Best National Cheeseburger Day Deals for 2026

If you love a good cheeseburger, you’re in luck! This Friday is National Cheeseburger Day 2026, and there are plenty of delicious deals to celebrate.

Origin of the Cheeseburger

Who first thought, “Hey, let’s put a slice of cheese on a burger?” The story goes back to Pasadena, California, where food historians credit 16-year-old Lionel Sternberger with creating the first cheeseburger in 1924. Legend has it that he added a slice of cheese to a hamburger at his father’s sandwich shop, the Rite Spot, forever changing the burger game.

For 102 years, Americans have been enjoying cheeseburgers so much that there’s an entire day dedicated to celebrating this delicious creation. National Cheeseburger Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated every September 18. No one knows exactly who came up with the idea, but does it really matter? What matters is that there are plenty of cheeseburger deals to enjoy on this tasty holiday.

Here are the Deals for National Cheeseburger Day

According to WZZM 13, here’s where you can find some of the best deals available for National Cheeseburger Day.

Applebee's - Cheeseburger with fries for $8.99
Burger King - September 14-20 BK is offering free items to their Royal Perks members including a free Rodeo Burger on the 14th, BOGO Whopper JR. on the 15th, free Croissan'wich on the 16th, free hamburger on the 17th, free Bacon Cheeseburger on the 18th, and free 4-piece order of nuggets on the 19th.
Buffalo Wild Wings - buy one burger, get a second on the 18th of equal or lesser value for free.
Dairy Queen - September 14-18 you can get a free single Original Cheeseburger Signature Stackburger with a purchase of $1 or more.
Denny's - buy a Diner QP burger and get a second one 50% off.
Grubhub - have several deals on its app like a buy-one-get-one Whopper Jr. from Burger King or a free Baconator from Wendy's with an order of $20 or more.
McDonald's - offers a free Double Cheeseburger with a $1 minimum purchase.
Red Robin - for $9.99, you get one of their Big Ymmm Deals that includes an entree, a Bottomless side and a Bottomless drink.
Ruby Tuesday - $6.99 for burger or sandwich with fries or tots.
Smashburger - for $1 you can get an single Smashburger.