National Cotton Candy Day 2026
Pull a cloud of spun sugar on National Cotton Candy Day! December 7 is a common U.S. food-calendar date for cotton candy (fairy floss) — carnival sugar spun into threads.
About National Cotton Candy Day
History & origins
National Cotton Candy Day is commonly listed on December 7. It is an informal U.S. food observance, and the exact founder is unclear. Cotton candy is spun sugar. Machine-spun cotton candy was popularized in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries; William Morrison and John C. Wharton introduced an electric cotton candy machine around the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair era (often cited in U.S. food histories).
Also called fairy floss in some English-speaking countries.
Why it matters
It is a fun, searchable sweet with a clear carnival story.
How to celebrate
Buy cotton candy at a market or make it if you have a machine. Compare flavors. Share a bag at a winter fair if one is nearby.
Facts
- December 7 is a common U.S. date for National Cotton Candy Day
- Cotton candy is spun sugar
- Electric cotton candy machines were popularized in the U.S. around the early 1900s
- It is also called fairy floss in some countries
- The food-day founder is unclear
Upcoming dates
- Monday, December 7, 2026
- Tuesday, December 7, 2027
- Thursday, December 7, 2028
- Friday, December 7, 2029
- Saturday, December 7, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is National Cotton Candy Day in 2026?
National Cotton Candy Day in 2026 falls on Monday, December 7, 2026.
Is today National Cotton Candy Day?
No. National Cotton Candy Day in 2026 falls on Monday, December 7, 2026, not today.
What is cotton candy?
Spun sugar formed into airy threads.
Who started the day?
The exact founder is unclear.
Who invented cotton candy machines?
U.S. food histories often cite William Morrison and John C. Wharton and the early-1900s fair circuit.
How do you celebrate?
Eat a bag of spun sugar and keep napkins handy.
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