Ulta Sale Calendar 2026: Your Guide to 21 Days of Beauty & More

Mastering the Ulta 2026 Sale Calendar: A Predictive Guide for Beauty Savants

If you have ever paid full price for a prestige mascara only to see it go 50% off three days later, you know the specific sting of poor timing. At Ulta, timing isn't just a suggestion—it is a strategy. While the retail giant rarely releases its full promotional schedule in advance, they are creatures of habit. By looking at the patterns from the last three years, we can map out exactly when to spend and when to save your hard-earned cash in 2026.

This is not just a list of dates; it is your beauty budget's roadmap. Whether you are the person who buys shampoo by the gallon or the friend who always gives the best birthday gifts, here is how you should navigate Ulta in 2026.

The Winter Stock-Up: January and February

The year usually kicks off with a focus on skin and hair health. If your New Year's resolution involves better self-care, this is your window.

Love Your Skin Event (Early to Mid-January): This event mirrors the famous 21 Days of Beauty but focuses exclusively on skincare. You will see daily 50% off deals on high-end serums, cleansers, and moisturizers. Editor's Choice: Look for brands like Clinique and Peach & Lily. Their "Daily Steals" usually feature the Heavy Hitters like the Moisture Surge moisturizer or the Glass Skin Refining Serum.

Jumbo Love (Late December through January): This is the holy grail for what we call The Practical Stockpiler. This sale features massive discounts on jumbo-sized bottles of professional haircare. Editor's Choice: Redken and Biolage. If you use these brands, buying them during any other time of year is essentially throwing money away.

The Luxe Lover’s Spring: March and April

As the weather shifts, so does Ulta’s focus. This is when the heavy hitters in makeup come out to play.

21 Days of Beauty (Mid-March to Early April): This is arguably the biggest sale of the year. For three weeks, select prestige products are half-off for 24 hours only. The Luxe Lover Profile: This event is for the person who wants Sephora-level quality on a drugstore budget. It is the perfect time to grab those $30 primers and $40 palettes for $15–$20. Editor's Choice: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. These are perennial favorites that almost always make the cut.

Spring Haul (Early to Mid-April): Following the prestige-heavy 21 Days, the Spring Haul focuses on "mass" brands (the drugstore side of the store). Expect 20% to 30% off across the board. Editor's Choice: NYX Professional Makeup and Morphe brushes.

The Professional Touch: May and June

Late spring is all about the "Good Hair Day." If you are looking to upgrade your styling routine, wait for May.

Gorgeous Hair Event (May): Similar to the 21 Days format, this event offers daily 50% off deals on hair tools, styling products, and treatments. Editor's Choice: Bio Ionic blow dryers and Drybar styling products. This is the best time to invest in a high-end hot tool without the high-end price tag.

Summer Jumbo Love (Late June to July): Just in time for those summer beach trips that dry out your hair, the jumbo-sized liters return to sale prices. Editor's Choice: Pureology and Matrix.

The Fall Refresh: August and September

August is typically the quietest month, often reserved for "10x Points" days for Rewards members. If you are a Diamond or Platinum member, August is for point-hoarding, not necessarily deep discounts.

21 Days of Beauty Fall Edition (Late August to Mid-September): The second installment of the 50% off daily deals. It’s the same format as the spring version but usually features more "fall-ready" products like deeper lipstick shades and richer moisturizers. Editor's Choice: Benefit Cosmetics brow products and Lancôme mascaras.

Fall Haul (Late September): Another chance to grab drugstore favorites at a discount. This is a secret weapon for The Gift Closet Giver—those people who keep a stash of gifts ready for unexpected birthdays or teacher appreciation tokens.

The Holiday Sprint: October through December

The end of the year is a whirlwind, but there are specific moments where the deals are significantly better than others.

Gorgeous Hair Event Fall Edition (October): The final chance of the year to get 50% off professional styling products.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November): Ulta’s Black Friday deals usually start the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This is when you will find the "Buy One, Get One" deals and the massive price drops on fragrance sets. The Holiday Hero Profile: This is for the person shopping for everyone on their list. The $15 and under "doorbuster" deals are perfect for stocking stuffers. Editor's Choice: Ulta Beauty Collection kits. These large palettes and sets are often marked down to incredible prices and make high-impact gifts for teens or makeup beginners.

Holiday Blitz (December): Throughout December, look for "20% off your entire purchase" coupons (including prestige brands). These are rare and should be used on the one or two luxury items you have been eyeing all year.

How to Build Your 2026 Beauty Budget

To make the most of this calendar, you have to change how you shop. Stop buying things when you run out; start buying them when they are on sale.

If you are a Practical Stockpiler, mark your calendar for January and June for your haircare. If you are a Luxe Lover, save your "splurge" money for March and September. By following this predictive guide, you can easily cut your annual beauty spending in half while actually upgrading the quality of the products on your vanity.

Ulta has made it clear that they value consistency. While the specific day might shift by 48 hours to account for the weekend, the rhythm of these sales is steady. Keep this guide bookmarked, and you'll never have to pay full price for your favorites again.