What’s Actually Worth Buying During Memorial Day Weekend 2026 Sales?

Published May 22, 2026 · Last updated May 22, 2026

Memorial Day Weekend 2026 is the first real test of summer shopping, and the sales are everywhere. Almost every brand I love is running 20% to 50% off from May 22 through May 27. The catch is most of those "sales" are full-priced leftovers with a discount sticker on top.

I've been testing and tracking these brands all spring, so I already know which pieces are repeat buys and which ones are skip-now-cry-later. This is my honest guide to what's actually worth your money this Memorial Day Weekend.

If you've ever come home with three shopping bags and worn one shirt, this post is for you. I rank every sale by what holds up in real LA summer life, not what looks cute in a flat lay.

If you want to see how I think about big sale weekends in general, my SKIMS Bi-Annual Sale guide breaks down the exact pieces I rebuy every season, and my Spring 2026 fashion trends post covers the silhouettes I'm actually wearing right now. For summer event dressing, my summer wedding guest dress picks point to a lot of the same retailers running deals this weekend, and if your routine needs a refresh, my Rare Beauty bronzer review covers one of the Sephora sale pieces I actually keep buying.

What Are the Best Memorial Day Weekend Sales for 2026?

The best Memorial Day Weekend 2026 sales are SKIMS, Anthropologie, Nordstrom Half Yearly, Sephora's Beauty Insider event, Mango, Quince's everyday-low summer drop, and Princess Polly. These brands actually drop prices into territory you won't see again before July.

I sorted every sale I saw this week into three buckets: real (20% off or deeper across the site), partial (sale section only), and fake (10% off with a coupon code). What's below is only the real and partial sales worth your weekend.

The pattern I keep seeing in May 2026 is that the biggest names lean shapewear, denim, and summer dresses. Smaller brands are using the weekend to clear spring inventory before swim and resort drops. If you're shopping smart, you stack one beauty buy with one fashion buy and stop.

Here's the short list of what I'd actually open my wallet for. Each one is linked below in the section it belongs to, so you can shop straight from the brand or through my LTK shop where I've already saved my picks.

When Does Memorial Day Weekend 2026 Actually Start?

Memorial Day Weekend 2026 runs Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25, with most sales going live Thursday, May 21 and ending Tuesday, May 27. The deepest markdowns usually drop Friday morning and quietly disappear by Sunday night.

I learned this the hard way in 2024 when I tried to buy a pair of Mango wide-leg jeans on Tuesday and the sale price had already snapped back. Saturday afternoon is the sweet spot. The site is past its Friday traffic crash and the best sizes are still in stock.

If you're shopping beauty, watch for Sephora's spring Savings Event window. The Beauty Insider tiers (10%, 15%, 20%) usually overlap MDW by one or two days, which means you can stack the Insider discount on top of sale items. That's the only time I'll buy luxury skincare without flinching.

Which Beauty Brands Are Worth Shopping This Weekend?

The beauty brands worth shopping Memorial Day Weekend 2026 are SKIMS Beauty (up to 40% off), Sephora (Beauty Insider event), Rhode Skin's Peptide Lip Shape launch, and select Amazon beauty tools. Skip drugstore beauty on Amazon; the "deals" rarely beat Target's everyday price.

SKIMS is the one I keep going back to this weekend. Their Bi-Annual Sale is up to 40% off shapewear (shop my SKIMS picks on my LTK), the Seamless Sculpt Bodysuit, and the Cotton Rib Tank I live in. I rebuy the Fits Everybody T-Shirt Bra twice a year, and the only time I pay full price is in a panic.

Sephora's spring sale is usually the only time I'll restock luxury skincare like Drunk Elephant, Augustinus Bader, and Tatcha. Shop my Sephora picks on my LTK and stack your Beauty Insider discount at checkout. The Rouge tier gets 20% off, and that's the only stack worth the wait.

Rhode Skin isn't technically on sale, but Hailey Bieber just launched the new Peptide Lip Shape on Rhode (shop on my LTK), and it's worth grabbing now before the inevitable summer sellout. I tested it for two weeks; my lips actually look fuller and the pigment payoff is stronger than the original Peptide Lip Tint.

For tools (curling irons, hair dryers, Foreo cleansing devices, lash growth serums), Amazon's MDW beauty deals are worth scanning. Skip the makeup pages; the formulas you actually want are at Sephora and Ulta, not Amazon.

If you're new to building a real routine, my hyaluronic acid serum guide covers the exact bottle I keep restocking, and most of the picks in there are part of Sephora's MDW sale this weekend.

What Fashion Sales Are Actually Worth Buying?

The fashion sales actually worth buying this Memorial Day Weekend 2026 are Anthropologie (extra 50% off sale), Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale, Mango's mid-season markdowns, Zara's summer collection sale, Quince's everyday essentials, Princess Polly, and select Revolve markdowns. These are the brands hitting summer-ready styles, not winter clearance leftovers.

