Updated on Sunday, September 6, 2026: American Eagle has not announced its Black Friday 2026 sale yet, but last year’s event gives us a good idea of what to expect.
Our prediction is 40% to 50% off most American Eagle clothing, including jeans, plus separate flash deals at ae.com on sweaters, hoodies, flannels and other holiday favorites.
We also expect early Black Friday offers to begin several days before Thanksgiving, with the main sale arriving around Wednesday, November 25.
American Eagle Black Friday 2026 at a Glance
| Sale Detail | Our 2026 Prediction |
|---|---|
| Early Black Friday starts | Around November 21 |
| Main sale starts | Around November 25 |
| Thanksgiving | November 26 |
| Black Friday | November 27 |
| Main discount | 40% to 50% off most AE items |
| Jeans | Likely included |
| Flash deals | Around $19 to $35 |
| Clearance | Around 60% off |
| Cyber Monday | November 30 |
| Online and stores | Both expected to participate |
These are predictions based on recent American Eagle sales. We’ll update this page once the 2026 event is confirmed.
When Will American Eagle’s Black Friday 2026 Sale Start?
We would start watching on Saturday, November 21.
American Eagle launched its 2025 Early Black Friday offers on November 22 with 30% to 50% off almost everything. The main Black Friday promotion was then live by Wednesday, November 26 with 40% to 50% off most AE merchandise.
Following the same schedule this year would put early deals around November 21 and the main event around November 25.
So there probably won’t be much reason to wait until Black Friday morning itself.
How Much Will American Eagle Take Off?
Our best prediction is 40% to 50% off most merchandise.
Last year’s main promotion included jeans, although there were exclusions for certain collaborations, licensed collections, multipacks and select clothing and accessories. We expect a similar setup this year.
The bigger thing to understand is that not every product will necessarily get 50% off. Some may be 40%, while certain styles could have their own fixed Black Friday prices.
American Eagle Black Friday 2026 Price Predictions
Here’s what common AE price points would look like if the sale ranges from 40% to 50% off:
| Regular Price | At 40% Off | At 50% Off |
|---|---|---|
| $39.95 | $23.97 | $19.98 |
| $49.95 | $29.97 | $24.98 |
| $59.95 | $35.97 | $29.98 |
| $69.95 | $41.97 | $34.98 |
| $79.95 | $47.97 | $39.98 |
| $99.95 | $59.97 | $49.98 |
Those price points are realistic for AE. Men’s AirFlex+ Athletic Fit Jeans are currently $59.95, while women’s Mom Jeans are regularly $69.95. The Everyday Luxe Hoodie is also regularly $59.95.
These are examples, not confirmed Black Friday prices.
What Would We Consider a Really Good American Eagle Deal?
This is where we would be a little picky.
American Eagle runs discounts throughout the year, so 30% off is not something we would wait until Black Friday for.
Even 40% off can show up outside the holiday season. AE is currently offering some $59.95 AirFlex+ jeans for $35.97, exactly 40% off.
Our rough guide:
| Discount | Our Take |
|---|---|
| 25% to 30% off | Common enough, no need to rush |
| 40% off | Good for a specific size, fit or new style |
| 50% off | Very good |
| Jeans under $30 | One of the deals we would prioritize |
| 60% off clearance | Strong if your size is still available |
For core jeans, 50% off is the number we would really like to see.
Jeans Could Be the Best Category to Watch
American Eagle is known for denim, and Black Friday is usually a good time to buy if you need a particular waist, inseam, fit or wash.
A $59.95 pair of jeans at 40% off is $35.97.
At 50% off, it drops to about $29.98.
That $30 mark is important because American Eagle already reaches 40% off fairly often. We would consider a full-price pair around $25 to $30 a more noteworthy Black Friday deal.
Last year, clearance jeans started at $24.99 during the Black Friday event.
If you are flexible about color and style, clearance could beat the regular Black Friday promotion.
If you want one exact fit and wash, buying it at 40% or 50% off before your size disappears makes more sense.
