National Chocolate Day celebrates chocolate in all its forms, from truffles and bars to cakes and drinks. The observance began in the United States through confectionery groups that promoted food-themed celebrations. The National Confectioners Association later recognized October 28 as the official date, giving chocolate an annual moment of appreciation.
Today, bakeries, chocolatiers, and chocolate lovers celebrate the day with special treats, social media posts, and themed promotions. On Instagram, the hashtag #NationalChocolateDay has appeared in nearly 100,000 posts (as of October 2025), showing how popular the celebration has become. Businesses ranging from Royce Chocolate to local tourism boards like Visit Lake Geneva join in by highlighting cocoa-based treats, while individuals celebrate simply by enjoying a piece of chocolate or sharing their favorite dessert online.
When Is National Chocolate Day Observed?
People celebrate National Chocolate Day every year on October 28, a fixed date that stays the same while only the weekday changes. This consistency makes it easy to plan chocolate-themed celebrations, tastings, and special promotions. Below is a list of upcoming dates through 2030.
| Year | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | October 28 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | October 28 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | October 28 | Thursday |
| 2028 | October 28 | Saturday |
| 2029 | October 28 | Sunday |
| 2030 | October 28 | Monday |
Days That Are Similar To National Chocolate Day
National Chocolate Day is just one of many chocolate-themed observances celebrated throughout the year. Other popular dates include World Chocolate Day (July 7), International Chocolate Day (September 13), and National Chocolate Candy Day (December 28). Different confectionery companies and organizations established these celebrations independently, which explains the overlapping dates. Although they all honor chocolate, each observance remains distinct, and chocolate producers choose individually which ones to recognize.
Beyond these major celebrations, there are more specialized ones too, such as National Milk Chocolate Day and National Dark Chocolate Day, giving chocolate fans plenty of reasons to enjoy their favorite treat year-round.
And if you’re curious, we’ve created a separate list featuring more than 75 chocolate-related observances, covering everything from truffles and brownies to cocoa beverages and desserts.
Way to Celebrate National Chocolate Day
Everyone decides how to best observe National Chocolate Day, but if you need ideas, we’re here to help. Here are a few budget-friendly ways you can celebrate National Chocolate Day without much cost or preparation:
- Enjoy some chocolate at home – Pick up a favorite chocolate bar or make a simple mug of hot cocoa. Even a small piece of quality chocolate can feel special when enjoyed mindfully on a day dedicated to chocolate. If you want to, you can even post a picture of your treat on social media using the hashtags #NationalChocolateDay and #ChocolateDay to make sure other likeminded people find it!
- Try a homemade recipe – Bake something easy like chocolate chip cookies, brownies, or chocolate-covered fruit. These require inexpensive ingredients and fill the house with a cozy aroma.
- Share a little sweetness – Surprise a friend, coworker, or family member with a single chocolate or a small bar. It’s a simple gesture that spreads the spirit of the day.
- Learn something new about chocolate – Watch a short documentary or read an article about how cocoa is grown and processed. It adds depth to your appreciation and costs nothing.
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, celiac & gluten-free days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025-2026 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
