How to Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2026

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale clothing and miscellaneous items on graphic.

It’s that time of year again! The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is nearly here, and it’s still the one sale I never skip. I’m joining Mary Ann and Cindy to share our favorite Nordstrom sale finds. If you’ve been reading Most Lovely Things for a while, you know how much I love this one — so let’s get into it: why this sale is different from every other sale, how to shop it, and what’s new this year.

This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure on my About Me page.

What’s new this year for small gifts

A few things that I saved on my wishlist for Christmas gifts are these small coin purses, and cases that can be used to hold your AirPods. They have several colors and styles, that clip onto a bag. This Mermaid Detangling Brush from bur bur, and these Leather Longchamp cosmetic cases that come in four colors. Every year it seems they have theLe Labo Discovery Fragrance Set, and it lasts the entire year. My girls love them!

Why the Anniversary Sale is a big deal

Most sales happen after a season ends, when retailers are trying to clear out what’s left. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale flips that on its head. It’s brand-new fall and winter merchandise, discounted before the season even starts. Once the sale wraps up, those same items go back up to full price. That’s the whole magic of it: you’re not picking through last season’s leftovers in the wrong size, you’re getting first pick of what’s actually coming this fall, for less.

I’ve been a Nordstrom cardholder since 1987, so I’ve watched this sale evolve over decades, but the core idea has never changed. It’s still, hands-down, Nordstrom’s biggest sale of the year, and I don’t think it’s overhyped one bit.

TheNordstrom Anniversary Sale is where we went for our back-to-school shopping every year. School shoes, sneakers, North Face fleece jackets, backpacks, and everything else for the coming year. I miss those days!

How early access works

Nordstrom rewards its cardholders with early access, staggered by tier based on how much you’ve spent with them over the past year:

Icon: July 14
Ambassador: July 15
Influencer: July 16
General public: July 18

If you have a Nordstrom card, it’s worth checking your tier now so you know exactly when your window opens — the best sizes and colors in the most popular pieces tend to go quickly once a tier unlocks. I’ve always had good luck shopping first thing on the morning my access opens, rather than waiting.

No card? You’re not shut out — everyone gets access once the sale opens to the public, and there’s still plenty to shop. But if you know you’ll want to shop the Anniversary Sale every year, it might be worth signing up for a card before this one, just for the early window.

How I shop it

A few things I’ve learned after years of doing this:

Shop online first. Inventory is synced across the board, shipping is typically free, and it’s a lot less chaotic than fighting crowds in-store.
Check the preview before your access window opens. Nordstrom releases a preview online (and sometimes in a catalog) before the sale goes live, so you can build your wish list ahead of time and be ready to check out the second your window opens, rather than browsing from scratch.
Add everything to your wishlist as you browse the preview. This is the single biggest time-saver. While items are in preview, you can heart or add them to your Nordstrom wishlist even though you can’t buy yet — then, the moment your access window opens, you just go straight to your wishlist and check out. No searching, no scrolling, no losing a sold-out size while you dig around for the item again. The most popular pieces can sell out within minutes of a tier opening, so this one habit makes the biggest difference in actually getting what you want. You can always delete what you don’t want in your cart, but better to have it, than search for it.
Go in with a short list of go-to brands. I always check the same handful first — Rails, Barbour, Lafayette 148, Vince, Rag & Bone, since I already know the fit and quality,
Buy what you’d wear all year, not just for the sale. The best Anniversary Sale purchases, in my experience, are the pieces that become your everyday go-tos — not just a good deal in the moment.

My 2026 picks and outfits

Sweater with brown flowers, shoes, jeans, bag on white background with numbers.

Rails Floral Cardigan // 2. G.H. Bass Buckle T-Strap Loafer // 3. Rails Corduroy Collar Check Jacket // 4. Frame Wide Leg Jean // Longchamp Leather Cosmetics Case // Madewell Shopper Tote

Blue and black plaid shirt with black heans, bag, loafers, red cosmetics case, bottle of perfume on white background.

Madewell Shopper Tote // 2. G.H. Bass Penny Loafers // 3. Longchamp Red Leather Cosmetics Case // 4. Toccca Frangrance // 5. Rails Ruffle Check Shirt // 6. Levi’s High Waist Straight Leg Jeans // 7.Mansur Gavriel Mary Jane Flat

Jeans, jacket, brown suede loafers, cosemtic case, orange corduroy shirt.

Frank & Eileen Corduroy Shirt // 2. Le Labo Fragrance Set // 3. Barbour Jacket // 4. Rag & Bone Sweatpant Jean // 5. Longchamp Leather Cosmetics Case // 6. G.H. Bass Penny Loafers

Stockup & save

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale athletic items, hanky panky underwear, cashmere mist deodorant, On sneakers, makeup

Cashmere Mist Deodorant Trio Set // 2. On Cloud 6 Sneaker // 3. Anastasia Brow Kit // 4. Polo Ralph Lauren Stripe Cotton Pajamas // 5. Nike Medium Padded Sports Bra // 6. Natori Smoothing T-Shirt Bra // 7. Natori Underwire Sports Bra // 8. Dermaflash Sonic Dermaplaning & Peach Fuzz Removal Set // 9. Vuori Villa Wide Leg Pants // 10. Vuori Halo Modern Joggers // Hanky Panky Underwear

Household items

Nordstrom anniversay sale home items on white background with numbers.

Wood Magnetic Knife Holder // 2.Our Place Rice Cooker // 3. Fluted Marble Bowl // 4.Terracotta Fruit Bowl // 5.Black Mango Wood Lazy Susan // 6.L’Avant Laundry Detergent // 7. Cream and Gold Stanley Cup // 8. Coppermill Kitchen Pie Server // 9. French-inspired Copper Tartlet Moulds (set of 4)

Already in my cart!

I’m stocking up on laundry detergent, and deodorant. I’ve been waiting for a good deal on the Dermaflash sonic dermaplaning tool, and I need a new rice cooker, and I’m tempted to get this one from Our Place. I always replace my Natori bras and Hank Panky underwear. I need a new workout bra. These pants from Vuori will be my new workout and travel pants. No more leggings, even for the gym. What’s in your cart?