National Mimosa Day 2026
food drinkSunday, May 16, 2027
243 days from today · next occurrence
About National Mimosa Day
A mimosa is a simple two-ingredient cocktail of chilled sparkling wine and orange juice, traditionally served in a flute at brunch. National Mimosa Day, observed in the United States on May 16, honors this cheerful drink that has become the unofficial symbol of late-morning weekend meals. The ratio is flexible, the technique is easy, and the result is bright, effervescent, and endlessly photogenic.
The drink's name comes from the yellow mimosa flower, which its color resembles. Versions of the mix have existed since the 1920s, when bartenders in Paris and London were combining champagne with citrus juice. Today the mimosa anchors brunch menus everywhere from diners to rooftop restaurants, with variations built on grapefruit juice, peach puree, cranberry, or even beer in the popular beermosa.
The holiday is a lighthearted food-and-drink observance rather than an official occasion, but bars and restaurants across the country embrace it with drink specials, bottomless brunch deals, and creative riffs on the classic recipe.
When is National Mimosa Day?
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | May 16, 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | May 16, 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | May 16, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | May 16, 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | May 16, 2030 | Thursday |
History of National Mimosa Day
The mimosa's exact origin is debated, but cocktail historians generally credit Frank Meier, a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, with mixing champagne and orange juice around 1925. A very similar drink called the Buck's Fizz, made with twice the champagne, was created in 1921 at London's Buck's Club. The drink spread through hotel brunch service in the mid-twentieth century and became inseparable from American brunch culture by the 1960s. Who first declared May 16 National Mimosa Day is unclear, but the observance gained traction in the 2010s as restaurants promoted themed specials and social media turned the drink into a brunch-time icon.
How to Celebrate National Mimosa Day
- Mix the classic two-ingredient version: half sparkling wine, half chilled orange juice, poured slowly to keep the bubbles.
- Host a brunch and set up a DIY mimosa bar with several juices, fruit purees, and fresh garnishes.
- Visit a local restaurant offering Mimosa Day specials or bottomless brunch deals.
- Try a variation such as a poinsettia with cranberry juice or a Buck's Fizz with extra bubbly.
- Keep it responsible: offer sparkling water with orange juice as a zero-proof option for the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is National Mimosa Day?
- National Mimosa Day falls every year on May 16. It lands in the heart of spring, right when patio brunch season kicks into high gear in the United States.
- Is National Mimosa Day a public holiday?
- No. It is a fun food-and-drink observance, not a public holiday. Schools, banks, and government offices operate normally, though many restaurants run mimosa and brunch promotions for the occasion.
- How do people celebrate National Mimosa Day?
- People celebrate by mixing mimosas at home, hosting brunch with friends, or taking advantage of restaurant specials. Some build full mimosa bars with several juices, while others simply raise a flute at their weekend table.
- What is in a classic mimosa?
- The traditional recipe is equal parts chilled sparkling wine and orange juice. The British Buck's Fizz uses twice as much sparkling wine, and modern variations swap in grapefruit, cranberry, peach, or pineapple juice.