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Walmart has announced three holiday shopping events running from Nov. 12 through Dec. 2, with online and in-store start times varying by event. It also plans a Muppet-themed campaign inspired by The Muppet Christmas Carol, featuring Walton Goggins and Stephanie Beatriz; specific product discounts were not included in the report.
Walmart has scheduled three holiday shopping events from Nov. 12 through Dec. 2 and announced a Muppet-themed campaign for the 2026 season, setting out its main promotional dates for shoppers and introducing a series of holiday videos. The schedule covers Early Black Friday Deals, Black Friday Deals and Cyber Monday Deals, while the campaign, “A Who Knew Carol,” draws on The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The first event, Early Black Friday Deals, starts online at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 12. In stores, it begins at 6 a.m. local time that day. Walmart+ members can access designated “hot Deal drops” online starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 12; any remaining items in those drops are set to open to all customers at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 13.
Black Friday Deals begin on Walmart.com at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 23, while the in-store event starts at 6 a.m. local time on Nov. 27. Walmart+ members receive early access to hot Deal drops starting online at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 23, with remaining drop items opening to everyone at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 24. The Cyber Monday event runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, beginning online at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 30.
Walmart said its campaign brings together Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, The Great Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat and Pepé the King Prawn, alongside Walton Goggins as Ebenezer Scrooge and Stephanie Beatriz as Scrooge’s niece. The company says “A Who Knew Carol” will begin with a campaign video and continue through additional videos and social content during the holiday season. Walmart also said customers can bundle Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus for $120 per year.
Holiday Dates and Member Access
The announcement gives shoppers a multiweek schedule for comparing online and in-store options, and identifies when Walmart+ members get early access to selected deal drops. The separate dates matter because the online and physical-store portions of the Black Friday event do not begin at the same time: the online event starts Nov. 23, while stores open their event on Nov. 27.
For Walmart, the campaign pairs its holiday promotions with a recognizable entertainment property. Chief Marketing Officer William White said the company aims to connect the Muppets and Goggins with the gifts, deals and convenience shoppers seek. That is the company’s stated marketing intent; the announcement does not provide evidence about how the campaign will affect sales or customer behavior.
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How the Three Events Are Staggered
Walmart’s schedule separates early-season promotions, the Black Friday period and Cyber Monday into three named events. Early Black Friday begins Nov. 12; the Black Friday promotion starts online Nov. 23 and in stores Nov. 27; the Cyber Monday event follows from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. The company’s announcement distinguishes general event access from early access to the specified hot Deal drops for Walmart+ members.
The campaign draws on The Muppet Christmas Carol, the holiday film that provides its premise and character framework. Walmart described the campaign as a series that will extend beyond its initial video into videos and social media content over the season. The source report does not specify individual release dates for that content.
““This season, we’re bringing customers and members incredible savings across three major shopping events, along with the brands they love, exciting new discoveries and easier ways to shop, and even a few ‘who knew’ moments along the way.””
— Julie Barber, Walmart U.S. chief merchandising officer
Prices and Campaign Dates Still Pending
The announcement provides the event calendar but does not list specific products, prices, savings amounts or inventory. Shoppers cannot tell from the reported details which items will be included in each event, how long particular offers will last or whether popular deal-drop products will remain available after member access begins.
Walmart has also not provided a detailed release calendar for the campaign’s follow-up videos and social posts. The reported information does not clarify whether the $120 annual Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus bundle is limited to a particular enrollment period or comes with additional conditions.
Promotions Begin November 12
Walmart’s first scheduled promotion is Early Black Friday Deals on Nov. 12, beginning online at 12:01 a.m. ET and in stores at 6 a.m. local time. Walmart+ members are due to receive access to the specified early deal drops at the online start time, followed by general access to remaining drop items the next day.
The company says the campaign will continue with additional video and social content throughout the holiday season. Further details about participating products, prices and individual campaign release dates were not included in the announcement reported by Hardware Retailing.
Key Questions
When do Walmart’s 2026 holiday shopping events start?
The first event, Early Black Friday Deals, starts online at 12:01 a.m. ET and in stores at 6 a.m. local time on Nov. 12, 2026.
When does Walmart’s Black Friday event begin?
The Black Friday event starts on Walmart.com at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 23. The in-store portion begins at 6 a.m. local time on Nov. 27.
Do Walmart+ members get early access?
Yes. Walmart says members get early access to designated hot Deal drops starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 12 for the first event and Nov. 23 for the Black Friday event. Remaining drop items open to all customers the following day.
Who appears in Walmart’s Muppet holiday campaign?
The announced cast includes Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, The Great Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat and Pepé the King Prawn, with Walton Goggins as Ebenezer Scrooge and Stephanie Beatriz as Scrooge’s niece.
Has Walmart announced the specific sale prices?
The reported announcement gives event dates and access times but does not list specific products or prices. Those details remain unreported in the source material.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
