National Chicken Wing Day 2026
food drinkThursday, July 29, 2027
317 days from today · next occurrence
About National Chicken Wing Day
National Chicken Wing Day lands on July 29, giving America's messiest and most beloved bar snack its own moment in the sauce. What started as a way to use a cheap cut in Buffalo, New York, has become a billion-dollar obsession, with wing joints, sports bars, and national chains slinging them tossed in everything from classic cayenne butter to Korean gochujang and dry-rub lemon pepper.
The day is a genuine favorite among food holidays because it comes with freebies: many restaurants and chains hand out discounted or free wings to mark the date. Fans gather friends for a platter and debate the only rules that matter, flats versus drumettes, bone-in versus boneless, ranch versus blue cheese, while testing their heat tolerance against the spiciest sauce on the menu. July 29 also kicks off the stretch of summer cookouts where wings earn their keep on the grill.
When is National Chicken Wing Day?
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | July 29, 2026 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | July 29, 2027 | Thursday |
| 2028 | July 29, 2028 | Saturday |
| 2029 | July 29, 2029 | Sunday |
| 2030 | July 29, 2030 | Monday |
History of National Chicken Wing Day
The wing's origin story is well worn by now: in 1964, the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, began serving deep-fried wings coated in a vinegar-cayenne butter sauce, a dish that turned an often-discarded piece of the bird into a sensation. Whether the first basket was a happy accident of a misdelivered ingredient or a deliberate late-night snack is debated, but the style spread fast, and Buffalo wings became a menu fixture nationwide by the 1980s. Wing-focused chains boomed alongside sports bars, and July 29 was eventually proclaimed National Chicken Wing Day, an honor Buffalo's mayor has marked with official proclamations celebrating the city's saucy contribution.
How to Celebrate National Chicken Wing Day
- Order a variety platter and settle the eternal debate: flats or drumettes, ranch or blue cheese.
- Grill or air-fry wings at home and toss them in a homemade buffalo sauce.
- Claim a free or discounted wing deal from a participating chain to mark the date.
- Attempt a new international flavor, such as Korean gochujang, Jamaican jerk, or Japanese karaage style.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is National Chicken Wing Day?
- It falls every year on July 29, a fixed summer date for wing deals and cookouts.
- Is National Chicken Wing Day a public holiday?
- No. It is a fun food holiday, not a public holiday, but many restaurants and wing chains offer free or discounted wings to celebrate.
- How do people celebrate National Chicken Wing Day?
- People celebrate by eating wings with friends, grabbing restaurant promotions, testing spicy sauce challenges, and grilling or air-frying their own batches at home.
- Where were buffalo wings invented?
- Buffalo wings trace back to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, which began serving the fried, sauce-tossed wings in 1964, turning a scrap cut into a national favorite.