Culver’s Smoked Cheddar CurderBurger arrives Sept. 28, 2026, for Curdtoberfest, topped with a fried smoked cheddar cheese curd. It runs through Oct. 11, or while supplies last.
Culver’s heard you like cheese curds, so it put one on your burger. A big one.
The Smoked Cheddar CurderBurger lands at Culver’s on Monday, Sept. 28, and sticks around through Oct. 11 or until restaurants run out. It kicks off Curdtoberfest, the chain’s monthlong celebration of the Wisconsin snack it’s best known for.
“The best celebrations bring people together, and that’s exactly what Curdtoberfest is all about,” said Emily Patterson, Culver’s vice president of marketing.
It’s the first time Culver’s has done a flavored version of the CurderBurger since the original launched in 2021, per the company’s announcement.
What is the Culver’s CurderBurger?
It’s a Culver’s ButterBurger, the chain’s fresh, never-frozen beef burger, topped with one giant golden-fried cheese curd. Think of a mozzarella stick flattened into a patty and you’re in the neighborhood.
This year’s twist is smoked cheddar. That’s the flavor of the big fried curd on top, and there’s a regular slice of Wisconsin cheddar under it too, per Sporked.
Sporked says the curd is about the size of your hand and covers pretty much the whole patty. Basically, the burger is wearing a cheese hat.
Culver’s hasn’t posted a price. It usually varies by location, so check your local menu or the app.
Was the CurderBurger really an April Fools’ joke?
Yes. Culver’s first pitched the CurderBurger as an April Fools’ gag in 2021. People wanted it for real, so Culver’s made it.
Five years later, it has its own flavor spinoff. Not bad for a prank.
When does the Smoked Cheddar CurderBurger come out?
Sept. 28, 2026. It’s scheduled to stay through Oct. 11, but the announcement adds “while supplies last,” which is fast-food for “don’t wait too long.”
That’s a 14-day window, and “while supplies last” means it could end sooner. If you want one, the first week is the safe bet.
When is National Cheese Curd Day 2026?
Thursday, Oct. 15. Culver’s is running a deal that day for Delicious Rewards members: cheese curds for $3 during Happy Hour, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
You’ll need the Culver’s app or a rewards account to get it. The deal is for regular curds, and the CurderBurger will already be gone by then if the dates hold.
Are Culver’s jalapeno cheese curds coming back?
Yes. Jalapeno cheese curds return Oct. 12 and run through Nov. 29, or while supplies last.
Notice the timing. They start the day after the CurderBurger’s scheduled end date. Culver’s lined up its fall curd lineup like a relay race.
There’s also a Curdtoberfest sweepstakes running Sept. 28 through Oct. 31. Per Sporked, the grand prize is a trip to Germany for four, which fits the Oktoberfest pun. Details are on the Culver’s site.
Where is Culver’s?
It started in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984, and fried curds have been on the menu for a long time. A cheese curd festival from a Wisconsin chain was never going to show restraint.
Culver’s is a Midwest chain at heart, and most of its locations are in the middle of the country. It has spread south and west over the years, but big stretches of both coasts still don’t have one.
If there isn’t one near you, that’s the catch with every Culver’s promo.
For everyone who does have one down the street, Sept. 28 is circled. Bring napkins.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Culver’s via PR Newswire (Sept. 2026), the CurderBurger dates, the curd deal, the jalapeno curd dates, the sweepstakes and Patterson’s quote
Sporked (Sept. 24, 2026), the curd size, the cheddar slice, the April Fools’ origin and the sweepstakes grand prize
AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.