National Donut Day, also known as National Doughnut Day, is celebrated twice each year in the United States: on the first Friday in June and again on November 5. It is one of the few national observances that appear on two different dates, giving donut lovers two excuses to enjoy their favorite treat each year. Both versions celebrate the same classic pastry, but their stories are quite different.
Origins of National Donut Day
The June celebration has a long and meaningful history. It began in 1938, when The Salvation Army in Chicago created the event to honor the “Donut Lassies,” volunteers who handed out donuts to soldiers during World War I. The day also helped raise funds for people in need during the Great Depression.
The November 5 version of National Donut Day came later and grew from modern food culture and social media. It is a more relaxed observance that focuses on simple enjoyment rather than history.
Bakeries often join in by launching new flavors or themed boxes, while fans post their favorite donuts online using the hashtag #NationalDonutDay. So far, the hashtag #NationalDonutDay has been used in over 761,000 Instagram posts!
When Is National Donut Day Celebrated?
National Donut Day stands out because it occurs twice every year. The first celebration happens on the first Friday in June, while the second takes place on November 5. Both offer a good excuse to enjoy a donut or two.
| Year | First Friday in June | November 5 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 6 | Wednesday, November 5 |
| 2026 | June 5 | Thursday, November 5 |
| 2027 | June 4 | Friday, November 5 |
| 2028 | June 2 | Sunday, November 5 |
| 2029 | June 1 | Monday, November 5 |
| 2030 | June 7 | Tuesday, November 5 |
How to Celebrate National Donut Day
National Donut Day offers two perfect chances each year to enjoy this beloved pastry. Some people join the fun by grabbing a free donut from their favorite shop, while others bake a batch at home or share a box with coworkers and friends. How you celebrate doesn’t really matter, the goal is to simply enjoy a moment of sweetness and spread a bit of joy. Having said that, here are a few ideas on how you can make this National Donut Day more memorable:
- Visit a donut shop. Many stores like Dunkin’, Krispy Kreme, Duck Doughnuts and Shipley Do-Nuts mark the day with giveaways or creative new flavors.
- Bake or fry your own. Homemade donuts can be as fun to make as they are to eat.
- Share with others. Bring a box to work, school, or a neighbor as a cheerful surprise.
- Remember the roots. Learn about the Salvation Army’s Donut Lassies and their work during World War I.
Related Donut Days
Need more donut days? If you do, don’t miss out on National Cream-Filled Donut Day on September 14, National Jelly-Filled Donut Day on June 8, and National Bavarian Cream Donut Day on November 14. Each of these observances keeps the love for donuts alive throughout the year.
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.
