Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026: What to Know About the October Sale
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days returns October 6 and 7 with 48 hours of deals. Here's what to know before the sale begins.
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 is just around the corner. The 48-hour shopping event runs October 6 and 7, giving Prime members another chance to find discounts ahead of the holiday shopping season.
The sale begins at 12:01 a.m. PDT on October 6, with deals expected across more than 35 categories, including electronics, home goods, kitchen essentials, beauty and fashion. Prime Big Deal Days arrives as shoppers begin preparing for Halloween, holiday entertaining and gift giving.
You don't necessarily have to wait until October to start shopping. Amazon has already rolled out some early deals, and once Prime Big Deal Days begins, new limited-time offers will drop throughout the event.
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How Prime Day 2026 works
Prime Big Deal Days runs for 48 hours, beginning at 12:01 a.m. PDT on October 6 and ending October 7. You'll need an Amazon Prime membership to access the event's member-exclusive deals.
One change shoppers should watch this year is Amazon's "Today's Big Deals." These limited-time promotions will drop three times a day, at midnight, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. PDT, with offers spanning categories such as tech, kitchen, fashion, beauty and home.
That makes it worth checking back throughout the two-day sale rather than assuming all of the discounts will be available when the event begins. Some deals will only be available for a limited time or while supplies last.
If you already have products in mind, consider making a shopping list and checking prices before October 6. That gives you a baseline to compare against the sale price and can make it easier to determine whether a Prime Big Deal Days discount is actually worth your money.
Do you have to be a Prime member to shop Prime Day 2026?
Yes. Prime Big Deal Days is a members-only shopping event, so you'll need an active Amazon Prime membership to access the sale's exclusive deals.
Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Eligible new members can sign up for a 30-day free trial, which includes access to Prime Big Deal Days along with other Prime benefits, such as free delivery and Prime Video.
Amazon also offers discounted memberships for some shoppers. Prime for Young Adults costs $7.49 per month or $69 per year after a six-month trial, while qualifying government assistance recipients and income-verified customers can get Prime Access for $6.99 per month after a 30-day trial.
If you're joining primarily to shop Prime Big Deal Days, consider whether you'll use the membership after the sale. The 30-day trial may cover the event for eligible new members, but the membership automatically becomes a paid subscription unless you cancel before the trial ends.
What to know before Prime Day begins
Prime Big Deal Days doesn't begin until October 6, but shoppers can start preparing now. Amazon has already begun offering early deals, and knowing what you want to buy before the main event can make it easier to spot a worthwhile discount.
Start by making a shopping list and checking current prices on the items you're considering. Amazon's Price History feature can also show up to 365 days of pricing information on eligible products, giving you another way to judge whether a sale price represents savings.
Once Prime Big Deal Days begins, don't assume you need to buy everything immediately. New Today's Big Deals will arrive three times daily, and other limited-time offers may appear throughout the 48-hour event. Compare prices with other retailers and stick to your budget rather than letting a countdown clock push you into a purchase you hadn't planned to make.
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