National Chicken Wing Day is celebrated every July 29, and it honors the humble chicken wing, especially the tangy, saucy Buffalo wing. It is a fixed-date food holiday with a well-documented origin in Buffalo, New York, the wing’s hometown.
When is National Chicken Wing Day?
National Chicken Wing Day falls on July 29 each year, including July 29, 2026 and July 29, 2027. As a fixed date, it does not move, landing squarely in the summer season of cookouts and sports gatherings when wings are especially popular.
History and origin of National Chicken Wing Day
The observance was proclaimed in 1977 by Buffalo, New York Mayor Stan Makowski, who declared July 29 National Chicken Wing Day to recognize how many wings Buffalonians were eating. The wing itself has an even better-known origin story: the Buffalo wing was created in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo by Teressa Bellissimo. As the story goes, she deep-fried chicken wings, which were then often used only for stock, and tossed them in butter and hot sauce for a late-night snack. The dish was an instant hit and spread from Buffalo across the country. Decades later, Drew Cerza founded the National Buffalo Wing Festival in 2002, cementing the city’s status as the wing capital.
Why National Chicken Wing Day matters
Chicken wings have grown from a scrap cut into a national obsession, central to game days, bar menus, and backyard cookouts. National Chicken Wing Day celebrates that transformation and gives Buffalo credit as the birthplace of the Buffalo wing. It also fuels one of America’s friendliest food arguments, drums versus flats, and showcases the huge range of sauces and rubs wings now come in, from classic Buffalo to barbecue, garlic parmesan, and beyond.
How to celebrate National Chicken Wing Day
- Order wings from a favorite local spot, or seek out a Buffalo-style joint.
- Make wings at home and try a new sauce or dry rub.
- Host a wing tasting with several flavors and dipping sauces.
- Settle the drums-versus-flats debate with friends over a platter.
- Pair wings with classic sides like celery, carrots, and blue cheese or ranch.
- Watch a game while enjoying wings, the way they are often served.
- Look for restaurant deals, which are common on the day.
The Anchor Bar legend and the drums-versus-flats debate
The most repeated origin story credits Teressa Bellissimo of the Anchor Bar, who is said to have fried up leftover wings, tossed them in butter and hot sauce, and served them as a late-night snack that became an instant hit. The Anchor Bar still trades on that history today. The wing’s rise also sparked one of America’s friendliest food arguments: drums versus flats. Drums, the little drumstick-shaped pieces, offer a satisfying handle and a big bite of meat, while flats, the flatter two-bone pieces, are prized by fans who say they hold more sauce and crispy skin. There is no official winner, which is exactly why the debate endures.
By the numbers
Chicken wings have grown from a discarded scrap into a multibillion-dollar business, and demand peaks around major sporting events. Americans famously eat well over a billion wings during Super Bowl weekend alone, and wings are a fixture of game days, bar menus, and summer cookouts nationwide. Buffalo, New York leans into its status as the wing’s birthplace, and the National Buffalo Wing Festival, founded there in 2002, draws crowds each year to sample countless sauces and styles. That cultural footprint is what a single mayoral proclamation in 1977 helped set in motion.
Related days and observances
Wing fans also enjoy National Hot Dog Day, National Fried Chicken Day, and National Barbecue Day. Big sports events like the Super Bowl are among the biggest wing-eating occasions of the year.
Fun facts
The Anchor Bar still markets itself as the home of the original Buffalo wing. Americans consume staggering numbers of wings during major sporting events, with the Super Bowl alone driving well over a billion wings eaten.
From a single mayoral proclamation in 1977 to a nationwide food holiday, National Chicken Wing Day shows how a regional specialty can capture the whole country’s appetite. It celebrates not just a dish but a way of gathering, around games, cookouts, and bar tables, with a plate of wings and a favorite sauce in the middle. Whether you settle the drums-versus-flats debate, seek out an authentic Buffalo-style joint, or fire up your own batch at home, July 29 is a delicious tribute to an American classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Chicken Wing Day?
It is a fixed food holiday on July 29 every year.
Who started National Chicken Wing Day?
Buffalo, New York Mayor Stan Makowski proclaimed July 29 as National Chicken Wing Day in 1977.
Where was the Buffalo wing invented?
At the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, created by Teressa Bellissimo in 1964.
Why do we celebrate National Chicken Wing Day?
To honor the chicken wing, especially the Buffalo wing, and its role in American food culture.
Is National Chicken Wing Day a public holiday?
No. It is an informal food holiday, not a public or federal holiday.
What is the hashtag for National Chicken Wing Day?
The common tag is #NationalChickenWingDay.