Veterans Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, November 11. Lots of restaurant chains give a free meal that day to anyone who has served or is serving now, usually from a short list of dishes, eaten in, with proof of service. Coffee shops, barbershops and national parks join in. Deals are announced in early November, so the list below fills in as they open.
Veterans Day 2026 offers open now
Listed on FreebieAgent this season and still running. Each one links to the brand's own page, and the card says if it needs a purchase or an app.
Free Haircuts for Veterans on November 11thSport Clips is offering free haircuts to veterans and active service members on Veterans Day, November 11th, at participating locations. The chain has been supporting the VFW's Help A Hero Scholarship program since 2013, having awarded over $16 million in scholarships to date. Head to your nearest Sport Clips on November 11th and ask about the free haircut offer.
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Restaurants with a Veterans Day free meal in past years
Each of these chains has done a Veterans Day meal before. Each sets its deal fresh every year, and franchise locations can opt out, so call your local restaurant before you drive over.
| Restaurant | What has been offered | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Applebee's | A free entree picked from a small set of dishes | Eat in the restaurant on the 11th |
| Chili's | A free meal from a limited menu | Dine-in only, on the 11th |
| Outback Steakhouse | A free appetizer and a drink, or a discount, depending on the year | Check the year's terms before you go |
| Hooters | A free entree from a set menu with a drink purchase | A drink purchase has usually been required |
| Golden Corral | A free dinner at its Military Appreciation night | Often held on a Monday in November, not the 11th |
| Texas Roadhouse | Free meal vouchers handed out in the parking lot | You use the voucher on a later visit |
| Denny's | A free breakfast plate during set hours | Dine-in, participating locations |
Beyond free meals
- Coffee. Starbucks has given a free brewed coffee to veterans, service members and military spouses, and Krispy Kreme a free doughnut and coffee.
- Haircuts. Sport Clips (Help A Hero) and Great Clips have given free haircuts on Veterans Day. Great Clips has also given a card for a free cut later.
- National parks. Every national park that charges a fee is free for everyone on November 11. Veterans and Gold Star families can also get a free lifetime pass.
- Digital. Software and streaming companies sometimes give veterans a free year or a free month. Those show up in the list above when they open.
How to make the day work
- Pick one sit-down meal. The big chains get packed at noon and 6pm, so mid-afternoon is easier.
- Grab the quick ones on the way: a coffee in the morning, a haircut at lunch.
- Carry a photo ID and a service document. Rules differ by chain.
- Tip on what the meal would have cost. It is the busiest shift of the year for servers.
Missed one? Plenty of restaurants also do a free meal for your birthday, and the free food page lists food offers running any day of the year.