Dairy Queen Holiday Menu 2026: Holiday Blizzards, Deals and Dates
The Dairy Queen holiday menu for 2026 is official. On October 26, DQ announced its new Holiday Cookie Swap Blizzard Treat Collection, which runs from November 2 through January 3 at participating US stores. It brings one brand-new Blizzard, one returning favorite and a few holiday deals worth planning around. Here is everything on it, with the dates and fine print in one place.
We built this page from Dairy Queen’s own announcement and checked it against news coverage from the same week. If a detail is only a rumor, we say so. We will update it as stores add or drop items through the season.
Holiday menu 2026 at a glance
Announced Oct 26, 2026
What Is on DQ’s Holiday Menu This Year?
The heart of the 2026 lineup is the Holiday Cookie Swap Blizzard Treat Collection. The name fits the idea: each Blizzard takes its cue from a classic holiday cookie or candy. Two flavors are in the collection, and both are available for the full holiday run. Here is the full lineup at a glance:
| Item | Type | What’s in it | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut Butter Blossom Blizzard | New Blizzard | HERSHEY’S MINI KISSES, cookie pieces and peanut butter topping blended into vanilla soft serve | Nov 2 – Jan 3 |
| Peppermint Bark Blizzard | Returning Blizzard | Milk and white chocolatey layers with peppermint candy cane pieces in vanilla soft serve | Nov 2 – Jan 3 |
| Friendsgiving cupcake deal | Treat deal | Two DQ cupcakes for $6 | Nov 2 – Nov 29 |
| $2 Blizzard upgrade | Meal deal add-on | Swap the Meal Deal sundae for any Blizzard for $2 | Limited time |
| Mystery Blizzard Buddy keychain | Collectible | Plush keychain for $4 with any purchase | While supplies last |
Everything on this list is limited time and at participating stores only. Since most Dairy Queen restaurants are independently owned, a few may start late or sell out early. If one item matters to you, check the DQ app for your store before you drive over.
The 2026 Holiday Blizzards
Blizzard fans get one new flavor and one comeback this season. Both are priced like any other Blizzard of the same size, so a Small should cost about what a Small OREO Blizzard does at your store. You can compare sizes on our Blizzard menu.
Peanut Butter Blossom Blizzard (new)
This is the headline flavor, and it comes from a new team-up between Dairy Queen and HERSHEY’S. DQ blends HERSHEY’S MINI KISSES with cookie pieces and peanut butter topping into vanilla soft serve. If you grew up with peanut butter blossom cookies on the holiday tray, the idea will click right away. Expect it to be the flavor everyone talks about this year.
Peppermint Bark Blizzard (returning)
Peppermint Bark first joined DQ’s holiday lineup in 2025, when it was the Blizzard of the Month for November. It mixes layers of milk and white chocolatey pieces with crushed peppermint candy cane bits. Fans asked for it back, and it returns for the whole 2026 season. It is the pick if you want something cool and minty after a heavy holiday meal.
Is the Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard coming back?
Not as part of the official 2026 collection. DQ’s announcement names only Peanut Butter Blossom and Peppermint Bark. The Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard was December’s Blizzard of the Month in 2025, and fans online keep asking about it. We will add it here if Dairy Queen brings it back later in the season.
When Does the Dairy Queen Holiday Menu Come Out?
For 2026, the holiday menu starts on November 2 and runs through January 3. That is a little later than last year, when the 2025 lineup was already on menu boards by late October. This year, the Halloween Spellbound Series keeps the October treats on the menu through November 1, and the holiday collection takes over the next day.
Here is how the last two seasons compare:
| Season | Holiday Blizzards | Other holiday items | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Peanut Butter Blossom (new), Peppermint Bark (returning) | Friendsgiving cupcake deal, $2 Blizzard upgrade, Blizzard Buddy keychains | Nov 2 – Jan 3 |
| 2025 | Peppermint Bark (new, November), Frosted Sugar Cookie (returning, December) | Holiday Nog Shake | Late October through December |
The pattern is clear enough to plan around. DQ tends to announce the holiday lineup in late October, and the treats stay until the first days of January. After that, the winter Blizzard of the Month takes over, which you can follow on our Blizzard of the Month page.
