Chick-fil-A turns 80 years old this year, and the popular — and sometimes controversial — fried chicken chain is celebrating all year long.
Its first promotion was just announced, and it includes a chance to win free chicken for a year. We’re all about free stuff, but like most fast-food freebies, this one comes with a catch: You have to purchase a stupid plastic commemorative cup just for a chance at winning.
Or do you? We’ve read the sweepstakes fine print so you don’t have to. Here’s what you need to know about Chick-fil-A’s new contest, and how to enter without paying $4 for the privilege.
What’s the Sweepstakes?
To commemorate its birthday, Chick-fil-A is releasing collectible cups. There are four different versions, each with a different retro design that harkens back to a period in the chain’s history.
Unlike those retro McDonald’s glass collectible cups of the ‘80s and ‘90s, though, these are plastic. And while the chain calls them reusable, technically you can’t reuse them in the restaurant to get a discounted drink, or just cut down on waste if you go to Chick-fil-A often. That means it’ll probably end up being your potting soil scoop in the garden or a bath toy for your kid before it gets tossed.
Each cup costs $4, which is about four bucks too many if you ask us, even for the cutest one with the little lemon chick doodles. If you buy one, you have a chance at getting one of the special golden cups — yes, like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket — that will score you free chicken sandwiches or nuggets for 52 weeks.
The cups all come in opaque packages, and 3,000 of the golden winning cups are distributed throughout them nationwide. So it’s a sort of random chance drawing, except you have to buy some junk to enter.
Some people are likening it to Pokemon card packages, like this guy on TikTok who spent $20 on the cups immediately. He even does calculations based on spending $300 on these cups compared to what you’d spend if you ate at CFA every week. That’s absolutely crazy.
How Do You Enter for Free?
Luckily for Americans, there’s a law regarding contests that results in that “no purchase necessary” disclaimer you see in tiny print at the bottom of TV commercials and websites.
“Sweepstakes-type promotions that require a purchase by participants are illegal in the United States,” according to the Federal Trade Commission. That means every fast-food contest, including this Chick-fil-A golden cup one, must have a way to enter for free.
In this case, we looked up the alternate way to enter on Chick-fil-A’s website. You just need to write your name, address, and some other info on a piece of paper and mail it to a P.O. Box in Michigan by the end of the contest on July 1, 2026. Sure, you’ve still got to pay for a stamp, but at least that’s cheaper than a crappy $4 cup.
What Else Is Chick-fil-A Doing for Its Birthday?
Chick-fil-A is going to be celebrating 80 years in business all year long, according to a press release. Besides the collectible cups and free chicken for a year sweepstakes, the chain brought back retro design packaging and will be releasing new merch and stuffed plush cows throughout the year.
The best thing so far, though, is that the chain has added two new types of drinks to its permanent menu. They’re jumping on the dirty soda bandwagon a little with frosted sodas and floats.
Frosted sodas blend the chain’s soft serve with your choice of fountain soda for a shake-like creation. Floats are, well, floats — you know what they are. But they both sound pretty good with orange Fanta or Coke, if you ask us.
More From Cheapism
- Chick-fil-A Testing New Chicken and Waffle Sandwich, and the First Reviews Are In — Chick-fil-A is testing a brand new item, and we’re wondering why the chain hasn’t had the iconic food duo on its menu before now.
- Chick-fil-A’s New Daybright Restaurant Is Open — Check out the menu and first reviews.
- The 9 Worst Things on Chick-fil-A’s Menu — From employee warnings to registered dieticians’ insights, here are the worst Chick-fil-a menu items you’ll probably want to forego next time you choose to “eat mor chikin.”
