Marketing

National Taco Day moves thanks to Taco Bell's efforts

Photo: Taco Bell

September 18, 2024

National Taco Day is moving thanks to efforts by Taco Bell. The day, recognized by the National Day Calendar, has been moved from Friday, Oct. 4 to the first Tuesday in October, effectively allowing brands to market "Taco Tuesday" to guests, according to a press release.

The change is effective this year.

"For years, we've celebrated National Taco Day on Oct. 4th, but it's always felt like there was a bigger opportunity to align it with something even more special — Taco Tuesday," Marlo Anderson, founder of National Day Calendar, said in the press release. "Thanks to Taco Bell's efforts, we're excited to officially move National Taco Day to the first Tuesday in October, creating the Taco Tuesday of all Taco Tuesdays. National Day Calendar has always thrived on the grassroots support of people who love celebrating these moments, and this change is a perfect example of that. It's more than just moving a date — it's about bringing taco lovers together in a bigger way, and we couldn't be more excited!"

This isn't Taco Bell's first foray in taking bold actions in the name of Taco Tuesday lovers. The brand has a storied history dating back to early last year, when it filed legal petitions on May 16, 2023 to cancel the trademark registrations for use by all parties. After six months, the phrase was officially liberated on Oct. 24, 2023 in all 50 states.

"When we liberated Taco Tuesday last year, we did it for all who make, sell, eat and celebrate tacos; but we couldn't just stop there," Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell's CMO, said in the press release. "With National Taco Day coming up, it felt unnatural for it to not fall on a Tuesday, and as some of the biggest advocates of Taco Tuesday out there, we knew we had to help shift the holiday permanently to give taco makers and lovers the opportunity to celebrate bigger and better every year."