National Banana Split Day – Aug. 25, 2026

National Banana Split Day
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Food
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United States
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Every August 25
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National Banana Split Day celebrates this iconic dessert every August 25. Dive into layers of creamy ice cream, fresh bananas, and luscious toppings. Gather your friends and family to create your own masterpiece or visit a favorite parlor for a nostalgic treat!

Want to sponsor National Banana Split Day? Learn how

Expected National Banana Split Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that ice cream parlors and dessert chains often roll out special offers for National Banana Split Day. Expect deals from places like Dairy Queen, known for its Blizzards and sundaes, potentially offering discounts on their banana splits or similar treats. Baskin-Robbins might feature a special flavor or a buy-one-get-one deal on their classic splits. Local ice cream shops and diners are also prime spots for unique, limited-time banana split creations. Keep an eye on social media from brands like Cold Stone Creamery and Marble Slab Creamery for potential custom creations. Even grocery stores like Kroger or Walmart might run sales on ice cream, bananas, and toppings from brands like Smucker’s or Hershey’s, encouraging at-home celebrations. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as August 25 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Banana Split Day

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #BananaSplitDay. Film a ‘make your own banana split’ challenge or review different parlor versions.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalBananaSplitDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your favorite banana splits or creative variations.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #BananaSplit. Organize a virtual banana split party or share local ice cream shop recommendations.

Social Media Tips for National Banana Split Day

Individuals

Visit your favorite ice cream parlor or gather ingredients to build an epic banana split at home. Experiment with different ice cream flavors and toppings beyond the traditional.

Creators

Create a 'banana split taste test' video, comparing different brands of ice cream or toppings. Share your ultimate banana split recipe or a tutorial for making a gourmet version.

Brands

Run a 'build your own banana split' contest, encouraging customers to share their creations for a chance to win prizes. Partner with a local charity and donate a portion of banana split sales.

Top Brands for National Banana Split Day

  1. Dairy Queen

    Founded in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, Dairy Queen is a global chain of soft-serve ice cream and fast-food restaurants. They are known for their classic sundaes, including banana splits, and their iconic Blizzard treats.

  2. Baskin-Robbins

    Established in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in Glendale, California, Baskin-Robbins is the world's largest chain of ice cream specialty stores. They offer a vast array of flavors and are a popular spot for custom ice cream desserts like banana splits.

  3. Cold Stone Creamery

    Founded in 1988 in Tempe, Arizona, Cold Stone Creamery is famous for its super-premium ice cream, which is made fresh in-store. They allow customers to customize their desserts with mix-ins on a frozen granite stone, perfect for a personalized banana split.

  4. Ben & Jerry's

    Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings Inc., founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont, is known for its socially conscious mission and unique ice cream flavors. While not a parlor chain, their wide range of ice cream is perfect for crafting homemade banana splits.

  5. Dole Food Company

    Founded in Hawaii in 1851 as the Hawaiian Pineapple Company, Dole is one of the world's largest producers and marketers of fresh fruit and vegetables. Their fresh, ripe bananas are an essential ingredient for any classic banana split.

  6. Hershey's

    The Hershey Company, founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894, is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world. Their iconic chocolate syrup and various candy toppings are staples for any decadent banana split.

  7. Smucker's

    The J.M. Smucker Company, founded in 1897 in Orrville, Ohio, is a leading North American manufacturer of fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, and other food products. Their wide variety of syrups, fudge, and whipped toppings are perfect for dressing up a banana split.

National Banana Split Day Hero

David Evans Strickler

David Evans Strickler, a pharmacist's apprentice in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, is credited with inventing the banana split in 1904. While working at Tassell Pharmacy, he enjoyed experimenting with new soda fountain sundaes. His creation, featuring a banana split lengthwise and topped with ice cream and various sauces, quickly became a sensation, especially among college students who were willing to pay double the price of a regular sundae for the novel treat. Strickler's innovative spirit brought one of America's most beloved desserts to life.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Banana Split Day

Local ice cream parlors and diners can celebrate National Banana Split Day by offering special discounts or limited-edition banana split flavors. Restaurants might feature a gourmet banana split on their dessert menu for the day. Grocery stores can create eye-catching displays of bananas, ice cream, and toppings, perhaps even hosting a ‘build-your-own-split’ kit promotion. Coffee shops could introduce banana split-inspired lattes or milkshakes. Even non-food businesses could offer a small banana-themed treat to customers, or host an employee banana split bar to boost morale.

National Banana Split Day FAQs

When is National Banana Split Day?

National Banana Split Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, August 25. It’s the perfect mid-week treat to break up the routine with a sweet indulgence.

Who invented the banana split?

The banana split was invented in 1904 by David Evans Strickler, a pharmacist’s apprentice in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. His creative dessert quickly became a local sensation.

What are the traditional ingredients of a banana split?

A classic banana split typically features a banana sliced lengthwise, three scoops of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry), topped with pineapple, chocolate, and strawberry sauces, whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a maraschino cherry.

Is the banana split still popular today?

Yes, the banana split remains a beloved dessert, cherished for its nostalgic appeal and customizable nature. Its enduring popularity ensures it’s a staple on many dessert menus.

National Banana Split Day Activities

  1. Dig in!

    The best thing you can do to celebrate a banana split is to enjoy it with some friends. Grab some spoons and battle your way to the last fudgy, banana-filled bite!

  2. Get creative with your bananas

    Use this day to up your banana split game with creative ways to cook the bananas. Fry them up and dust them with cinnamon and sugar, caramelize them like Bananas Foster, freeze them and dip them in chocolate — you'll go bananas for these new flavor combinations!

  3. Transform your banana split

    Gather all the tasty ingredients you want in your banana split and throw them in a blender. In seconds, you'll blend your way to a frosty treat that's good until the very last drop!

Why We Love National Banana Split Day

  1. It's the perfect shareable dessert

    Usually served with 3 scoops of ice cream, fudge, whipped cream, a banana split in half, and a cherry, this dessert is the perfect family-style dessert.

  2. You have so many choices

    Choose your ice cream flavors and toppings. Drizzle different chocolates on top and slice your bananas in different ways. This dessert offers endless flavor combos so you can adapt banana splits to your own, unique (and finicky) tastes.

  3. It's an old-school dessert

    For decades, banana splits have been a family favorite in ice cream parlors and soda fountains across America. Maybe it's because banana splits rekindle that childhood nostalgia, helping us find the joy in simple, old-fashioned things like ice cream, fudge, and bananas.

National Banana Split Day dates

Year Date Day
2026 August 25 Tuesday
2027 August 25 Wednesday
2028 August 25 Friday
2029 August 25 Saturday
2030 August 25 Sunday