TACO BELL® AND DUOLINGO TAKE NATIONAL TACO DAY GLOBAL, UNITING FANS AROUND ONE WORD THE WORLD ALREADY SPEAKS: TACO

This October 6, Taco Bell is taking its annual National Taco Day celebration worldwide, teaming up with Duolingo to officially declare it Global Taco Day, introducing an all-new Duo Habanero Sauce, taco-fueled language lessons and surprise appearances.

• Going Global: Taco Bell and Duolingo are taking National Taco Day global for the first time. This October 6, they're bringing fans around the world together to celebrate Global Taco Day, inspired by the word that practically translates itself across 30+ languages: taco.
• Meet Duo Habanero Sauce: An all-new, limited-edition sauce that pairs a bright, tangy flavor with a kick of fruity habanero heat and turns Taco Bell's iconic packets into bite-sized language lessons, with taco wisdoms in nine languages. Duo Habanero sauce is free in the U.S. with any Doritos® Locos Tacos order and in participating restaurants globally (limit 1 per qualifying item). Fans in select international markets can also score free Duo Habanero Sauce through local Global Taco Day offers, with availability varying by market, while supplies last.
• Taco Bell x Duolingo assets can be found HERE.

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Turns out, "taco" needs no translation. The word remains nearly the same across more than 30 languages, a common thread, all for the love of tacos. Spanish? Taco. French? Taco. German? Taco. Japanese? タコス (Takosu). Hindi? टैको (Taiko). This National Global Taco Day, October 6, Taco Bell and Duolingo are putting that universal language to work, taking the annual celebration global for the first time ever and calling on taco fans around the world to go all out in the name of taco.

Global Taco Day kicks off with an all-new, limited-edition Duo Habanero Sauce, taco-fueled language lessons, and plenty of Duo-fueled fun, including a Duolingo x Taco Bell restaurant takeover in New York City and fans may see Duo in surprising places around the world.

"National Taco Day is about more than just food. It's about the shared love of tacos and the connections they create between people. This year, we're taking that love global," said Luis Restrepo, Chief Marketing Officer, Taco Bell North America. "The fact that 'taco' is understood in more than 30 languages proves just how universal it is, and together with Duolingo, we're turning that shared language into an invitation for even more fans to join the Global Taco Day celebration."

Duo Enters His Habanero Era
Introducing Duo Habanero Sauce, an all-new, limited-time sauce created exclusively for the Taco Bell x Duolingo collaboration. Bright and tangy with fruity notes and a kick of habanero heat, the sauce delivers a vibrant balance of flavor and spice that builds with every bite. Bold enough to match its namesake, Duo Habanero isn't one to go unnoticed.

And because no Taco Bell sauce packet is complete without a little wisdom, Duo Habanero is getting multilingual. The limited-edition packets bring Duo's language-learning world to Taco Bell's iconic sauce wisdoms with taco-inspired sayings across nine languages, including English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Portuguese, German, Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese. Internationally, packet assortments will reflect the native language and some of the most popular languages Duolingo users are learning in each participating market. Every packet is a reminder that the love of tacos is universal.

Duo Habanero launches October 6 at participating Taco Bell restaurants across the U.S., Canada, Australia, China, India, Spain and the UK, while supplies last. U.S. fans can score one free Duo Habanero Sauce packet with the purchase of a Doritos® Locos Taco, with additional packets available à la carte for $0.20 each*. Internationally, fans can score free Duo Habanero Sauce through participating Global Taco Day offers at Taco Bell restaurants in Canada, Australia, China, India, Spain and the UK, with offers varying by market*, while supplies last.

"Language and food are two of the most powerful ways we connect with culture and with each other," said Emmanuel Orssaud, Chief Marketing Officer, Duolingo. "Taco is a rare word that travels easily across cultures, making it a fun starting point for getting people curious about language."

More Ways to Speak Taco
Duo Habanero is only one way fans can get in on the global celebration. Taco Bell and Duolingo are giving fans even more ways and reasons to say taco this Global Taco Day, whether they're keeping their streak alive, trying the new Duo Habanero sauce or getting their hands on Duo's latest look with the Duolingo x Taco Bell plushie.

• Keep the streak going on us: From October 1 through October 6, Taco Bell Rewards Members can unlock one month of Super Duolingo for free, giving fans even more reason to keep learning the love language of tacos and beyond. Codes must be redeemed by November 15 and will remain active for 30 days following activation**.
• Score a limited-edition Taco Bell x Duo plushie: 1000 Taco Bell x Duo plushies with a new custom Taco Bell uniform outfit and a mini headset will be up for grabs across participating markets globally. In the U.S., Taco Bell Rewards Members can head to the Tuesday Drops page on October 6, 2026, at 2 pm PT for a chance to score one, while supplies last***. Fans in additional participating markets around the world, including the UK, Canada, India, Australia, China and Spain, will also have opportunities to snag the limited-edition plushie through local activations.

Duo and friends will take their taco fluency IRL with a one-day Taco Bell takeover in New York City on October 6. At the Taco Bell Midtown Cantina (976 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States) from 3:00 pm ET – 4:30 pm ET, Duo and his friends will clock in for Global Taco Day, serving up tacos and Duo Habanero, putting fans' language skills to the test with taco-fueled lessons, handing out swag and giveaways while supplies last, and giving guests plenty of chances to get in on the Duo-fueled fun.

