Great Indian Festival vs Big Billion Days 2026: Dates, Bank Offers and Phone Deals
Amazon's sale opened on October 8 after Prime early access, and Flipkart's on October 9 after member early access. Here is what each offered on phones and cards.
India's two biggest online sales started within a day of each other this year: Amazon's Great Indian Festival on October 8, with Prime early access from October 7, and Flipkart's Big Billion Days on October 9, with early access on October 8 for Flipkart Plus and Black members (Amazon India, Beebom).
<blockquote><strong>Update, October 25:</strong> Both sales went live as scheduled. Flipkart listed the iPhone 17 (256GB) at ₹84,999, or ₹79,999 with a ₹2,000 ICICI or Axis card discount and up to ₹3,000 exchange bonus, against Apple's current ₹99,900. Amazon listed the Galaxy S25 Ultra at ₹84,999 including a ₹5,000 coupon and the OnePlus Nord 6 at ₹42,999. See our <a href="/article/flipkart-big-billion-days-2026-iphone-17-79999-bank-offers">Flipkart iPhone 17</a> and <a href="/article/amazon-great-indian-festival-2026-phone-prices-revealed">Amazon phone price</a> reports.</blockquote>
Key dates and bank offers
| Amazon Great Indian Festival | Flipkart Big Billion Days | |
|---|---|---|
| Early access | Prime members from October 7 | Plus and Black members, Flipkart credit card holders from October 8 |
| Public sale | October 8 | October 9 |
| Card offer | 10% instant discount on SBI credit and debit cards and credit card EMI | 10% instant discount on Axis Bank and ICICI Bank cards |
| Extras | Up to 10% extra for Prime members; Amazon Pay ICICI card cashback | Super.money cashback for first-time users; UPI partner offers |
Limits, caps and minimum order values vary by card, and no-cost EMI and exchange bonuses were offered on both platforms. Amazon did not announce a closing date in advance.
How the phone predictions compared
Before the sales, a Flipkart banner promised the iPhone 17 below ₹80,000, and that proved true only after card and exchange offers; the listed sale price was ₹84,999. Its launch price was ₹82,900, and Apple's price had risen to ₹99,900 after the iPhone 18 Pro launch, which is why pre-sale reports quoted the "current price" differently.
Pre-sale reports also expected the Galaxy S25 Ultra below ₹85,000, which matched Amazon's ₹84,999 coupon price, while forecasts of the iPhone 16 below ₹70,000, the Galaxy A56 under ₹35,000 and the Galaxy M17 under ₹20,000 were estimates; Amazon listed the Galaxy A56 5G at ₹31,999.
How to shop smart
Check the price history of the exact model, since some sale prices only match what a phone cost a few weeks earlier. Compare the effective price after bank offers and exchange values, not the headline discount, and decide in advance which card you will use. Older flagships often reach their lowest price of the year during these weeks.
Why last year's phones are the value story
With the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at ₹1,64,900 and above, discounted iPhone 17 and 16 models offer the biggest savings. Rising memory costs have also pushed up new phone prices this year, which makes festive discounts on existing models more attractive.
What to watch next
Watch for further sale rounds before Diwali, and whether either platform repeats its iPhone and Galaxy offers. Prices change within hours, so recheck before you pay.
