I plan my schedule around fast-food restaurant deals. Whether it’s a $1 Egg McMuffin for National Egg Day or the return of my favorite protein to Qdoba for Lent, I know when and where I’m having my meals.
But the sweetest deals of all are the ones that are actually free. That’s something that DQ has been doing every year since 2015 to celebrate the first day of spring. Dairy Queen’s Free Cone Day is one of the most magical days of the year, and it’s coming a little bit early in 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
When is Dairy Queen Free Cone Day 2026?
Courtesy Dairy Queen
This year, Dairy Queen is celebrating Free Cone Day on March 19. This is actually the day before the first day of spring, so it means that you’ll be able to celebrate early.
A lot of people take advantage of this promotion; in 2025, DQ locations around the country gave away over 5 million free cones! In terms of instant gratification, it doesn’t get more straightforward than that.
“Free Cone Day is all about celebrating the simple joys—warmer weather, a classic vanilla cone and the happiness that comes from sharing a smile,” said Maria Hokanson, executive vice president of marketing at American Dairy Queen Corporation. “There’s something truly special about seeing people light up over a free cone, and this year, we’re excited to give away more cones and create more happy moments for our fans than ever before.”
Do you want Free Cone Day to last all year?
In conjunction with Free Cone Day, Dairy Queen is running a fun contest for fans. You can enter the sweepstakes via the DQ mobile app for a chance to win free vanilla soft serve cones for an entire year. If one free cone a year can bring a smile to my face, I can only imagine what an entire year of free ice cream would do!
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