- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- AppreciationCookingFood
- Where:
- United Kingdom
- Date change rule:
- Every August 20
- Holiday emoji:
- 🥓
National Bacon Lovers Day celebrates the universally adored cured meat every August 20. Indulge in its smoky, savory goodness, whether crispy or chewy, and explore its versatility in countless dishes. Fry up a batch, visit your favorite diner, or experiment with new bacon-infused recipes.
Want to sponsor National Bacon Lovers Day? Learn how
Expected National Bacon Lovers Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows National Bacon Lovers Day brings sizzling deals from major chains. Expect breakfast spots like Denny’s and IHOP to offer discounted bacon sides or bacon-themed entrees. Fast-food giants such as Wendy’s might feature their iconic Baconator at a special price, while McDonald’s and Burger King could roll out limited-time bacon additions to their menus. Grocery stores like Kroger and Walmart often run sales on various bacon brands, including Oscar Mayer and Hormel, making it the perfect time to stock up. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 20 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Bacon Lovers Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalBaconLoversDay. Film a ‘bacon mukbang’ or show off your most creative bacon recipe.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #BaconLoversDay. Share mouth-watering photos or reels of your favorite bacon dishes and pairings.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #BaconDay. Post polls asking followers about their preferred bacon doneness or recipe.
National Bacon Lovers Day Hero
John Harris
History of National Bacon Lovers Day
While bacon has been a part of our diet as a species since 1500 B.C., pigs were domesticated from around 8500 B.C., so for seven thousand years, humans had bacon right under their noses, and didn’t know it. The term ‘bacon’ is used more precisely today than it was until well into the 16th century, before which it referred to any cut of pork. The process of curing bacon for human consumption has also been refined over the centuries but has remained relatively the same. The only difference today is that the standards of hygiene have improved, and the scale of bacon production and consumption has risen astronomically.
Bacon was such a desirable cut of pork that in the 12th century, a church in the English town of Great Dunmow challenged the married men to a wager of sorts. If a man could go a complete year and a day without quarreling with his wife, a side of bacon would be their prize. Thus was the birth of the term “bring home the bacon,” widely used today to describe a person who can take care of their family financially.
Fast forward a couple of centuries to when the industrial revolution takes the pork industry to a completely new level of production. Before then, bacon and other pork products were once produced at home. Most people kept private pigs and regularly slaughtered their stock for consumption. Even in urban environments, it was common for people to keep pigs in their basements. However, in the 1930s, this was stopped. The late 1700s saw the rise of commercial pig farming and bacon production. With rising population rates and an increase in available machinery, bacon was one of the first food items to be mass-produced. It is still widely a household favorite to this day.
National Bacon Lovers Day timeline
At the insistence of Queen Isabella of Castille, Christopher Columbus transports eight pigs to the island of Cuba.
Hernando de Soto offloads 13 pigs in Tampa Bay, and many escape from Spanish activity.
John Harris sets up the first large-scale bacon curing business in the English town of Caine in Wiltshire.
Oscar Mayer, an industry leader in bacon curing and production, is established in the United States.
Hardees adds bacon to their menu as a topping, one of the first fast-food companies to do so.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Bacon Lovers Day
Local businesses can celebrate National Bacon Lovers Day by integrating bacon into their menus or promotions. Restaurants could offer a special ‘Bacon Flight’ featuring different types of bacon or a limited-time bacon-infused dessert. Butcher shops might run a sale on various cuts of bacon or host a tasting event. Even non-food businesses could engage by offering a small bacon-themed treat with purchases or running social media contests asking customers to share their favorite bacon dishes.
National Bacon Lovers Day FAQs
When is National Bacon Lovers Day?
National Bacon Lovers Day 2026 falls on a Thursday, August 20. It’s the perfect mid-week excuse to indulge in crispy, savory strips.
How much bacon do Americans eat?
Americans consume a significant amount of bacon annually, with estimates suggesting over 1.1 billion pounds each year. This makes it a staple in many households.
What is the history of bacon?
Bacon has a rich history dating back to 1500 B.C. in China, where cured pork belly was a common food. The Romans also enjoyed a form of bacon called ‘petaso.’
Is bacon healthy?
While delicious, bacon is high in fat and sodium, and often contains nitrates. It’s best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
National Bacon Lovers Day Activities
Have an English breakfast
It's Bacon Lovers Day, so we have to eat the stuff! Let's not forget where it all started, back bacon with a side of eggs and some pieces of toast, and voila.
Be creative with it
Bacon is one of the most versatile meat there is. It makes everything taste better. Would you like bacon with that olive? Yes, please!
Wrap some bacon, and donate it
Bacon is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat, and it does have decent protein and fat content for a family that might need the calories. Spread a little National Bacon Lovers Day spirit, and give to the less fortunate.
5 Ways Bacon Impacts Our Lives
Living in America
268.04 million Americans consume bacon annually.
It's breakfast meat
Of all the bacon produced in the United States, 70% is consumed at the breakfast table.
That’s a lot of bacon
The amount of bacon produced in America each year exceeds two billion pounds.
We love bacon, it won’t go
In the 1980s, health movements attempted to change the story around bacon, and bacon sales took a hit.
The meaning of the word
Bacon means “meat from the back of an animal.
Why We Love National Bacon Lovers Day
It’s bacon
We don’t care how it's prepared. As long as it's well cooked, we’re in. We just love bacon.
A chance to have a family meal
Breakfast is often had in a rush, and not as a family. On National Bacon Lovers Day, you can enjoy a group morning meal that honors one of our favorite cuts of meat.
Bacon in the office
Any reason to bring bacon to work is a reason to celebrate. Bacon is highly prized, and we can’t wait to share our love for it with our office family.
Social Media Tips for National Bacon Lovers Day
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