AliExpress has opened its biggest sale of the year. The 11.11 Global Shopping Festival runs from 1 November to 18 November 2026, with the main shopping day falling on 11 November. Shoppers in the United States and many other countries can find lower prices across electronics, toys, home goods, sports gear, tools, fashion and beauty during the 18-day event.
For many online shoppers, 11.11 is now a fixed date in the calendar. It sits at the start of the holiday shopping season, just weeks before Black Friday on 27 November and Cyber Monday on 30 November.
What is 11.11?
Singles' Day began in China as a light-hearted day for people who are not married. In 2009, Alibaba turned 11 November into a shopping event. It has since grown into one of the largest shopping events in the world by total sales. AliExpress, which is part of Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group, launched in 2010 and now serves shoppers in more than 200 countries and regions.
The 2026 festival was announced on 29 October. Chris Gu, the US Country Manager for AliExpress, said 11.11 is one of the best chances of the year for shoppers to find good products at strong prices, with stronger service guarantees this year.
What is on offer?
The sale covers a wide range of goods. The main groups include tech accessories, home essentials, fashion, beauty and personal care. AliExpress is also pushing its Brand+ section this year. Brand+ marks its first anniversary during the festival. It brings together trusted brands with special offers, plus free shipping and returns on eligible purchases.
Among the brands named in the festival announcement are sports brand Li-Ning, gaming accessory maker GameSir, cycling gear brand Elitewheels, lighting brands Sofirn and Wurkkos, and car accessory brand 70mai.
New shoppers can also find welcome bundle offers, and shoppers can earn rewards through activities and games in the AliExpress app. The company also runs giveaways for its Reddit community during the event.
Faster delivery and easier returns
Delivery has long been the weak point of cross-border shopping. Orders can take weeks, and returns can be hard. AliExpress says it is working on that problem. About 95 percent of items open to US shoppers now qualify for its Fast Delivery guarantee. If a qualifying order is late, lost or damaged, shoppers can get compensation or a full refund under the rules of the guarantee.
Shopping through creators
One new step this year is creator-led shopping. On 20 October, AliExpress announced a partnership with YouTube Shopping. Creators can now tag AliExpress products in Shorts, livestreams and longer videos, and viewers can tap a product they see and go straight to the listing.
A festival that goes offline too
In South Korea, the festival has an extra twist. AliExpress Korea is running discounts of up to 80 percent across many categories, along with a raffle. For a small ticket price of 110 won, shoppers can enter a draw to win a Tesla Model Y car and other prizes. Shoppers can earn extra entries by checking in, browsing, inviting friends and buying.
The company is also opening a large popup store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, from 5 to 8 November. Shaped like a giant capsule vending machine, it will show a Tesla car and let visitors try key products, with an 11-second challenge to grab products against the clock.
The Korean programme follows a set pattern: early offers on 2 November, brand sales from 3 to 6 November, leisure and car products from 7 to 10 November, home living deals from 12 to 15 November, and last-minute deals from 16 to 18 November.
How to shop the sale wisely
A big sale can still be a bad buy. Prices change often, and not every deal is as strong as it looks. Before buying, shoppers should check the seller's rating, read recent reviews, confirm the delivery time, and check the total cost at checkout, including any taxes or fees. It also helps to compare the sale price with the price from a few weeks earlier, and to check the return rules before ordering, especially for clothes, shoes and electronics.
For shoppers who plan ahead, 11.11 is a useful chance to buy holiday gifts early and avoid the last-minute rush. For AliExpress, it is a test of whether lower prices, faster delivery and creator-led shopping can win more regular shoppers in a crowded market.
Sources
- AliExpress, "AliExpress Celebrates 11.11 Global Shopping Festival November 1-18 with Mega Deals as Brand+ Marks Its First Anniversary", PR Newswire, 29 October 2026 — prnewswire.com
- Aju Press, "AliExpress Offers Tesla Raffle for 110 Won and Up to 80% Discounts for 11.11 Shopping Festival", 29 October 2026 — ajupress.com
- AliShopping Tools, "AliExpress Sale Calendar 2026: All Dates" — news.astools.app
- AliExpress official Instagram post promoting the 11.11 sale, 29 October 2026 — instagram.com/p/DfGPTCBl2vx
- Alibaba Group official Facebook post on the 2026 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, 21 October 2026 — facebook.com/alibabagroupofficial
