Bain Forecasts $85 Billion in Black Friday to Cyber Monday Sales for 2026
Retail sales over the Black Friday through Cyber Monday (BFCM) weekend are projected to exceed $85 billion, representing 8.5% of U.S. holiday sales in 2026 according to Bain & Company's latest forecast. This marks an 8.75% year-over-year growth for the BFCM period, outpacing Bain’s overall holiday season growth projection of 4.5%. The increase is attributed to a growing number of consumers planning to shop during these days—rising from 64% in 2025 to 70% this year. Bain's analysis highlights that Black Friday remains the top sales day, with 64% of shoppers intending to participate. Cyber Monday also continues gaining traction and is expected to rank among the top five sales days for the first time due to increased online shopping activity. The final two weekends before Christmas are still critical, as six of last year’s ten highest sales days occurred during that window. The overall U.S. holiday retail forecast predicts total sales will surpass $1 trillion in 2026, driven by both in-store and e-commerce growth.
Topics: Black Friday consumer spending Cyber Monday sales growth