSEE analysis published in 2019 highlighted the growing importance of November for online sales.
It found that, by 2018, November had become as important as December in the French distance-selling sector, partly because Black Friday encouraged shoppers to bring forward their Christmas purchases.
Black Friday Moves into Physical Shops
Black Friday did not remain an online-only event.
During the second half of the 2010s, physical shops increasingly joined in, advertising discounts in their windows and across their departments.
Shopping centres and high-street retailers began to treat the event as an important occasion in the commercial calendar.
Today, it is difficult to walk through a major French shopping centre in late November without coming across Black Friday advertisements.
The event has also expanded beyond electronics to include clothing, cosmetics, furniture, toys and many other products.
For many retailers, Black Friday has become an opportunity to attract customers well before the busiest weeks of December.
And for shoppers, it offers the possibility of buying Christmas presents at lower prices — provided the discounts are genuine.
Christmas presents under the tree © French Moments
Black Friday During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic produced an unusual interruption to the development of Black Friday in France.
In autumn 2020, the country was facing another period of restrictions, with many non-essential shops closed during the second national lockdown.
The situation created tensions between physical retailers and online businesses, which were still able to receive orders.
The French government encouraged retailers and e-commerce companies to postpone Black Friday, originally scheduled for 27 November 2020.
Major retailers agreed to delay their main promotions by one week, until Friday 4 December.
This exceptional arrangement demonstrated just how significant Black Friday had become in French commercial life.
It also highlighted the growing competition between traditional shops and online platforms.
Cyber Monday in France: What Is It?
Black Friday is not the only American shopping event to have crossed the Atlantic.
Cyber Monday takes place on the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
The expression appeared in the United States in 2005, when the online retail organisation Shop.org, part of the National Retail Federation, popularised the term.
At the time, it referred to the increase in online shopping activity observed after the Thanksgiving weekend.
The idea was straightforward: Black Friday was associated primarily with shopping in physical stores, while Cyber Monday focused on online purchases.
You can read more about the origins of the expression in Georgetown University's account of how Cyber Monday was created.
How Cyber Monday in France Differs from Black Friday
In France, the distinction between Black Friday and Cyber Monday has never been particularly clear.
Because Black Friday developed strongly through online retailing, French consumers were already accustomed to finding internet discounts on the Friday itself.
As a result, Cyber Monday often feels like an extension of the same promotional campaign rather than a completely separate event.
Some retailers introduce new offers on Monday, while others simply continue discounts advertised during the previous week.
In 2026, Cyber Monday falls on Monday 30 November.
From Black Friday to Black Week and Cyber Week
The increasing length of promotional campaigns is one of the most striking changes in Black Friday.
What was originally a single shopping day expanded into an entire weekend.
Then came Black Week, with offers beginning several days before the Friday itself.
Some retailers now use the expression Cyber Week to describe a longer period of online promotions, although the exact dates vary between businesses.
In certain cases, Black Friday advertising appears almost as soon as November begins.
This raises an obvious question: when discounts last for several weeks, how special is Black Friday itself?
Black Friday in France vs the Traditional French Sales
One particularly important difference for shoppers concerns French consumer law.
France already has a long tradition of seasonal sales, known as les soldes.
These are not the same as Black Friday promotions.
The soldes take place during two legally regulated periods each year, generally in winter and summer.
Their timing and certain commercial practices are governed by French law.
Black Friday, by contrast, is a promotional event that retailers can organise outside these periods.
| Black Friday | French soldes | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual timing | Late November | Winter and summer |
| Dates | Commercially determined | Legally regulated |
| Duration | Varies by retailer | Generally four weeks per period |
| Main purpose | Promotional discounts | Regulated seasonal sales |
| Selling below cost | Generally prohibited | Permitted under specific legal conditions |
The French government's official guide to the difference between sales and promotions explains these rules in greater detail.
This distinction matters because Black Friday advertisements sometimes give the impression of an exceptional national sales period.
In reality, it is a commercial event, not a special legal category of sales.
In a French hypermarket in Annecy © French Moments
Are Black Friday Deals Really Worth It?
This is where I become a little more sceptical.
Black Friday can undoubtedly offer genuine savings, particularly if you have been planning to buy a specific item for some time.
But it can also encourage people to make purchases they had never seriously considered before.
A large percentage printed in red does not automatically make something a bargain.
Black Friday and Misleading Discounts
One problem concerns the way discounts are presented.
Imagine a product advertised at €120 with the words "40% OFF".
That sounds attractive, particularly if the advertisement suggests that the usual price is €200.
But what if the product had regularly been available for €125 before Black Friday?
The advertised saving would be much less impressive than it first appeared.
