Food & Drink

Krispy Kreme is giving away doughnuts — again. How to get a free one & when

Krispy Kreme is inviting fans to celebrate National Doughnut Day, and it won’t cost you a penny.

On Friday, June 5, anyone can get a free doughnut of their choice at participating Krispy Kreme shops nationwide, according to the Charlotte-based doughnut chain. No purchase is required.

A close-up, overhead view displays a large randomized grid of various doughnuts, filling the entire frame. The assortment includes ring doughnuts, shell doughnuts, and several with decorative toppings like chocolate crumbs, cream glaze, and white stripes on a caramel base.
Krispy Kreme fans can snag their favorite doughnut on National Doughnut Day. Krispy Kreme
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“National Doughnut Day is one of our most joyful traditions – a moment to celebrate the doughnuts people love, the guests who inspire us every day and the simple happiness that comes from sharing something sweet,” Alison Holder, chief brand and product officer at Krispy Kreme, said in a news release.

First celebrated by the Salvation Army in 1938, the first National Doughnut Day was a fundraiser to benefit those impacted during the Great Depression, according to the organization’s website.

“Donut lassies” also served the sweet pastries to World War I soldiers, the Salvation Army said.

Krispy Kreme fans will have more than a few options to pick from. Last fall, the brand added nine new doughnut flavors to its lineup, including New York Cheesecake, Cinnamon Apple Filled and Original Glazed Cake, CharlotteFive previously reported.

A street-level roadside sign for Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on a cloudy day. The top portion features the classic retro green bowtie-shaped sign with red cursive text reading “Krispy Kreme” above a green bar that reads “DOUGHNUTS” in white capital letters. The sign is mounted on a low, white brick base. Set into the center of the brick base is the circular “Hot Light” neon sign, which is illuminated in bright red and reads “HOT Krispy Kreme ORIGINAL GLAZED NOW”. Green grass sits in the foreground, and a dense green hedge with a few pink flowers lines the background.
The illuminated Hot Light sign at the Krispy Kreme on Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte. Evan Moore CharlotteFive

The National Doughnut Day deal comes with a few restrictions, however.

Free doughnuts are limited to one per person, and will be available in-shop and the drive-thru only, Krispy Kreme said.

Limited-time and seasonal treats — like the banana pudding doughnut and new “Masters of the Universe”- themed doughnut collection — are excluded from the offer, along with the Original Glazed cinnamon rolls.

Find your nearest Krispy Kreme shop here.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Krispy Kreme is giving away doughnuts — again. How to get a free one & when."

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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