- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- CandyChocolateDessert
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every October 13
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍫
National M&M Day lights up October 13, honoring the beloved chocolate candies that have delighted generations since 1941. Get ready to celebrate this colorful confectionery by stocking up on your favorite varieties, baking M&M-filled treats, or simply enjoying a handful straight from the bag. Share your M&M’s love with friends and family!
Want to sponsor National M&M Day? Learn how
National M&M Day timeline
After seeing soldiers carry Smarties — chocolate pellets protected by a shell to keep them from melting —during the Spanish Civil War, Forrest Mars Sr., son of the Mars Company founder, pitched the idea of the candy we know today as M&M’s.
Forrest Mars Sr. started producing M&M’s at a factory in New Jersey
The popular M&M tagline, "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” was released.
A black “M” is printed onto M&M’s to give them a unique look — it was changed to a white “M” in 1954.
M&M’s went on sale in Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.
National M&M Day FAQs
When is National M&M Day?
National M&M Day 2026 falls on Tuesday, October 13, inviting everyone to enjoy the iconic chocolate candies. It’s the perfect mid-week treat to brighten your day.
What does M&M stand for?
M&M stands for ‘Mars & Murrie,’ referring to Forrest Mars Sr., the founder of Mars, Inc., and Bruce Murrie, the son of Hershey’s president William Murrie. Their partnership in the early 1940s led to the creation of the famous candy-coated chocolates.
How many M&M's colors are there?
While the original M&M’s came in brown, yellow, orange, red, green, and violet, the current standard mix includes red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and brown. Over the years, many limited-edition and specialty colors have also been introduced, making the total number quite extensive.
Are M&M's sold in other countries?
Yes, M&M’s are a globally recognized brand, sold in over 100 countries worldwide, with variations in flavors and packaging specific to different regions. This widespread availability makes them one of the most popular chocolate candies internationally.
National M&M Day Activities
Have an M&M inspired bake sale
Bake sales are always great because they get everyone involved in the celebration and they raise money for a cause. So celebrate National M&M Day by inviting friends and family to join you in a bake sale — the only catch is that they have to incorporate M&M’s into whatever item they make.
Host a sweet party
Now, we don’t mean sweet as in “rad” or “cool” (although we’re sure it will be), but when we say sweet, we mean foods, snacks, and drinks that’ll satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. For instance, you can serve M&M brownies, cookies, cupcakes, smoothies, and cocktails!
Don the color of your favorite M&M
We’ve all seen the commercials: the smart, know-it-all red one, the dumb but kindhearted yellow one, the sassy, sultry green one. Odds are, there’s an M&M you connect with most, so on National M&M Day, celebrate by rocking a yellow tie, a red shirt, or a green scarf — whatever helps you get in touch with your inner M&M.
5 Magical & Marvelous M&M's Facts
Orange once replaced red
The company stopped making red M&M’s for 10 years because researchers linked the red dye amaranth to cancer (even though red M&M’s didn’t — and still don’t — contain this type of red dye); they picked orange as the replacement.
Cardboard tubes came first
Today, we associate a tube of M&M’s with mini M&M’s, but back in the day, the original packaging of all M&M’s was a cardboard tube.
The “M’s” stand for the owners
Forrest Mars Sr., of the Mars candy company, struck a deal with Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey president William Murrie, to develop a hard-shelled candy with chocolate at the center.
Fans voted to replace tan M&M’s with blue
Mars eventually decided that having tan and brown M&M’s was silly — and that tan candy was a bit underwhelming — so they had fans choose between blue, pink or purple as the color to replace tan M&M’s; obviously, blue was the winner.
Astronauts love M&M’s
That’s right, because of how easy they are to eat, M&M’s are the most consumed chocolate in outer space.
Why We Love National M&M Day
It’s an excuse to have a sweet treat
Not that you need permission to indulge on chocolatey goodness — but still. Go ahead, take full advantage of National M&M Day. The big question: How many will you have?
Because they melt in your mouth, not in your hand — need we say more?
As their famous tagline suggests, M&M’s won’t melt in your hand — making them a perfect treat for kids (and any adults who have a million things to do and can’t inhale their M&M’s in a matter of seconds). So celebrate this candy staple — and one that has saved you from being a chocolatey mess.
There’s a flavor — and a color — for all of us
Milk chocolate and dark. Salty caramel and mint. Let's not forget peanuts. Plus, like race cars, they come in a variety of custom colors. So on National M&M Day, celebrate the candy that has something for everyone.
National M&M Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | October 13 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | October 13 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | October 13 | Friday |
| 2029 | October 13 | Saturday |
| 2030 | October 13 | Sunday |
