Full Breakdown
National Cheeseburger Day 2026: Chain Promotions and Consumer Impact
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
- Date: Friday, September 18 2026 marks National Cheeseburger Day, a yearly food-holiday that prompts nationwide restaurant promotions.
- What happens: Major fast-food and casual-dining chains roll out free-burger, BOGO, and discounted-burger offers that are generally limited to one redemption per customer and require a loyalty-program account or mobile-app order.
Background & Context
- Origins: The National Day Calendar credits 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger (working at his father’s Pasadena sandwich shop, The Rite Spot) with inventing the cheeseburger in 1924.
- Distinction: National Cheeseburger Day is separate from National Hamburger Day on May 28.
- Popularity: YouGov surveys give cheeseburgers an 84 percent positive rating, tying them with hamburgers. Circana CREST data show Americans ate roughly 6.9 billion cheeseburgers in the 12-month period ending July 2026—about 20 per person, with men averaging 24 and women 17.
Data & Statistics – Major Chain Deals (September 18 2026)
| Chain | Offer | Redemption requirements |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Free Double Cheeseburger with a $1 minimum purchase | MyMcDonald’s Rewards; app order; one per person |
| Burger King | Free Bacon Cheeseburger with a $3 minimum purchase | Royal Perks; app/website; part of “Perks Week” (Sept 14-20) |
| Wendy’s | Dave’s Single Cheeseburger for $1.99 with any purchase | Wendy’s Rewards; app/website |
| Five Guys | BOGO burger (equal or lesser value) | Promo code BOGOBURGER in app/website; valid Sept 16-18; not in-store |
| Dairy Queen | Free Original Cheeseburger Signature Stackburger with a $1 purchase | DQ Rewards; app or online order |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | BOGO cheeseburger (buy one regular-priced, get one free) | In-store; code BURGERDAY; excludes lunch combos/kids’ menu |
| Shake Shack | Single ShackBurger or Cheeseburger for $5 with any purchase | Code BURGERDAY in app, website, or kiosk |
| Applebee’s | Classic Burger or Classic Cheeseburger with fries for $8.99 | Dine-in or take-out; no app required |
| Checkers & Rally’s | Big Buford for $3 | In-store or drive-through; limited to the weekend |
| Carl’s Jr. | Any burger ½ price with purchase of any Hand-Scooped Ice-Cream Shake | Carl’s Jr. Rewards; app order |
| Smashburger | Any single Smashburger for $1 | SmashRewards; app, website, or kiosk |
| Jack in the Box | Free Jr. Cheeseburger with a $1 purchase | Jack in the Box Rewards; app order |
| Hardee’s | BOGO Famous Star cheeseburger | My Rewards; app order |
| 7-Eleven | $6 combo (20-oz drink + Angus Double Cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, or Philly Cheesesteak) | In-store purchase only |
*All offers are subject to location participation, single-use limits, and may exclude delivery or certain menu items.*
Official Statements & Responses
- Burger King called the “Perks Week” a “week of Royal Perks offers,” including the free Bacon Cheeseburger on National Cheeseburger Day (USA Today).
- Wendy’s confirmed its Rewards members can add a Dave’s Single Cheeseburger for $1.99 with any purchase.
- Dairy Queen noted the free Original Cheeseburger Stackburger is available to DQ Rewards members who place an app or online order of at least $1.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Two YouGov polls both list an 84 percent positive rating for cheeseburgers, differing only in wording.
- Gender-specific consumption averages (men ? 24/month, women ? 17/month) appear in the same source; no contradictory data were found.