Chick-fil-A is marking a major milestone in 2026 as the fast-food giant celebrates 80 years in business—eight decades of chicken sandwiches, family-friendly service, and a company culture rooted in the Christian convictions of its founder, S. Truett Cathy. To mark the occasion, the chain is offering fans a chance to win one of its biggest customer promotions in history: a free Chick-fil-A for an entire year.

The company announced a year-long nationwide celebration called “Newstalgia,” blending new menu items with a vintage twist designed to honor Chick-fil-A’s past. The campaign includes a line of collectible retro cups available for $3.99 each. The sealed cups hide a throwback design until opened, turning every drink purchase into a small moment of surprise. But some lucky customers will get more than nostalgia—3,000 of the cups are actually “Golden Fan Cups,” redeemable for a prize of free Chick-fil-A for a year.

Each Golden Fan Cup includes a hidden QR code and instructions for claiming the prize, which totals 52 entrées over 12 months. Winners can choose from several customer favorites, including the original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, the spicy sandwich, the grilled chicken sandwich, or Chick-fil-A nuggets. The sweepstakes is running nationwide through July 1, and the specialty cups are being randomly distributed across participating locations.

“This year marks more than an anniversary — it’s a celebration of the memories, meals and meaningful moments that have brought people together at Chick-fil-A for generations,” said Khalilah Cooper, the company’s vice president of brand strategy, advertising and media. “We have so much in store this year… firmly rooted in Chick-fil-A’s renowned quality, care, generosity, and hospitality.”

Chick-fil-A’s story began in 1946, when Truett Cathy opened The Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia. It was there that the now-famous chicken sandwich was conceived, ultimately leading to the opening of the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta in 1967. From a single diner to more than 3,000 restaurant locations across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.K., and Singapore, the company has become one of the most successful family-owned restaurant chains in the world.

The anniversary celebration will also bring new frosted sodas and floats to Chick-fil-A’s permanent menu, inspired by old-fashioned soda fountain drinks and made with the company’s signature Icedream frozen dairy dessert. For a limited time, the original Chick-fil-A sandwich will even be served in retro packaging featuring vintage-style graphics pulled from the brand archives—another nod to the company’s roots.

Chick-fil-A has long distinguished itself not only for its food, but for its founder’s openly Christian values. Truett Cathy, a devout Southern Baptist, famously built the company on biblical principles, including closing on Sundays to honor the Sabbath. Over the years, the chain has weathered cultural backlash for its stance on traditional family values, but it remains one of the most loved—and most profitable—fast-food brands in America.

And this year, thousands of fans may find themselves celebrating with more than nostalgia—possibly with a year’s worth of chicken sandwiches, too.