Don’t Ignore the Flash Deals
The flash deals may actually be more interesting than the main percentage discount.
Last year American Eagle offered:
| 2025 Flash Deal | Price |
|---|---|
| Women’s Après Ski Crew | $29 |
| Women’s Whoa So Soft Sweater | $29 |
| Women’s Long Sleeve Cozy Tee | $19 |
| Men’s Everyday Flannel | $29 |
| Men’s Laidback Luxe Hoodie | $35 |
| Men’s Thermal T-Shirt | $19 |
We expect a similar $19 to $35 price range on select sweaters, hoodies, flannels and tees in 2026.
This is one reason we would check the sale more than once. A regular 40% discount might be good, but a later $29 flash price can be better.
Should You Shop the Early Sale or Wait?
If the item you want reaches 40% off during Early Black Friday, we would decide based on how specific you are about size and color.
Last year the early sale started at 30% to 50% off, then the main event moved to 40% to 50%.
That means waiting did not suddenly double the discount.
Our approach would be:
| What You Want | What We’d Do |
|---|---|
| Specific jeans, fit and wash | Buy at 40% or better |
| Popular size or new style | Shop early |
| Hoodie or sweater | Check for a flash deal |
| Flexible on style | Wait and compare |
| Clearance | Check throughout the weekend |
There is little point saving another $5 if the size you need sells out first.
Clearance Could Beat Black Friday
Last year’s AE clearance was 60% off, with clearance jeans starting at $24.99.
That is deeper than the main 40% to 50% offer.
The tradeoff is obvious: clearance has fewer sizes, colors and styles.
We would shop the regular Black Friday sale for a specific pair of jeans or current-season item. If you’re just looking for the cheapest AE clothing you can find, start with clearance.
Real Rewards Can Help With Shipping
It is worth having a free Real Rewards account before Black Friday.
American Eagle’s current 2026 shipping rules offer free standard shipping at $75 for Level 1 members, $50 for Level 2 and $25 for Level 3. Real Rewards credit card members also receive free standard shipping.
That matters more than it sounds if you’re only buying one $29 flash deal.
For example, a shopper who doesn’t qualify for free shipping currently pays $7.95 for standard delivery on a smaller order.
Sometimes avoiding shipping costs is worth more than waiting for another small price drop.
Should You Wait for Cyber Monday?
We would check Cyber Monday, but we would not automatically wait for it.
American Eagle generally moves straight from Black Friday into Cyber Monday promotions. Last year’s Black Friday event was followed by additional online offers, and several Black Friday flash and clearance deals continued beyond the main event.
Cyber Monday falls on November 30 this year.
If the exact jeans or jacket you want reaches 50% off before then, we would buy it.
If you’re flexible and mainly hunting clearance, Cyber Monday is worth checking for another round of markdowns.
When Will the American Eagle Black Friday 2026 Ad Come Out?
We expect the first real Black Friday details around November 21, with the main offer becoming clearer during Thanksgiving week.
American Eagle tends to reveal deals in stages rather than dropping one big ad weeks in advance. In 2025, Early Black Friday was already running on November 22 before the main sale arrived a few days later.
Once the 2026 sale is confirmed, we’ll update this page with the exact dates, discounts, flash deals, exclusions and our picks for the best bargains.
Until then, you can see the American Eagle Black Friday 2025 ad and our complete ad history below.
AE’s Black Friday Ad Archive
What did American Eagle offer at last year’s Black Friday sale? How about two years ago? Follow the links below to view some of their previous Black Friday ads to compare the deals.
- 2025: Page 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- 2024: Page 1, 2 and 3.
- 2023: Page 1 and 2.
- 2022: Page 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- 2021: Page 1, 2 and 3.
- 2020: Page 1, 2 and 3.
- 2019: Page 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- 2018: Page 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- 2017: Page 1.
- 2016: Page 1 and 2.
- 2015: Page 1.
- 2014: Page 1 and 2.
Questions & Comments
What are you planning on picking up this year at AEO over Thanksgiving weekend? Let us know in the comments section below.