Updated October 2, 2026. Dates are for the US. Check them against your own calendar and markets.
How to use this calendar
For each moment, work backwards from the day you want stock on the shelf, not the day of the sale itself.
Order-by date = the day you want stock on hand − supplier lead time
We suggest having stock in about two weeks before each peak, so a late delivery doesn't cost you the moment. Our guide to real lead times helps you get that number right.
The year at a glance
- Lunar New Year: Saturday, February 6, 2027. Not a selling peak for most stores, but the biggest supply gap of the year if you buy from Asia. Place orders in November. See our Lunar New Year guide.
- Valentine's Day: Sunday, February 14, 2027. Stock in by late January. With Lunar New Year a week earlier, overseas orders for it need to be placed before the holidays.
- Mother's Day: Sunday, May 9, 2027. Stock in by late April. A big gifting moment for beauty, home, jewelry, and flowers.
- Father's Day: Sunday, June 20, 2027. Stock in by early June.
- Back to school: July and August. School start dates vary by state and country, so plan from your customers' calendar. Stock in by early July.
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday: November 26 to 29, 2027. Stock in by mid-November. For overseas suppliers with long lead times, that means ordering in late summer.
- Holiday gifting: through Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25, 2027. Plan for the last shipping dates your carriers announce, not December 25 itself.
Three habits that make the calendar work
- Put the order-by dates in your calendar, not just the holidays. The order-by date is the one that matters.
- Check last year's sales for each peak, and how far above normal they ran.
- Ask suppliers about their own busy seasons. Many get slower right when you need them most.
For this year's Black Friday
Black Friday 2026 is November 27. If you haven't ordered yet, our Black Friday inventory checklist has order-by dates for common lead times.
How Posto helps
Posto builds Black Friday and the holiday peak into every forecast, so your recommendations rise ahead of the season without a spreadsheet of manual adjustments. You can tune how much each event lifts demand, or turn it off for products that don't spike.