Teacher Appreciation Week is back for 2026 (May 4–8), and it’s basically the one time of year when restaurants, stores, and brands go all out for educators.
We’re talking free meals, surprise treats, classroom discounts, and a whole bunch of limited-time perks that can seriously add up over just a few days.
To save you the scrolling (and the guessing), we’ve pulled everything into one easy, skimmable list. Whether you’re a teacher looking to grab a quick free lunch or a school staff member trying to stretch your budget a little further this week, this is your go-to roundup.
Just a quick note: most deals require a valid school ID and may vary by location, so it’s always worth checking before you head out.
Now let’s get into the good stuff.
Free Food, Meals & Treats
- Applebee’s – Free dessert (select items) May 4–8 + BOGO entrée voucher for later use
- Aroma Joe’s – Free 24 oz drink with teacher ID
- Atomic Wings – Free snack wings (May 5)
- Burger King – Free Whopper Jr. with $1 purchase (May 6, select locations)
- Chick-fil-A – Varies by location (free sandwich, nuggets, or breakfast items)
- Chipotle – 100,000 teachers win free burrito e-card (enter giveaway)
- Dog Haus – 20% off dine-in
- Eddie Merlot’s – Free dessert with entrée
- Einstein Bros. Bagels – Free bagel & shmear (May 6)
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard – Free mini sundae
- Happy Joe’s – Free cheese stix with pizza purchase (May 5)
- Huddle House – Free meal (select menu, varies by location)
- Insomnia Cookies – BOGO cookie deal for rewards members
- Krystal – 50% off breakfast combos
- McAlister’s Deli – Free tea (select locations)
- McDonald’s – Free coffee/breakfast (varies by franchise)
- Peet’s Coffee – Free drink (May 5)
- Potbelly – Free cookie or fountain drink with entrée
- Shake Shack – Free ShackBurger or Veggie Shack with purchase
- Shipley Do-Nuts – Free half-dozen donuts (select promos)
- Sonic – Teacher rewards via “Teachers’ Circle” app
- Starbucks – Free coffee (select locations, varies)
- TGI Fridays – Free entrée (May 5)
- The Greene Turtle – Free meal up to $15 (May 5)
- Whataburger – Free breakfast entrée (5–9 AM, select day)
- Which Wich – In-store teacher discount (May 5)
Food Discounts & Deals
- Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar – $4 margaritas + happy hour deals
- Buffalo Wild Wings – ~20% off (varies by location)
- Capriotti’s – 20% off in-store orders
- Cracker Barrel / Grimaldi’s / Via 313 / Grimaldi’s Pizza – 15% off
- Freebirds World Burrito – BOGO burritos + catering discount code
- Hash Kitchen – 20% off dine-in/takeout
- HTeaO – 50% off tea drinks
- Logan’s Roadhouse – Discounted gift card promo
- Noodles & Co. – Catering discount (code: APPRECIATION2026)
- Original ChopShop – 10% off meals
- Sullivan’s Steakhouse – Free dessert with entrée
- Texas Roadhouse – 10% off bill (select locations)
Retail, Classroom & Office Supplies
- Blick Art Supplies – Teacher discounts + lesson plans
- Books-A-Million – 20% off educator card
- Crayola – 20% off select products
- Half Price Books – 10% educator discount
- Joann – 15% teacher discount
- Office Depot/Max – 30% back in rewards
- Staples – 20% off + free supply kits (limited stock)
- Target – 10% educator discount (school supplies)
Digital Tools & Free Subscriptions
- Canva for Education – Always free
- Headspace – Free educator subscription
- Loom for Education – Free video tools
- Microsoft 365 Education – Free access via school email
- WeAreTeachers – Free printable resources
Tech, Fashion & Lifestyle Discounts
- Adidas – Up to 30% off
- Apple Education Store – Up to $200 off devices
- AT&T – Teacher wireless discounts
- Crocs – 15% off
- Samsung – Up to 30% off education pricing
- Reebok – Up to 50% off
- Tarte Cosmetics – 40% off
- Vineyard Vines – 15% off
- New Balance – 15% off
- Ray-Ban – 15% off
- LOFT / J.Crew / Ann Taylor – ~15% educator discounts
Scholastic Teacher Appreciation 2026 Giveaway
- Scholastic eGift Card Giveaway – 1,000 teachers will receive $200 eGift Cards (James Patterson partnership)
Scholastic Store Discounts
Use code TEACHERS:
- $5 off $50+
- $20 off $100+
- $35 off $150+
- $50 off $200+
ClassroomsCount™ Bonus Offers
Raise $250+ to unlock:
- 15% off Book Clubs
- Extra 10% off Teacher Store
- 10% off Magazines+ subscription
Expected / Unconfirmed 2026 Offers (Watch List)
These have appeared in past years and may return:
- Starbucks – Free coffee (select stores)
- Subway / Pizza Hut – local franchise deals
- Barnes & Noble – 20–25% educator discount
- Michaels – classroom supply savings
Pro Tip: Most deals vary by location and require a valid teacher ID or school email, so it’s always worth checking ahead before visiting.
We Appreciate You
And that’s your full roundup of Teacher Appreciation Week 2026 deals and freebies. It’s a short week, but there’s a lot packed into it, like free food, discounted meals, classroom savings, and a few surprises depending on where you are.
If you’re a teacher or school staff member, hopefully this helps you make the most of it (and maybe even treat yourself a little along the way, because you’ve earned it).
We’ll keep updating this list as more deals get confirmed, so feel free to bookmark it or check back during the week for new additions.
And to all the educators out there: thank you for everything you do.
Post expires at 11:59pm on Sunday May 10th, 2026
