Holiday push notification calendar for 2026–2027
Holiday peaks are when push earns its keep — and when lists get burned by over-sending. This calendar gives the key dates through 2027, when to send, sample copy, and guardrails so subscribers stay subscribed after the rush.
- Black Friday is Nov 27, 2026; Cyber Monday Nov 30; Giving Tuesday Dec 1.
- Schedule teaser → launch → last chance; that’s three sends per event, not ten.
- Segment: engaged subscribers get more, inactive ones fewer or none.
- Schedule in advance and send at each subscriber’s local morning or early evening.
Late 2026: the peak season
| Date | Moment | Push idea |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Nov 26, 2026 | Thanksgiving (US) | Early access for subscribers the evening before Black Friday |
| Fri Nov 27, 2026 | Black Friday | Launch at local morning; “last hours” in the evening |
| Sat Nov 28, 2026 | Small Business Saturday (US) | Local and independent stores: “shop small” message |
| Mon Nov 30, 2026 | Cyber Monday | Online-only deal; final reminder in the evening |
| Tue Dec 1, 2026 | Giving Tuesday | Nonprofits: appeal with a match deadline |
| Mon Dec 14, 2026 | Green Monday | Last comfortable shipping window message |
| Mid-December | Shipping cut-offs | Exact cut-off dates per carrier and region — only if true |
| Fri Dec 25, 2026 | Christmas | Most brands: no sales push; a thank-you or nothing |
| Sat Dec 26, 2026 | Boxing Day (UK, CA, AU) | Sale launch where relevant |
| Thu Dec 31, 2026 | New Year’s Eve | Year-in-review for publishers; end-of-year offers |
2027 dates worth planning
| Date | Moment | Push idea |
|---|---|---|
| Sat Feb 6, 2027 | Lunar New Year | Greetings or themed collection, for audiences that celebrate |
| Sun Feb 14, 2027 | Valentine’s Day | Gift deadline reminder a few days earlier |
| Sun Mar 7, 2027 | Mothering Sunday (UK) | UK audiences: gift reminder the week before |
| Sun Mar 28, 2027 | Easter | Opening hours, seasonal menus, spring sale |
| Sun May 9, 2027 | Mother’s Day (US, CA, AU) | Delivery cut-off reminder |
| Mon May 31, 2027 | Memorial Day (US) | Long-weekend sale |
| Sun Jun 20, 2027 | Father’s Day (US, CA, UK) | Gift reminder |
| Aug–Sep 2027 | Back to school | Supplies, schedules, school alerts |
| Sun Oct 31, 2027 | Halloween | Themed content, events |
| Thu Nov 11, 2027 | Singles’ Day | Relevant for some ecommerce audiences |
| Fri Nov 26, 2027 | Black Friday 2027 | Start planning in October |
Dates calculated for the calendar years shown; check local observances for your audience.
The three-send pattern
| Send | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Teaser | 1–2 days before | “Black Friday early access opens tomorrow at 9 a.m. for subscribers” |
| Launch | At start, local morning | “It’s live: 30% off everything until Monday” |
| Last chance | Final evening | “Ends at midnight: 30% off everything” |
Guardrails for peak season
- Cap total sends: across Black Friday to Cyber Monday, 4–6 notifications is plenty for most stores.
- Send more to “seen in the last 30 days”, fewer to “inactive 60+ days”.
- Exclude people who already purchased (stop condition on a
purchaseevent). - Don’t fake urgency — a “last chance” that’s extended trains people to ignore you.
- Respect quiet hours with timezone targeting.
Frequency research and rules of thumb: how often to send.
Schedule it in one sitting
Write every holiday notification in early November and schedule them: Pusharoo campaigns can be scheduled for a date and time, saved as drafts, A/B tested (send-the-winner works well for the launch message) and targeted by timezone segments. Doing it in advance leaves the peak days for answering customers instead of writing copy. New to push? create a free account — it’s free with no subscriber limits, so the extra holiday subscribers don’t raise a bill.
Questions
When is Black Friday 2026?
Friday, November 27, 2026. Cyber Monday is November 30 and Giving Tuesday December 1.
How many push notifications should I send on Black Friday?
Usually two or three across the day for engaged subscribers (launch, midday or evening reminder, last chance), fewer for less active ones.
Should I send push notifications on Christmas Day?
Most brands shouldn’t send sales messages. A short thank-you or nothing is better for long-term trust.
How early should I plan Black Friday push?
Draft messages two to three weeks ahead and grow your list before November so you have an audience.
Should I send on the holiday itself?
For retail peaks yes; for family holidays, earlier sends often work better than the day itself.
Keep reading
Writing and scheduling push campaigns
Copy length, images, links, timing, frequency and how to read your stats.
The best time to send push notifications
How time zones, quiet hours and content type affect timing — and a simple method to find your own best hour.
Push notifications for online stores
Flash sales, back-in-stock, price drops and retargeting — without paying for ads.
How often should you send push notifications?
Frequency guidelines by site type, the warning signs of over-sending, and how to set expectations at opt-in.
More in Writing & timing: 30 web push notification examples (and why they work) · Push notification character limits, in practice · Push notification copywriting: 12 rules that earn the tap · Web push notification best practices (2026 checklist) · Welcome push notifications that set the tone · All guides
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