In 1785, English poet William Cowper famously mused, Variety’s the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.” Now, he was talking about change, but the same lesson can be applied to a staple American bar food: the chicken wing and its many flavors.
Today (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) is National Chicken Wing Day, which celebrates this versatile cuisine. Let’s take a look at how we got this delicious poultry delight and where to score excellent deals.
A brief history of the modern chicken wing
Chicken wings have a long culinary history even before the modern buffalo version.
They were deep fried in the South, used for soups and gravies, and even found on historic menus. The dish rose to prominence, however, in the 1960s thanks to three Buffalo, New York, residents.
Much like the chicken and the egg, no one really knows who got there first.
John Young applied for a business license for his restaurant Wings and Things in 1966. It is believed he sold the dish before making things official. His wings were breaded and marinated in mumbo sauce, a sweet and spicy combination of ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and hot sauce.
Around that same time, Frank and Teressa Bellissimo also began serving chicken wings at Anchor Bar. Their version was separated into drumettes and flats, fried, and seasoned with hot sauce.
The craze spread quickly throughout Buffalo and then the country. In 1977, Buffalo Mayor Stan Makowski created National Chicken Wing Day through a proclamation.
These days, wings come in many different flavors. There’s lemon pepper, teriyaki, BBQ, honey mustard, and so many more. You can even get your wings with or without bones.
Chicken wings also became a game day tradition. In 2026, the National Chicken Council predicted 1.48 billion chicken wings would be consumed by Americans on Super Bowl Sunday.
In 2025, 1.38 billion wings were enjoyed. Thankfully, you don’t have to wait for a big game.
List of National Chicken Wing Day deals
And now for the freebies and deals:
Dave & Busters
After a long day in the office, head over to Dave & Buster’s for 50 cent traditional wings and $1 bone-in wings. Whatever sauce or rub you choose, the wings come in quantities of 10. While you are there, play a game or two to unwind.
Wingstop
Wingstop loves National Chicken Wing Day so much it turned it into a week-long celebration with big daily prizes.
Enter to win daily here. On the actual day, wing enthusiasts can get 5 free wings with a $10 purchase by using promo code: FREEWINGS.
Whataburger
It pays to be a Whataburger Rewards member on National Chicken Wing Day. It’s free to join, even on the big day. Once part of the club, you are able to take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free deal on 9-piece WhataWings either online or in the app.
7-Eleven
There are several ways to celebrate all things chicken wings at 7-Eleven.
At Raise the Roost locations July 27 to 30, single chicken tenders or bone-in wings are just $1.
At Speedy Cafe locations, Speedy Rewards Members can order 8-piece boneless wings or 5-piece bone-in wings for just $5 until August 25. Additionally, 7NOW Delivery is offering 10 wings for $8 until August 25.
East Coast Wings + Grill
Talk about variety! East Coast Wings + Grill offers over 50 different wing flavors. On the big day, the restaurant’s mascot, Coop, will be celebrating their first birthday, so kids’ meals are free when you purchase an adult entree and dine in.
The party doesn’t stop there. Additionally, those who dine in can also add the newly revealed Fan Flavor Showdown wing flavor to any menu item for free. Dine-in customers will also be given a coupon worth $7 off their next visit of $35 or more within seven days and $10 off all online orders of $50 or more with code WINGPARTY.
TGI Fridays
At TGI Fridays, chicken wing lovers can personalize six bone-in, or eight boneless wings with your choice of sauce and dipping sauce.
These Matchday Wings Bites start at $8.99 and also come with fries. There’s also a Matchday Goal Line Platter which includes eight wings, three chicken fingers, and onion rings. This option starts at $16.99.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Head over to Buffalo Wild Wings and bring your appetite. There customers can get 6 free wings with a $15 purchase. Just use the promo code: FREEWINGS.
Wherever you celebrate, be sure to pack a wet wipe or two. It’s true, wing flavors are diverse but the one thing they have in common is they’re messy.