French and European rules now provide stronger protection against this type of practice.
Since May 2022, announced price reductions must generally use as their reference the lowest price charged by the seller during the preceding 30 days.
Special provisions apply to successive reductions, and there are certain exceptions.
The French consumer authorities explain the rules in their guidance on misleading discounts and promotions.
It is nevertheless worth remembering that even a genuine discount is not necessarily the best price available.
Another shop may sell the same product for less without advertising any special promotion.
Older Products and Clearance Stock
Something else has always intrigued me about Black Friday.
Occasionally, a supposedly exceptional offer concerns a device that has been on the market for several years.
That is not necessarily a bad thing.
An older television, computer or smartphone may still represent excellent value, particularly if its features meet your needs.
However, it is important to know precisely what you are buying.
Check the model number, year of release, technical specifications and expected software support.
A large discount on an ageing product is not always better value than a smaller reduction on a more recent model.
And sometimes, what looks like a spectacular bargain may simply be an opportunity for a retailer to clear old stock.
Practical Tips for Shopping During Black Friday in France
If you are planning to buy something during Black Friday, a little preparation can help you avoid disappointment.
- Decide what you actually need before looking at the promotions.
- Check prices several weeks in advance, rather than trusting the advertised discount.
- Compare the exact same model across several retailers.
- Check delivery charges, availability and the seller's identity.
- Be suspicious of excessively urgent messages claiming that an offer will disappear immediately.
- Read the returns policy before buying, particularly from unfamiliar websites.
French consumers generally benefit from a 14-day withdrawal period for eligible online purchases, including discounted products, although exceptions apply.
The French government's guide to distance-selling withdrawal rights explains the conditions.
If you suspect a misleading advertisement or an unfair commercial practice, you can also use the government's SignalConso reporting service.
Ultimately, the best Black Friday purchase may be the item you were already planning to buy, at a genuinely lower price.
Black Friday in France and the Debate About Overconsumption
Not everyone welcomes the expansion of Black Friday in France.
Although many shoppers appreciate the possibility of saving money, the event has also attracted criticism.
Environmental organisations, consumer groups and some independent retailers have questioned the encouragement of excessive consumption.
Their concerns include unnecessary purchases, packaging waste, transport emissions and the environmental impact of manufacturing new products.
Others argue that Black Friday can provide useful savings for households facing financial pressure, particularly when purchasing essential equipment or Christmas gifts.
An alternative movement known as Green Friday has emerged in France, encouraging more responsible consumption, repairs, reuse and reflection before purchasing.
The debate reveals an interesting tension in French society.
On the one hand, consumers are attracted by American-style promotional events. On the other, there is growing awareness of the environmental and social consequences of constant consumption.
Black Friday therefore raises questions that go beyond the price of a television or a pair of shoes.
Frequently Asked Questions About The French Black Friday
When Is Black Friday in France in 2026?
Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November 2026, the day after American Thanksgiving.
Retailers may begin their promotions before this date and continue them throughout the following weekend.
Is Black Friday in France a Public Holiday?
No. Black Friday is not a public holiday in France.
Shops, offices and schools generally follow their normal Friday schedules.
It is a commercial event rather than an official celebration.
When Is Cyber Monday in France in 2026?
Cyber Monday takes place on Monday 30 November 2026.
It follows Black Friday weekend and is mainly associated with online retail promotions.
Is Cyber Monday Popular in France?
Cyber Monday is recognised by some French retailers, particularly online businesses.
However, it is generally less distinct from Black Friday than it was originally in the United States.
Many French shops advertise discounts across the entire period.
Is Black Friday the Same as the French Soldes?
No. Black Friday is an ordinary commercial promotion, whereas the winter and summer soldes are regulated by French law.
The rules concerning dates, duration and certain selling practices are different.
Do the French Celebrate Thanksgiving Before Black Friday?
Not generally.
Thanksgiving is not a traditional French holiday, although American expatriates and international families sometimes celebrate it.
The contrast is rather amusing: the French have largely adopted the shopping event without adopting the family celebration that precedes it.
A Curious French-American Contradiction
Black Friday is a striking example of the way American commercial traditions can spread internationally.
In little more than a decade, it has become a familiar feature of the French shopping calendar, particularly in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Cyber Monday and the increasingly long promotional periods have helped extend its influence.
Yet the original American Thanksgiving celebration remains largely unfamiliar as a French family tradition.
There is something wonderfully contradictory about that.
The French may not be particularly interested in celebrating Thanksgiving, but when it comes to buying a discounted television, they are quite happy to participate in the American tradition that follows it!
Of course, whether that television is genuinely a bargain is another matter altogether.
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