Veterans Day 2026 Deals: Free Meals, Huge Discounts, and Everything Worth Knowing

November 11 is tomorrow, and the Veterans Day 2026 deals are already live at some of the biggest retailers in the country. Free food at Applebee’s, Chili’s, and Texas Roadhouse, 20% off storewide at Target for military members, 60% off Nectar mattresses, and enough freebies across haircuts, entertainment, and auto services to fill an entire day without spending a dime.

Here’s the full rundown of Veterans Day 2026 deals actually worth the time. 

Free Meals for Veterans and Military on Veterans Day 2026 

The dining category goes harder than anything else on November 11. Over a dozen chains are giving away full meals, no purchase necessary, just proof of service at the door. 

• Applebee’s — Free entrée from a special menu, plus a $5 Bounce Back Card for a future visit
• Chili’s — Free entrée from a select Veterans Day menu, dine-in only
• Olive Garden — Free entrée with unlimited breadsticks and soup or salad
• Texas Roadhouse — Free meal vouchers handed out 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., valid all the way through May 2027
• Golden Corral — Free buffet dinner and beverage, 4 p.m. to close
• IHOP — Free Red, White & Blueberry Pancake Combo from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Denny’s — Free Original Grand Slam, 5 a.m. to noon
• Red Robin — Free Red’s Big Tavern Burger with bottomless fries
• Buffalo Wild Wings — 10 free boneless wings and fries
• Wendy’s — Free Dave’s Single, no ID needed, just self-identify
• Starbucks — Free tall brewed coffee, hot or iced, military spouses included
• Little Caesars — Free HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Cracker Barrel — Free Sunrise Pancake Special

Texas Roadhouse is the MVP here because those vouchers stretch six months out. And Wendy’s doesn’t even ask for proof, which is a clutch for folks who left their ID at home. 

Biggest Veterans Day 2026 Retail Discounts

Retail Veterans Day 2026 deals are hitting different prices this year, especially for verified military members stacking discounts on top of sales.

• Target — 20% off one storewide purchase for verified military, November 5 through 11. That’s doubled from last year and covers every department including electronics.
• Kohl’s — 30% off entire in-store purchases for military families, November 10 and 11
• Old Navy — 50% off sitewide with code FIFTY, stackable with 10% in-store military discount
• Samsung — 30% off top phones and wearables for verified military
• Under Armour — Military discount doubled to 40% off at Brand Houses, 20% off at Factory Houses
• DEVIL-DOG Dungarees — 50% off the entire site, November 2 through 13

The Target deal is probably the single most valuable play for military families planning a big purchase. One cart, 20% off everything, no category restrictions. 

Veterans Day 2026 Mattress Sales

Veterans Day mattress sales in 2026 are absolutely wild. Some of these discounts match or beat what Black Friday typically brings.

• Nectar — 60% off, Queen Premier drops to $949 from $2,382
• Bear — 35% off Elite Hybrid with code SAVINGS, Queen at $1,763
• Brooklyn Bedding — 30% off sitewide
• Plank — 30% off Firm Mattress with code VETERANS30, Queen at $932
• Helix — 27% off Midnight Luxe with code FORBES27, Queen at $1,751
• Casper — Up to 25% off bundles
• Saatva — $425 off mattresses, roughly 20% savings

Nectar at 60% off is no joke. That’s the kind of deal that makes waiting for Black Friday pointless.

Also Read: Keep These U.S. Helpline Numbers Handy for Emergencies

Home Improvement and Home Goods Deals

Veterans Day 2026 is one of those rare windows where military discounts, seasonal sales, and early Black Friday promos all overlap at the same time, and the home improvement category is cashing in hard.

• Home Depot — The standard 10% military discount is live as always, but this year there’s also a first-ever free Husky Army Green Tool Bag with any qualifying Husky purchase, running November 11 all the way through November 30
• Lowe’s — Year-round 10% military discount stacks with early Black Friday pricing, including up to 50% off major appliances and free delivery on orders over $896
• Wayfair — A 72-Hour Clearout drops up to 60% off rugs, beds, bedding, and decor, while a separate holiday flash sale goes even harder at 70% off furniture

No military ID needed for Wayfair, which makes it the easiest play for anyone looking to upgrade a space before the holidays hit.

Travel, Auto, and Other Veterans Day 2026 Freebies

And it keeps going. Beyond the dining freebies and retail discounts, Veterans Day 2026 is also running deals across travel, auto services, haircuts, entertainment, and groceries, basically touching every part of the day from morning to night.

Travel:

• American Forces Travel offers up to 50% off hotels, 35% off rental cars
• Avis is running up to 35% off car rentals, military spouses included
• Most major hotel chains offer 10-15% military discounts when booking direct

Auto:

• AutoNation gives 15% off services, parts, and accessories on November 11
• McCormick Automotive Center has free oil changes by appointment
• Fast Monkey Auto runs Operation Free Oil Change on Veterans Day

Haircuts and Personal Care:

• Great Clips offers a free haircut or a free haircut card redeemable through December 4
• Sport Clips has free haircuts at participating locations

Entertainment:

• National parks waive entrance fees for everyone on November 11, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon
• Topgolf gives one free hour of gameplay for up to six people
• Dave & Buster’s offers free unlimited gameplay with valid ID

Groceries and General Retail:

• Publix gives 10% off groceries on November 11
• Food Lion offers 10% off with military ID and MVP card
• Festival Foods hands out up to 17 free grocery items, roughly $60 worth, at all 42 Wisconsin locations
• Walgreens runs 20% off regular-priced merchandise
• Five Below does 10% off from November 9 through 15

The national parks freebie is honestly the sleeper pick. No military ID needed, just show up. Perfect day for a family trip.