Americans looking for a free frozen drink have a new summer date to remember. The first National ICEE Day takes place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with free small ICEEs available at more than 1,800 participating locations nationwide.
Walmart Fuel, Krystal, AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Santikos Entertainment and Urban Air Adventure Park are among the businesses taking part. But the rules aren’t identical everywhere: some offers require no purchase, while others involve membership, a movie visit or paid admission.
Where can you get a free ICEE on August 18?
- Walmart Fuel: Get a free small ICEE at participating locations with no purchase necessary, while supplies last.
- Krystal: Participating restaurants are offering a free small ICEE with no purchase required, while supplies last.
- AMC Theatres: AMC Stubs members can register the offer in their account. The offer loads on August 18 and can be applied to a transaction containing a small ICEE. No purchase is necessary, with a limit of one per registered member.
- Regal Cinemas: Join the free Regal Crown Club and see a movie on August 18 to receive a free small ICEE at the concession stand, while supplies last.
- Santikos Entertainment: The first 250 guests at each participating location can receive one free small ICEE.
- Urban Air Adventure Park: A free small ICEE is available with paid admission at participating locations, while supplies last.
Because participation varies by location, customers should verify the offer before making a special trip. ICEE’s official National ICEE Day page provides the latest promotion details and participating-retailer information.
Do you need to buy anything?
Not at every location. Walmart Fuel and Krystal have the simplest offers because no purchase is required at participating locations. AMC also says no purchase is necessary, although customers must be AMC Stubs members and register the offer.
Regal customers need a free Regal Crown Club membership and must see a movie on August 18. Urban Air requires paid admission, while Santikos limits its giveaway to the first 250 guests at each participating location.
Those different conditions are worth checking before leaving home. Similar summer promotions often vary by chain; for example, National Smoothie Day 2026 deals included everything from completely free drinks to loyalty-member offers and purchase requirements.
Is every ICEE location participating?
No. The giveaway applies only to participating locations. A convenience store, movie theater or entertainment venue having an ICEE machine does not automatically mean it is offering a free drink on August 18.
The promotion is also available while supplies last. Customers making a trip specifically for a free ICEE may want to visit earlier in the day. Santikos has a particularly clear limit, with free small ICEEs going to the first 250 guests at each participating location.
Limited availability is common with one-day frozen-treat promotions. During Dairy Queen Free Cone Day 2026, the free small vanilla cone was also restricted to participating locations and offered while supplies lasted.
You can also enter to win an ICEE machine
National ICEE Day includes an ICEE Day Challenge Sweepstakes, with prizes including ICEE merchandise and an At Home ICEE Machine.
Customers can enter by sharing an Instagram or Facebook Story featuring their ICEE on August 18, using #NID2026 and tagging @TheICEECompany. The promotion also includes an additional-entry opportunity connected to ICEE’s official August 18 social-media post.
Participants should check the official sweepstakes rules for eligibility and complete entry requirements. The grand-prize winner is expected to be announced on August 19 through ICEE’s social-media channels.
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Why ICEE and Slurpee share a history
National ICEE Day comes a little more than a month after 7-Eleven’s National Slurpee Day on July 11. The connection between the drinks goes back to Omar Knedlik, who experimented with partly frozen bottled soft drinks while operating a Dairy Queen franchise in Coffeyville, Kansas.
Knedlik’s idea eventually led to the ICEE machine, developed with help from the John E. Mitchell manufacturing firm. 7-Eleven later licensed the frozen beverage and began calling its version Slurpee in 1965.
What to know before going on August 18
ICEE says National ICEE Day is intended to become an annual August tradition. ICEE is part of J&J Snack Foods Corp. (Nasdaq: JJSF), whose portfolio also includes SLUSH PUPPIE, SUPERPRETZEL and Dippin’ Dots.
For customers, the key is checking the rules for the location they plan to visit. Confirm that the outlet is participating, determine whether membership, a movie visit or admission is required, and remember that supplies are limited.
Walmart Fuel and Krystal may be the most straightforward choices for people interested only in the free drink because their participating-location offers require no purchase. AMC customers should register through AMC Stubs, Regal customers need Regal Crown Club membership and a movie visit, Urban Air requires paid admission, and Santikos has its first-250-guests limit.
With the promotion lasting only on August 18 and availability varying by location, checking the details before heading out can help avoid an unnecessary trip.
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