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What the Anniversary Sale is
AliExpress marks its founding anniversary each spring with a platform-wide sale. Shoppers know it as one of the year’s big coupon events. Refundy, a cashback company, describes it as one of the biggest coupon drops of the year, often merged with a 3.28 spring sale, and lists the other main events as the Summer Sale, 11.11 and 12.12. The 2026 event was the 16th anniversary sale, according to a coupon site.
Because AliExpress runs frequent promotions, the anniversary sale is not the only time to buy. See the best time to buy on AliExpress for how to decide whether to wait.
When it runs, and what we know
| Year | What we found | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | AliExpress posted on 13 March that the Anniversary Sale started on 16 March. A promotions site gives 16 to 25 March. | AliExpress’s social post (search summary); promotions site |
| 2025 | A Facebook group post says the 15th anniversary sales started 17 March. | Community post (search summary) |
| Next sale | No official dates found. Refundy says dates shift each year and to confirm on the live event page. | Vendor guidance |
Other sites list “3.28” dates, and some list a late-March to 1 April window with smaller discounts. Calendars from third parties disagree, so use them as a guide and check AliExpress’s own homepage or app for the live event.
What you can expect in the sale
- Platform coupons and store coupons. Refundy says sale prices and coupons generally stack, and that seller, store and platform coupons can be collected before the sale starts.
- Payment-method offers. A r/SBCGaming user reported PayPal offers of $15 off $159 and $30 off $269 for US customers in the 2026 sale, and that they were based on a different subtotal from normal coupons. That’s one buyer’s report, so check the terms on the event page.
- Deep-discount headlines. Promotions sites advertise “up to 90% off”. That’s a marketing claim, and it doesn’t mean the item you want is discounted by that much.
- Limited stock and coupons. Refundy warns that popular items and limited coupons can sell out in the first hours.
How to tell a real deal from a fake one
Sale banners work on everyone, so run the check before you pay. Our guide to flash deals has the full method. In short:
- Record the normal price of your item and two similar listings in the weeks before the sale.
- Compare the full total (price, shipping and any tax), not the headline discount. Free shipping catches.
- Check your exact variant. The advertised price can belong to a different one.
- Read the coupon terms. AliExpress’s coupon terms say unused coupon value is forfeited when the coupon expires, and they cover what happens to a coupon when an order is cancelled or refunded, so check them if you might return something.
- Check the store, since a sale doesn’t make an unchecked seller safer. Seller checks.
How to prepare, step by step
- Two to three weeks before: build a wishlist and note current prices.
- A few days before: collect the coupons and offers AliExpress lists, and check their minimum spend and expiry.
- Choose your payment method: a credit card gives extra protection, and some events add payment-method offers. Payment methods compared.
- On day one: check out early for popular items, but only after the price check above.
- After you order: keep the order screenshots, and photograph the item on arrival.
Delivery during a sale
- Expect slower dispatch. Refundy says sale peaks such as 11.11 and Black Friday routinely add 5 to 15 days. It doesn’t give a figure for the anniversary sale, but volume is higher then too.
- Read the delivery date. How long AliExpress orders really take.
- Import charges. A sale price doesn’t change duty or tax. What to expect in your country.
Should you wait for the Anniversary Sale?
| Your situation | Our advice |
|---|---|
| Buying something you need soon | Don’t wait. Compare prices now and buy from a store you’ve checked. |
| A planned purchase that can wait until spring | Wishlist it, record the price and see if the sale beats it. |
| An item near a different sale (Summer, 11.11) | Check that event’s dates first. Refundy calls 11.11 the biggest sale of the year. |
| A safety-critical item, such as a charger or battery | Buy from the maker, not the cheapest sale listing. Electronics specs. |
We don’t know that the anniversary sale will beat prices at other times, and we haven’t tracked prices across events, so the advice is to check your own item’s history rather than assume.
Before the sale: checklist
- ☐ I’ve built a wishlist and recorded normal prices.
- ☐ I know the official dates from AliExpress’s own event page, not a third-party calendar.
- ☐ I’ve collected coupons and read their minimum spends and expiry.
- ☐ I’ll compare the full total and check my exact variant.
- ☐ I’ve checked the store, and I’m paying through AliExpress checkout.
- ☐ I’ve allowed extra time for delivery.
Ready to shop?
You don’t have to wait for the sale to prepare. Open AliExpress, add the items you want to your wishlist and note their current prices. Search AliExpress for the same items from a second store to see the normal price range, and check the current price again when the sale opens to see whether the discount is real.
Where to go next
- Best time to buy on AliExpress: wait for a sale or buy now?
- AliExpress flash deals: how to tell a real deal from a fake one
- AliExpress coupon codes
- AliExpress Buyer Protection: what’s covered before you pay
Frequently asked questions
When is the AliExpress Anniversary Sale?
It has run in mid to late March. In 2026 it started on 16 March, per AliExpress’s own post seen in a search summary. The next dates aren’t public yet, so check AliExpress’s homepage or app.
Is the Anniversary Sale the same as the 3.28 sale?
Refundy says the spring 3.28 sale is often merged with the Anniversary Sale, but third-party calendars disagree on dates. Use the live event page.
Can I use coupons during the sale?
Refundy says sale prices and coupons generally stack, and that coupons can be collected before the sale starts. Check the terms and minimum spend.
Are the prices really lower?
Sometimes. Record the normal price beforehand and compare the full total, since headline discounts like “up to 90% off” are marketing claims.
Will my order be delayed?
Refundy says big sale peaks add 5 to 15 days. Check the delivery date and the guaranteed window on your order.
The bottom line
Treat the Anniversary Sale as an opportunity, not a deadline. Confirm the dates on AliExpress’s own page, record normal prices beforehand, compare the full total and the store, and allow extra time for delivery.
Check current prices on AliExpress →
Sources
- Refundy: AliExpress sale dates, the full event calendar (2026, cashback vendor)
- AliExpress on Instagram, 13 March 2026: Anniversary Sale starts 16 March (search summary)
- PromosSale: AliExpress Anniversary Sale 2026 (coupon site; dates and claims; search summary)
- r/SBCGaming: AliExpress Anniversary Sale, comparison of prices (search summary only)
- AliExpress Help Center: Coupons Terms & Conditions
- AliExpress: Buyer Protection
Sale dates, coupons and offers change every year. Confirm the current event, terms and prices on AliExpress’s own pages before you buy.
