2026 Veterans Day Discounts and Deals: Free Meals, Shopping Savings, and More
Every Veterans Day, businesses across the country recognize military service with free meals, discounts, and other offers for veterans and the military community.
If you’re planning to grab breakfast, take your family out, or save on something your household needs, we want to make those opportunities easier to find.
Below, you’ll find 2026 Veterans Day free meals and discounts, along with year-round military deals you can use beyond November 11.
And this year, we have something new to share: Mission Roll Call’s free Veteran Discount Directory, a searchable resource built from the response to last year’s Veterans Day deals article.
Browse the Veteran Discount Directory →
Before You Go: Veterans Day 2026 Offer Requirements
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Unless otherwise noted, the holiday restaurant offers below are for that date.
Bring proof of service, check the offer’s eligibility requirements, and confirm participation with your local business before heading out. Free meals often come from a limited menu, and beverages, gratuity, and meals for accompanying guests may cost extra.
Some offers include military spouses or family members. Others apply only to veterans and currently serving military members. Online discounts may require verification through a service such as ID.me.
Veterans Day Free Meals and Restaurant Deals
Looking for restaurants offering free food on Veterans Day? These businesses have announced offers for 2026. Local participation and restrictions apply.
Click a restaurant name to view its offer details in a new tab.
On a small screen, swipe across the table to read all three columns.
| Restaurant | Veterans Day offer | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Applebee’s | Free select entrée | Veterans and active duty; dine-in; proof of service. Drinks and gratuity extra. |
| Bob Evans | Free meal from a special menu | Veterans and active duty; dine-in; service ID required. |
| Denny’s | Free Original Grand Slam | Veterans and active duty; 5 a.m.–noon; dine-in; ID required. |
| Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers | Free combo-meal card | Veterans and active duty visiting November 11; redeem through November 25, 2026. |
| Red Lobster | Free Shrimp & Chips | Veterans, active duty, and reservists; dine-in; ID required. |
| Red Robin | Free Red’s Big Tavern Burger and bottomless fries | Veterans and active duty; dine-in; ID required. |
| Starbucks | Free 12-ounce hot or iced brewed coffee | Veterans, service members, and spouses; participating stores. |
| Torchy’s Tacos | Free taco and drink | Veterans and active duty; in-store; proof of service. |
Chili’s Veterans Day Free Meal
Chili’s is offering veterans and active military members a free meal from a select menu on November 11, 2026, at participating restaurants.
The offer is dine-in only. Beverages and gratuity are not included, and it cannot be combined with other offers.
Veterans Day Free Haircuts
Great Clips
Veterans and active military service members can visit a U.S. Great Clips salon on November 11 for a free haircut or a free haircut card to use later.
The cards can be redeemed through December 4, 2026. Nonmilitary customers can also stop by on Veterans Day to pick up a card to give to a veteran or active military service member.
Year-Round Military Discounts on Shopping and Home Improvement
Some savings are available long after Veterans Day. Before making a purchase, check whether a military discount applies and compare it with any other available promotion.
Apple Military and Veteran Discount
Apple’s Veterans and Military Purchase Program offers 10% off eligible products and accessories to current and veteran members of the U.S. military, National Guard, and Reserve.
Immediate family members living in the same household are also eligible. Military or veteran status verification through ID.me is required to begin shopping through the program. Product and payment restrictions apply.
Lowe’s Military Discount
Lowe’s offers enrolled, verified military customers 10% off eligible purchases through its Everyday Military Discount program.
Enrollment and exclusions apply, so check whether the items in your cart qualify before purchasing.
The Home Depot Military Discount
The Home Depot offers eligible active military members, veterans, and spouses 10% off qualifying purchases, with a maximum military discount benefit of $400 per year.
Review the program’s registration requirements and product exclusions before shopping.
Military and Veteran Travel Discounts
Amtrak Veteran Discount
Veterans with valid military veteran identification can receive 10% off the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains.
Restrictions apply, so check your route, fare, and identification requirements before booking.
Amtrak Active-Duty Military Discount
Active-duty U.S. military personnel, their spouses, and dependents may qualify for 10% off the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains, including Auto Train.
Valid active-duty military identification and other program requirements apply.
Explore more savings in the Veteran Discount Directory →
Why We Built the Veteran Discount Directory
The response to last year’s Veterans Day discounts article showed us that people valued having these opportunities in one place. It also raised a simple question: Why stop at Veterans Day? The Veteran Discount Directory, or VDD, brings veteran and military offers into a free, searchable resource you can use throughout the year.
You can browse deals, search for businesses or keywords, and use the available filters to narrow your results. We update the directory’s deals weekly and verify them often. Businesses can change their offers between checks, so always review the current terms before making a purchase or planning a visit.
Learn more about why we built the Veteran Discount Directory and how to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Veterans Day Discounts
What identification do I need for Veterans Day free meals?
Requirements vary by business. Accepted proof may include a military ID, veteran identification card, or other documentation of service. Check with the business before visiting.
Can military spouses and families use these discounts?
Some offers include spouses and dependents; others are limited to the individual veteran or service member. A veteran’s free meal generally does not mean the entire table eats free. Read each offer’s eligibility rules.
Are all Veterans Day offers available on November 11?
No. Some promotions run on another date, span several days, or provide a voucher to redeem later. Check both the date you need to claim an offer and its redemption deadline.
Are veteran discounts available year-round?
Yes. Many businesses offer ongoing military and veteran discounts. The VDD helps you discover offers beyond the Veterans Day holiday.
Does Mission Roll Call charge to use the VDD?
No. The Veteran Discount Directory is free to use. Individual businesses set the terms, verification requirements, and any purchase requirements for their offers.
Start This Veterans Day. Keep Coming Back.
A free meal, a haircut, or a discount on something you already need can make the day a little easier.
Maybe those savings help you take your family out, spend time with friends, or tackle something around the house. That’s the kind of practical value we want this resource to provide.
Thank you for your honorable service. We hope you find something useful here … and share it with someone else who could, too.
Explore Mission Roll Call’s free Veteran Discount Directory →