Anthropologie is my sleeper pick. Their extra 50% off sale (shop my Anthropologie picks on my LTK) hides the summer maxi dresses I genuinely wear to dinners on Sunset, and the markdowns drop deeper if you check back Sunday morning. The Maeve and Pilcro lines are the ones I keep coming back to.

Mango has quietly become my favorite for elevated basics under $80. Their mid-season sale (shop my Mango picks on my LTK) includes the linen-blend trousers I wore three times last week. Sizing runs slim, so size up one if you're between.

Zara's summer drop is on sale (shop my Zara picks on my LTK), and the satin slip dresses and oversized blazers are the ones to grab. Just know the quality is hit or miss; my rule is no more than $40 on any Zara piece I don't try on first.

Quince is the brand I quietly recommend to every friend. They don't run flash sales because their everyday prices (shop my Quince picks on my LTK) already undercut most MDW markdowns. The Mongolian cashmere sweater, the European linen sheets, and the silk camisoles are all under $100 every day of the year.

For affordable summer outfit pieces, Princess Polly is having a summer sale (shop my picks on my LTK) on slip skirts, satin tops, and the going-out dresses I actually pack for Vegas. Their sale rack is where I find pieces under $40 that look like Revolve.

Speaking of which, Revolve is running select MDW markdowns on Lovers and Friends, House of Harlow, and Steve Madden. I'd buy Revolve if you have a wedding or vacation in your calendar; otherwise, the everyday price is too high.

ASOS is having a 25% off everything weekend (shop my ASOS picks on my LTK). Their COLLUSION and ASOS Design lines are the ones to scan; sizing runs true and the quality has gotten noticeably better in 2026. If you're shopping for date-night pieces, my summer 2026 wedding guest dress guide includes a few ASOS picks that I'd still buy on sale this weekend.

Where Are the Best Designer Deals This MDW?

The best designer deals Memorial Day Weekend 2026 are at Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale (shop my Nordstrom picks on my LTK), which hits handbags, shoes, and ready-to-wear from brands like Tory Burch, Coach, Vince, and AGOLDE. Saks Off 5th and The Outnet are also running additional 20 to 30% off sale weekends if you want to dig deeper.

I shop Nordstrom for two things: bag and shoe markdowns, plus their easy returns if I get it wrong. The Half Yearly Sale is the only Nordstrom event I actually open the email for. Watch for AGOLDE denim, Vince cashmere, and Madewell jeans dropping into real-money territory.

This is the weekend Nordstrom moves leftover spring inventory to make room for the Anniversary Sale in July. Anything you don't buy now will either come back at the Anniversary Sale (rare) or disappear (more likely).

My 8 Nordstrom Picks Worth Grabbing This Weekend

If you want a shortlist instead of scrolling the full Half Yearly Sale, these are the eight I'd actually pull. They lean summer essentials and the kind of shoes and basics I rebuy when they finally dip.

• Adidas Samba OG Sneakers – the sneaker I reach for when I don't want to think about an outfit.
• Elan Crochet Maxi Cover-Up Dress – the kind of cover-up that doesn't read "beachwear" if you wear it to dinner after.
• Alyse Mule – easy slip-on for the days I want closed-toe but not heels.
• The Icon Vest – the layer I always need on summer mornings and forget to pack.
• Becca Modern Edge Rib One-Piece Swimsuit – the modest swim cut that still looks like 2026, not 2010.
• Steve Madden Sheila Ankle Strap Sandal – the ankle-strap sandal I keep buying in different colors.
• Frederica Plunge Neck Maxi Dress – the kind of maxi I'd grab for a summer wedding I haven't been invited to yet.
• HOKA Clifton 10 Running Shoe – the running shoe I actually run in; almost never sees a sale.

How Do the Top MDW Retailers Compare?

How Do You Decide What's Worth Buying During MDW?

You decide what's worth buying during Memorial Day Weekend by running every item through three filters: have I worn or used this category in the last 30 days, is the discount 20% or deeper, and would I still want it at full price next month. If the answer is yes to all three, it's a real buy.

Most people impulse-shop sales because the percentage off feels like savings. It isn't. Spending $80 on a dress you'll wear once is still $80 you didn't have to spend. The percentage is irrelevant if the item is wrong.

My personal rule is one beauty, one fashion. I pick one beauty item I'm running out of and one fashion item I've had saved on my Pinterest for two weeks. Anything I haven't already wanted before Friday morning, I scroll past.

If you're building a real summer wardrobe rather than collecting trends, my workout sets roundup and the dress edit in my wedding guest summer 2026 guide cover the categories I keep coming back to.

What Should You Skip During Memorial Day Weekend Sales?

You should skip any "MDW deal" under 20% off, drugstore beauty on Amazon, fast-fashion swimwear, and any item you'd only wear once. These are the categories that almost always come back at a deeper discount later in the summer.

Specifically, skip Old Navy and H&M for MDW. Their everyday prices are already low enough that the "sale" doesn't actually move the needle, and their summer dresses don't survive more than two washes. If you want $30 dresses, go to Princess Polly or Mango sale instead.

Skip Lululemon. They almost never discount, and the "We Made Too Much" section is the only real deal, MDW or not. Save your Lulu money for fall when leggings actually drop.

