National French Fry Day 2026 means free fries at McDonald’s, Wendy’s

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This Friday, July 10, is an especially tasty one because it’s National French Fry Day.
You may consider french fries as a snack or side dish, but nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) consider french fries as a main dish, according to a 2025 survey of 5,000 U.S. adults conducted by Talker Research for McCain Foods, which makes frozen potato products served globally. Americans eat about 17 pounds of french fries each year, the survey found.
That craving for french fries have made them the most-loved food in the United States, with a popularity ranking of 87%, surpassing cheeseburgers (85%), grilled cheese sandwiches (85%) and hamburgers (84%) as the most popular American dish in YouGov’s regularly updated rankings.
It’s no accident National French Fry Day is celebrated on a Friday – get it, Fry-day? Fast-food chains Checkers and Rally’s organized an online petition in 2022 to get the National Day Calendar to move National French Fry Day so that it would always fall on the second Friday of July.
Here’s a roundup of specials on french fries available this Fry-day, July 10.
How to get free fries at McDonald’s on Friday for National French Fry Day
McDonald’s says it serves 3.6 billion servings of its french fries each year. On Friday, July 10, you can get a medium order of fries for free.
To get the deal, make sure you have downloaded the McDonald’s mobile app and opted into the fast-food chain’s MyMcDonald’s Rewards loyalty program. You will find the free fries deal in the app on Friday (one freebie per person at participating restaurants; excludes tax). Also, when you download the app, you can get a free Ranch or Spicy Snack Wrap on your first purchase of $1 or more through MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
How to get free fries at Wendy’s on National French Fry Day
You can get a free order of fries – your choice of size – on Friday, July 10, at Wendy’s with a purchase of $5 or more made in the Wendy’s app. Offer good at participating locations; app download and account registration required.
The fast-food chain is still offering its limited-time Minions & Monsters Adult Meal, which comes with one of four “Minions & Monsters” movie-themed collectible toys and a small Banana Frosty Swirl. (Wendy’s Kids Meals also currently come with one of six “Minions & Monsters” toys.
More National French Fry Day freebies and deals
- Arby’s: Members of the Arby’s Rewards loyalty program get an XL order of fries for $1.99 with a purchase of $5 or more (offer is good through Sunday, July 12, at participating U.S. locations). for pre-tax/fees orders of $5+. Not available through third-party delivery services. Must have an active Arby’s Rewards account to redeem.
- Birdcall: The fast-casual chain is giving away a free order of fries when you order an entrée on Friday, July 10. To get the offer, add your entrée and side order of fries to your cart and use promo code FRIES at checkout. The offer is good online, in-store, and through the Birdcall app (limit one per guest).
- Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay: Get a free order of fries with the purchase of any burger on Friday, July 10.
- Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop: Get a free order of fries with the purchase of any medium or large sub at participating locations on Friday, July 10.
- Carl’s Jr.: Members of the MyRewards loyalty program get a free large order of fries with any purchase on Friday, July 10. Unlock the offer in the Carl’s Jr. app and online on July 10 (offer good at participating restaurants).
- Checkers & Rally’s: From Friday, July 10, to Sunday, July 12, you can buy one order, get one free of the fast-food chain’s famous seasoned fries (any size), and you can add a $1 sauce trio featuring secret sauce, ranch and honey mustard.
- Del Taco: From Friday, July 10, to Sunday, July 12, members of the Del Yeah! Rewards loyalty program can get a free regular order of the Mexican restaurant chain’s crinkle-cut fries with a $3 minimum purchase. Get the offer by placing your order in the Del Taco app or on the Del Taco website. (Offer is good at participating locations; additional restrictions may apply.)
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: For National French Fry Day on Friday, July 10, you can use the Freddy’s Rewards app to get a large fry for $1.99. The offer is good in the restaurant and drive-thru, and for pickup or delivery (limit one per person).
- Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard: With any purchase on Friday, July 10, get a free small order of fries – choose crinkle fries or wild fries, which feature Good Times’ top-secret blend of spices – in stores and on the Good Times app.
- Hardee’s: New and current members of the MyRewards loyalty program get a free large order of fries with any purchase on Friday, July 10. Unlock the offer in the Hardee’s app and online on July 10 (offer good at participating restaurants).
- Moxies: On Friday, July 10, get an order of the restaurant’s poutine – fresh cut fries, served with hot beef gravy, cheese curds and chives – for $12 during happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Penn Station Sandwiches: Purchase any small, medium or large sub, whole sandwich, wrap or bowl on Friday, July 10, and get a free small order of its fresh-cut fries. To get the deal, use the code FRYDAY 26.
- Red Robin: The fast-food chain’s bottomless steak fries are available year-round with your order of a burger, wrap or sandwich. You can also upgrade to bottomless garlic fries or bottomless sweet potato fries instead.
- Shake Shack: From Friday, July 10, to Monday, July 13, get a free order of classic fries with any sandwich purchase using the code FRYDAY26. Get the offer at in-Shack kiosks, via the Shake Shack website and in the Shack App.
- Sheetz: The convenience store chain is giving away one free bag of french fries with any qualifying purchase of $10 or more (food and beverages, not alcohol, cigarettes or gasoline). Members of the My Sheetz Rewardz loyalty program can get the deal from Friday, July 10, to Thursday, July 16, under the Offerz tab in the Sheetz app.
- Smashburger: On Friday, July 10, get a free regular-sized order of fries – choose from french fries, smash fries, sweet potato fries or scorchin’ fries – with a $1 minimum purchase. Get the deal online on the Smashburger website and in the Smashburger app with code FRYDAY26.
- Whataburger: Get a free medium order of fries – no purchase necessary – on National French Fry Day, this Friday, July 10. Also, when first-time users download and use the Whataburger app, you get a free Whataburger.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected].