Dairy Queen Holiday Deals for 2026
The deals are where the 2026 holiday menu gets interesting, because two of them can save real money on a family run. Read the conditions, though. One of the main deals needs a free DQ Rewards account, and stores that are not participating will not honor it.
How does the $2 Blizzard upgrade work?
For a limited time, you can swap the sundae in the Meal Deal for any Blizzard, including the two holiday flavors, for $2 more. Dairy Queen lists the Meal Deal at $8 in this promotion, with Chicken Strips or an Original Cheeseburger, regular fries, a drink and a dessert. You need a DQ Rewards account to get the offer, and DQ says new deals can take up to 24 hours to show up after you sign up. You can join in the official DQ app on Google Play or the Apple App Store.
What is the Friendsgiving cupcake deal?
From November 2 to November 29, you can get two DQ cupcakes for $6. It is aimed at Friendsgiving dinners, but it works for any small party or dessert run. Since they are ice cream treats, keep them in the freezer until you serve them. Our DQ cupcakes guide covers flavors and how to order.
What are Mystery Blizzard Buddy keychains?
They are plush keychains sold for $4 with any purchase, packed in mystery bags so you do not know which one you will get. There are five designs, and the rare gold one, called Goldie, comes with a prize of a year of Blizzards. They are a fun stocking stuffer for kids who love DQ. Supplies are limited at each store.
Holiday Cakes, Shakes and Gift Ideas
The official 2026 announcement focuses on Blizzards and deals. DQ ice cream cakes are still a holiday favorite, and many stores offer festive designs for Christmas and New Year parties. Custom cakes need advance notice, so order a few days early in December. Our Dairy Queen ice cream cake guide explains sizes and ordering.
Last year, DQ also sold a Holiday Nog Shake, a nog-flavored shake topped with whipped cream and nutmeg. It is not part of the 2026 announcement, so do not count on it yet. If it returns, it will show up on our shakes and ice cream menu. For an easy gift, DQ gift cards work at participating stores all year.
Is Dairy Queen Open on Christmas?
Most Dairy Queen stores close on Christmas Day, and many close early on Christmas Eve. Because each store sets its own schedule, holiday hours can change from one town to the next. Check your store in the DQ app, or see our full guide to Dairy Queen hours for typical holiday times.
If you want a holiday Blizzard on a specific day, check your store’s hours a day or two ahead. The holiday collection ends on January 3, so the first days of January are your last chance. After that, the winter lineup takes over.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Dairy Queen holiday menu start in 2026?
It starts on November 2, 2026 and runs through January 3 at participating US stores. Some stores may start late or sell out early.
What are the Dairy Queen holiday Blizzards for 2026?
The Holiday Cookie Swap Blizzard Treat Collection has two flavors: the new Peanut Butter Blossom Blizzard made with HERSHEY’S MINI KISSES, and the returning Peppermint Bark Blizzard.
How much do the holiday Blizzards cost?
They cost the same as other Blizzards of the same size at your store. You can also add one to the Meal Deal for $2 in place of the sundae, with a DQ Rewards account.
Is the Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard back for 2026?
It is not part of DQ’s official 2026 holiday collection. It was the December 2025 Blizzard of the Month, and we will update this page if it returns.
Do I need the DQ app for the holiday deals?
For the $2 Blizzard upgrade on the Meal Deal, you need a DQ Rewards account, which you can create in the DQ app or on dairyqueen.com. The Friendsgiving cupcake deal runs from November 2 to November 29 at participating stores.
Is Dairy Queen open on Christmas Day?
Most stores are closed on Christmas Day, and many close early on Christmas Eve. Check your local store’s hours in the DQ app.
Final Thoughts
This year’s Dairy Queen holiday menu is short but well planned: one new Blizzard that is easy to love, one comeback flavor and a couple of deals that actually save money. If you only try one thing, make it the Peanut Butter Blossom, and add it to a Meal Deal for $2 if you are getting food anyway. Grab the cupcake deal before November 29. We will keep this page updated through January 3 as stores change their menus.