National BagelFest Day
July 26
About National BagelFest Day
National BagelFest Day is a celebration of the bagel, the chewy, ring-shaped bread loved at breakfast tables across the world. It falls on 26 July each year, and in 2026 lands on Sunday 26 July, giving bagel fans a reason to enjoy their favourite varieties and toppings while honouring a true festival of the bagel.
How to Celebrate National BagelFest Day
Bagels are wonderfully versatile, so there are endless ways to enjoy the day:
- Enjoy a classic combination – Toast a bagel and top it with cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, and red onion for the timeless favourite.
- Try a new flavour – Branch out with everything, sesame, poppy seed, cinnamon raisin, or a savoury cheese bagel.
- Bake your own – Have a go at making bagels from scratch, boiling the dough before baking for that signature chewy crust.
- Build a bagel bar – Lay out an array of bagels and toppings and let friends and family create their own.
- Visit a local bakery – Support an independent bagel shop and taste the difference a fresh, hand-rolled bagel makes.
- Go sweet or savoury – Experiment with toppings from peanut butter and jam to avocado, egg, or pastrami.
- Host a bagel breakfast – Recreate the spirit of the original event with a free bagel breakfast for friends or colleagues.
- Share your spread – Photograph your bagel creations and tag friends to take part.
What is National BagelFest Day?
National BagelFest Day celebrates the bagel and the festival that grew up around it. The bagel is a dense, chewy bread roll shaped into a ring, traditionally boiled and then baked, and it has become a breakfast and lunch staple in many countries. The day honours both the food and the community celebration it inspired, complete with parades, music, and plenty of bagels. It is observed mainly in the United States.
When is National BagelFest Day?
National BagelFest Day takes place on 26 July every year. In 2026 it falls on Sunday 26 July. The date is fixed, so it always lands on the same day of the month.
The History of National BagelFest Day
National BagelFest Day dates back to 1986 and is closely tied to the town of Mattoon, Illinois. That year the Lender’s Bagels company, long associated with bringing the bagel to a mass American market, opened a bagel factory in Mattoon that multiple sources describe as the largest in the world. The town proudly adopted the title Bagel Capital of the World.
To mark the occasion, Murray Lender, the well known company spokesman and member of the family behind Lender’s Bagels, held a free bagel breakfast for everyone in Mattoon. The first breakfast is believed to have taken place on 26 July, and the celebration stuck. What started as a community breakfast grew into a festival featuring a parade, live music, a Miss Bagelfest contest, and, of course, a great many bagels.
National BagelFest Day continues to honour that origin, celebrating both the humble bagel and the community spirit of the festival that gave the day its name.
Fun Facts About National BagelFest Day
- National BagelFest Day began in 1986 in Mattoon, Illinois.
- Mattoon calls itself the Bagel Capital of the World.
- The celebration was started by Murray Lender of Lender’s Bagels with a free bagel breakfast.
- The festival has grown to include a parade, live music, and a Miss Bagelfest contest.
- Bagels are traditionally boiled before baking, which gives them their distinctive chewy texture.
Why National BagelFest Day Matters
The day celebrates a much loved food and the sense of community that food can create. It is a reminder of how a simple breakfast can bring a town together, and an excuse for bagel lovers everywhere to enjoy their favourite variety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National BagelFest Day?
It is an annual food day celebrating the bagel and the festival that began in Mattoon, Illinois, in 1986.
When is National BagelFest Day in 2026?
It falls on Sunday 26 July 2026, and is observed on 26 July every year.
Where did National BagelFest Day start?
It started in Mattoon, Illinois, in 1986, when Murray Lender held a free bagel breakfast to mark the opening of a major bagel factory in the town.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best bagel creations on social media with #NationalBagelFestDay and #BagelFestDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to build their ultimate bagel. If you love breakfast foods, you might also enjoy National Gingersnap Day.
Related Awareness Days
- National Macaroni Day – Another fixed date food day celebrating a much loved staple.
- National Cheese Day – A day for the cream cheese and other cheeses that top so many bagels.
- National State Fair Food Day – A celebration of indulgent treats falling on the same date.
Links
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