Also on October 6, Taco Bell and Duolingo are going all out in the name of taco with activations around the world, featuring appearances from Duo, swag and giveaways while supplies last - from an in-store activation  in Mumbai, India (Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Kurla West Mumbai, Maharashtra 400070, India) to a Taco Bell takeover in Toronto, Canada (252 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5B 0E6, Canada) and a Duo Habanero-fueled activation in Shanghai, China (55 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Shanghai 200120, China).

"We've always believed tacos are for everyone," said Amy Ellis Durini, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Taco Bell International. "There's something pretty special about a word that can be understood across languages and cultures. Together with Duolingo, we're celebrating a love of tacos that brings people together everywhere – and the idea that sometimes the things that connect us need very little translation at all."

For the Love of Taco Fans
Taco Bell has a history of making more of National Taco Day. In 2022, the Taco Lover's Pass turned one day into 30 days of tacos. In 2023, Taco Bell helped liberate "Taco Tuesday," opening the phrase up for restaurants nationwide. Then, in 2024, Taco Bell took on the calendar itself, working with National Day Calendar to move National Taco Day to the first Tuesday in October – where it rightfully belongs. The brand celebrated the newly minted National Taco Day first anniversary in 2025 with special deals for fans.

The trademark? Cancelled. The calendar? Fixed. Next up: going global. With Duolingo along for the ride, it's the next notch in Taco Bell's years-long effort to make the day bigger for taco fans everywhere.

The Global Taco Day celebration doesn't stop here. Download the Taco Bell app to collect rewards, head to Duolingo to unlock one free month of Super Duolingo for Taco Bell Rewards Members, plus buy a Doritos Locos Taco and get a free Duo Habanero sauce. Follow Taco Bell and Duolingo on social to see where in the world Duo shows up next, as Global Taco Day celebrations unfold around the world.

About Taco Bell Corp.
Since 1962, Taco Bell has brought innovative, craveable Mexican-inspired food to generations of fans. As one of the world's leading restaurant brands, Taco Bell serves millions of customers each week across nearly 10,000 restaurants in more than 40 markets around the globe. Known for its cultural impact, fan-first mindset, and history of defying expectations, Taco Bell has been recognized as one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies and one of TIME's Most Influential Companies. For more information about Taco Bell, visit www.TacoBell.com and www.TacoBell.com/news. Stay up to date on all things Taco Bell by following us on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube. 

About Duolingo
Duolingo is the leading mobile learning platform globally. Its flagship app has organically become the world's most popular way to learn languages and the top-grossing app in the Education category on both Google Play and the Apple App Store. With technology at the core of everything it does, Duolingo has consistently invested to provide learners a fun, engaging, and effective learning experience while remaining committed to its mission to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available.

Limited time offer. Ends 10/6/26 or when supply of codes is depleted, whichever occurs first; redeem code by 11/15/2026. Must not be a current Duolingo subscriber, and a member of the Taco Bell Rewards loyalty program in good standing. Cannot be combined with any other Duolingo extended free trial offer this calendar year. Eligibility restrictions and full terms apply: Offer Terms( www.duolingo.com/terms)

*Duo Habanero in the US: At participating U.S. Taco Bell® locations for a limited time only, while supplies last. Limit 1 complimentary Duo Habanero sauce per qualifying DLT order. Check store for price & participation, which vary. Other exclusions apply. Tax extra.

** Limited time offer. Ends 10/13/26 or when supply of codes is depleted, whichever occurs first; redeem code by 11/15/2026. Must not be a current Duolingo subscriber, and a member of the Taco Bell Rewards loyalty program in good standing. Cannot be combined with any other Duolingo extended free trial offer this calendar year. Eligibility restrictions and full terms apply: www.duolingo.com/terms

*** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WIN. Taco Bell® x National Taco Day Duolingo Plushie Tuesday Drop Sweepstakes is open only to Taco Bell Rewards program members who are legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., 16 years of age or older who possess a web-enabled mobile device as of 10/6/26. Minors must have parent's permission to enter. Begins at 2:00 p.m. PT & ends at 3:00 p.m. PT on 10/6/26. Limit one (1) entry per person, email address or Taco Bell Rewards program account ("Account"). Establishing an Account is free. Terms apply. Five Hundred (500) Prizes: One (1) Sponsor-specified Duo Plushie, including one (1) outfit. ARV: $30 each. Total ARV of all Prizes: $15,000. Prize details are at Sponsor's sole discretion. Limit one (1) Prize per person, email address or Account. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. Winners will be notified by Administrator on or about 10/9/26 to the email address provided in their entry (which must be the same email address that is associated with the Account used for entry). U.S. Law governs this Sweepstakes. Void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. Subject to complete Official Rules and Taco Bell's Privacy Policy. Sponsor: Taco Bell Corp., 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine, CA 92618. Administrator: Don Jagoda Associates, Inc., 100 Marcus Drive, Melville, NY 11747.

Jenny Seltzer – Taco Bell Corp.
[email protected]

Marnie Myszko – Edelman
[email protected]

SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.