Global ecommerce shopping calendar (2026)
January 8, 2026
How merchants and 3PLs can align promotions, pricing, and fulfillment with global buying moments to protect margins and drive international growth
As global trade rules tighten and cross border shipping becomes more complex, one thing is clear heading into 2026: growth can no longer rely on domestic demand alone.
De minimis thresholds are disappearing. Duties and taxes are more visible to shoppers. Margins are under pressure. At the same time, international consumers are spending—just not always on U.S.-centric shopping calendars.
For merchants and 3PLs, this creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Brands that continue to plan promotions only around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas risk missing massive buying moments happening across Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and beyond. Brands that plan globally and align pricing, inventory, and fulfillment with international shopping events can smooth demand, improve conversion, and unlock higher-margin growth throughout the year.
This 2026 global ecommerce shopping calendar is designed as a planning asset, not just a list of holidays. Use it to:
- Identify non-overlapping demand spikes outside peak U.S. seasonality
- Align international promotions with local cultural moments
- Plan inventory placement and cross border fulfillment earlier
- Improve AOV and repeat purchase rates by meeting shoppers when they’re ready to buy. Checkout out our Consumer Insights report to learn about markets that work best for your business.
January 2026: reset, renewal, and regional mega-events
Jan 1 — New Year’s Day (global)
Promotions: fitness, wellness, planners, lifestyle reset bundles, tech accessories
Why it matters: Post-holiday gift card redemption and self-improvement spending drive strong conversion globally, especially for wellness and lifestyle brands.
Jan 17–Feb (varies) — Dubai Shopping Festival (UAE)
Promotions: luxury goods, electronics, fashion, travel-related products
Why it matters: One of the largest retail festivals in the Middle East, attracting both regional and international buyers with high average order values.
February 2026: gifting, culture, and extended spending windows
Feb 17 — Lunar New Year (China + APAC)
Promotions: gifting bundles, apparel, beauty, skincare, home goods
Why it matters: One of the most important gifting periods globally, driving significant cross-border demand before the holiday itself begins.
Feb 17–Mar 19 — Ramadan (global)
Promotions: food, modest fashion, gifts, home decor
Why it matters: Spending increases steadily throughout Ramadan, with a sharp rise in the final days leading into Eid—making this a long, strategic promotional window rather than a single-day event.
March 2026: festivals that drive fashion and gifting
Mar 19–20 — Eid al-Fitr (global)
Promotions: festive fashion, electronics, gifting sets, sweets
Why it matters: Marks the end of Ramadan and triggers one of the largest gifting spikes across Muslim-majority markets.
Mar 4–5 — Holi (India & diaspora)
Promotions: apparel, beauty, home decor
Why it matters: A culturally driven shopping surge tied to celebration, color, and social gatherings—especially strong for fashion and lifestyle brands.
April 2026: spring momentum
Apr 5 — Easter (global)
Promotions: gifts, confectionery, family-oriented products
Why it matters: A spring seasonal lift across Europe, the UK, and parts of LATAM that often pairs well with lighter, faster shipping promises.
May 2026: regional mega-sales outside the U.S.
May 25–Jun 2 — Hot Sale (Mexico & LATAM)
Promotions: electronics, apparel, home goods
Why it matters: LATAM’s largest ecommerce sales event, comparable in scale to Black Friday in the U.S.
May 26–30 — Eid al-Adha (global)
Promotions: food baskets, clothing, jewelry, gifts
Why it matters: A major religious holiday with strong gifting behavior across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia.
June 2026: the rise of double-digit sales
Jun 6 — 6.6 Mid-Year Sale (SEA)
Promotions: electronics, beauty, fashion
Why it matters: Southeast Asia’s first major “double-digit” sale of the year and a signal that mid-year demand is accelerating.
July 2026: global marketplaces drive volume
Est. Jul 7–8 — Amazon Prime Day (global)
Promotions: tech, home essentials, everyday goods
Why it matters: While Amazon-led, Prime Day lifts overall ecommerce demand globally and can drive halo effects for non-Amazon brands.
August 2026: extended seasonal demand
Aug 1–20 — Back to school (global)
Promotions: stationery, electronics, apparel
Why it matters: A long, staggered buying window that varies by country—ideal for phased promotions and inventory optimization.
September & October 2026: the long runway to peak
Sep 9 — 9.9 Sale (SEA)
Promotions: broad marketplace discounts
Why it matters: A warm-up for larger double-digit events later in the year.
Oct 10 — 10.10 Brands Festival (SEA)
Promotions: brand-led promotions across categories
Why it matters: Builds momentum ahead of year-end while offering brands more control over pricing and margin strategy.
Oct 11–20 — Dussehra / Navratri (India)
Promotions: fashion, lifestyle, gifting
Why it matters: Signals the start of India’s biggest shopping season, leading directly into Diwali.
November 2026: global peak, not just Black Friday
Nov 8 — Diwali (India)
Promotions: jewelry, apparel, home decor, sweets
Why it matters: One of the world’s largest ecommerce festivals, with demand rivaling Black Friday in scale.
Nov 11 — Singles’ Day (11.11) (China & SEA)
Promotions: electronics, beauty, fashion, home goods
Why it matters: The largest ecommerce shopping day in the world—now increasingly global in reach.
Nov 13–16 — El Buen Fin (Mexico)
Promotions: electronics, apparel, home goods
Why it matters: Mexico’s answer to Black Friday, tied to Revolution Day and expected to run Nov 13–16 in 2026.
December 2026: layered global demand
Dec 12 — 12.12 SEA Mega Sale
Promotions: fashion, gadgets, gifts
Why it matters: Often treated as Southeast Asia’s final major pre-holiday shopping event.
Dec 24–25 — Christmas (global)
Promotions: gifting bundles, last-minute offers
Why it matters: Still a global peak—but one that increasingly overlaps with other regional sales.
Dec 26 — Boxing Day (UK)
Promotions: fashion and lifestyle clearance
Why it matters: A major post-holiday sales driver across the UK and Commonwealth markets.
Why this calendar matters for 2026 planning
International promotions aren’t just about more sales—they’re about better sales. By spreading demand across global shopping moments, merchants can:
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Reduce dependency on a single peak season
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Protect margins by avoiding deep discount stacking
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Improve inventory turns with region-specific demand
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Support 3PLs with more predictable, balanced fulfillment volumes
As global ecommerce continues to normalize full landed cost transparency and formal import processes, the brands that win in 2026 will be the ones that plan ahead, think globally, and execute with precision across markets.
Use this calendar as a starting point—then layer in localized pricing, inventory strategy, and fulfillment planning to turn global demand into sustainable, profitable growth.
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