Skip any beauty product you've never tried before. A 20% discount on a $60 serum you might hate is still $48 down. Use the Sephora sale to restock formulas you already love. Try new things from sample sizes, not full-priced gambles.

How I Tested These Sales

I tracked every brand on this list across April and May 2026, comparing list prices, sale depth, and stock availability. I bought from SKIMS, Mango, Quince, Anthropologie, Sephora, Nordstrom, ASOS, and Revolve in the last 60 days, and the pieces ranked here are ones I'm still wearing or restocking.

For sales I couldn't personally test (Zara, Princess Polly, Amazon beauty), I leaned on price-history tools and checked against the same brand's last big sale weekend in March 2026. If the markdown was deeper than what I saw last time, it qualified.

I don't include sales from brands I wouldn't personally shop. If it's not in this post, it either didn't meet the 20% off threshold or the quality doesn't justify the spend.

Mistakes to Avoid This Memorial Day Weekend

The biggest mistake people make during Memorial Day Weekend sales is mistaking volume for value. A cart full of $20 pieces you'll never wear costs more than one $80 dress you reach for every week.

Another mistake is shopping every email. The Friday morning email blitz is designed to overwhelm you, and decision fatigue makes you click "Add to Bag" on anything. Mute the notifications and shop with a list.

Don't forget to compare across retailers. The same Vince cashmere tank is $145 on Nordstrom and $155 on Saks; a five-second search would save you the difference. Always check Nordstrom on my LTK first if the brand carries there.

Finally, don't ignore return policies. Anthropologie's sale is usually final sale. Nordstrom isn't. ASOS gives 28 days. Sephora gives 30 days on opened beauty. Know what you're signing up for before you tap pay.

The Final Verdict

FAQ: Memorial Day Weekend Sales 2026

When does Memorial Day Weekend 2026 start?

Memorial Day Weekend 2026 starts Friday, May 22 and ends Monday, May 25. Most retailer sales go live Thursday, May 21 and run through Tuesday, May 27. The deepest markdowns are usually live Friday morning.

Are Memorial Day sales actually better than other sales?

Yes, for summer fashion and swim. Memorial Day Weekend is the deepest discount window for summer styles before late July markdowns. For winter or fall pieces, you'll see better deals on Black Friday or after Christmas.

What is the best MDW sale for fashion?

Anthropologie's extra 50% off sale is the best MDW fashion deal hidden in plain sight. Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale is the best for designer markdowns, and Mango is the best for elevated everyday basics under $100.

Does Sephora have a Memorial Day Weekend sale?

Sephora's spring Beauty Insider event usually overlaps Memorial Day Weekend, giving members 10 to 20% off depending on tier. It's the best time to restock luxury skincare you already use.

Is the SKIMS Bi-Annual Sale worth shopping?

Yes, if you already know your size. SKIMS sale prices are some of the deepest you'll see all year, up to 40% off, and pieces like the Fits Everybody thong and Cotton Rib loungewear sell out fast.

What should I buy from Mango during MDW?

Mango's mid-season sale is best for linen-blend trousers, satin slip skirts, blazers, and summer dresses under $80. Size up if you're between sizes; Mango runs slim.

Is Quince actually a good deal?

Yes, even without a sale. Quince's everyday prices on cashmere, silk, and linen beat most MDW markdowns from competitors. It's where I shop year-round, not just during sale weekends.

Should I shop Amazon for beauty during MDW?

Only for tools and supplements. Amazon's MDW makeup and skincare "deals" rarely beat Sephora or Ulta. For curling irons, hair dryers, Foreo devices, and lash serums, Amazon is fine.

What's the difference between Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale and the Anniversary Sale?

Nordstrom's Half Yearly Sale (May and December) clears existing inventory at 30 to 50% off. The Anniversary Sale (July) is fall inventory at lower-than-launch prices. They're not the same; you'll see different brands and categories.

Are MDW sales final sale?

It varies. Anthropologie's deepest markdowns are usually final sale. Nordstrom honors regular returns even on sale items. ASOS gives 28 days. Always check before you check out.

What's the smartest way to shop Memorial Day Weekend?

Shop with a list, not a feed. Pick one beauty item and one fashion item you've wanted for at least two weeks, and ignore everything else. The percentage off doesn't matter if the item is wrong for your life.

Where can I see all your MDW picks in one place?

I've saved my full edit on my LTK shop and a curated round-up on ShopMy. Both update through the weekend as new markdowns drop.

How Memorial Day Weekend Sales Tie Back to Building Real Confidence

The best Memorial Day Weekend hauls are the ones you forget you bought because you wear the pieces so often. Confidence in your closet looks like reaching for the same five things on repeat and feeling like yourself in all of them.

That's what I try to do every time a big sale weekend lands. I shop the gaps, not the trends. I look at what I'm running out of, what I keep wishing I had, and what I'd pay full price for anyway.

If you walk into Tuesday with two pieces you genuinely love, you won. That's the real Memorial Day Weekend test, and it has nothing to do with how many tabs you closed.