National Frozen Yogurt Day is celebrated annually on February 6 to recognize frozen yogurt as a popular alternative to ice cream. The day became widely popular in the early 2010s during the global frozen-yogurt boom, when self-serve shops and customizable topping bars spread rapidly.
Today, frozen yogurt lost momentum as people became more critical of its health claims and gravitated toward newer dessert trends like smoothie bowls, protein ice creams, and plant-based sorbets.
National Frozen Yogurt Day is a good excuse to enjoy it anyway—build a cup, add your favorite toppings, and celebrate this classic dessert while it still has a place on the menu.
When is National Frozen Yogurt Day Celebrated?
National Frozen Yogurt Day is celebrated each year on February 6. The date falls in late winter, when lighter, refreshing desserts begin to feel appealing again, making it a fitting time to highlight frozen yogurt and its role as a customizable alternative to traditional ice cream.
| Year | Date and Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | February 6, Friday |
| 2027 | February 6, Saturday |
| 2028 | February 6, Sunday |
| 2029 | February 6, Tuesday |
| 2030 | February 6, Wednesday |
Facts About Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt developed at the intersection of nutrition trends, food science, and retail innovation. Here are a few curios facts about its evolution:
- Health-driven origins (1970s): Frozen yogurt emerged during the 1970s health movement as a lower-fat alternative to ice cream, combining yogurt’s cultured base with a soft-serve texture.
- From niche to mainstream (1980s): The spread of self-serve shops in the 1980s shifted frozen yogurt from specialty food to popular dessert, making flavor choice and toppings central to the experience.
- Luxury retail debut: The first commercial frozen yogurt, branded Frogurt, was introduced in 1970 at Bloomingdale’sin New York City, marketed as a refined, guilt-conscious treat.
- The TCBY name story: When Frank D. Hickingbotham opened the first TCBY shop in 1981, the name stood for “This Can’t Be Yogurt!” Legal pressure later led to its reinterpretation as “The Country’s Best Yogurt.”
- Sweetness vs. perception: Although often seen as healthier, many frozen yogurts contain added sugar to maintain creaminess. A typical half-cup of vanilla frozen yogurt averages about 17 grams of sugar, comparable to some premium ice creams, according to Healthline.
- Live culture requirements: Only products that retain sufficient active bacteria can use the Live & Active Cultures seal. If freezing destroys those cultures, the product is legally classified as a frozen dairy dessert rather than yogurt, under standards cited by the International Frozen Yogurt Association.
- Why it’s so airy: The signature swirl comes from a process called overrun, where air is whipped into the mixture during freezing. In soft-serve frozen yogurt, air can make up a large portion of the final volume.
Similar Food Holidays
National Frozen Yogurt Day is just one of many fun food holidays that focus on delicious frozen treats and refreshing desserts. You’ll find more tasty dessert holidays in these lists:
