Summer is America’s peak snacking season, according to a new nationally representative survey from Utz Brands.
Nearly two‑thirds of Americans (62.2 percent) snack at least once every day during the summer months, and 30.5 percent reach for something salty multiple times a day. Just 1 percent report never snacking in summer, making it one of the most universally observed warm‑weather rituals in the country.
The survey of more than 2,500 U.S. consumers, conducted by Censuswide from May 6 to May 12, 2026, reveals the habits and occasions that define how Americans snack from Memorial Day to Labor Day. When asked to choose just one salty snack for the summer, 35.6 percent chose potato chips – more than double any other category.
Flavor preferences are divided nationally: Original (18.7 percent), Sour Cream & Onion (18.5 percent) and Barbecue (17.8 percent) are separated by less than one percentage point. Salt & Vinegar follows at 13.3 percent, with Jalapeño/Spicy (8.5 percent), Dill Pickle (6.6 percent), Ranch (5.6 percent) and Salt & Pepper (4.4 percent) rounding out the field.
Regional preferences stand out. Barbecue dominates across the South and parts of the Midwest. Salt & Vinegar punches above its 13.3 percent national average as the favorite in Arizona (24 percent), Montana (24 percent), Rhode Island (24 percent), Oregon (22 percent) and Virginia (22 percent). Alaska is the only state where more than 1 in 5 people (22 percent) named Dill Pickle as their favorite, making it the undisputed Dill Pickle chip capital of America.
Nearly half of all American snackers (44.7 percent) reach for chips at a backyard barbecue or cookout, making it the No. 1 summer snacking occasion. Late‑night snacking at home (34.5 percent) and Fourth of July celebrations (34.2 percent) round out the top three, with road trips (27.5 percent) and picnics (24.3 percent) also ranking highly. Nationally, nearly one‑third of Americans reach for Barbecue chips first on the Fourth of July.
Gen Z and Millennials are rewriting the rules of the snack stack. Nearly one in four Americans (23.6 percent) say the most unusual thing they have ever put a chip on is a sandwich. Burgers and hot dogs came in second (13.2 percent), followed by soup or chili (10.3 percent) and ice cream or dessert (9.6 percent).
“Summer has always been the ultimate snacking season, and this survey confirms what we hear from snack lovers every year: when the sun comes out, so do the chips,” said Stacey Schultz, SVP of marketing at Utz Quality Foods.
“At Utz, we’ve been fueling America’s summer snacking rituals for over a century, and we’re turning up the heat this summer with bold limited‑edition flavors like our Lemonade Chips and Summer Sizzlin’ Burger Ripple Chips, made for every backyard barbecue, road trip, and yes, even late‑night solo bag moment.”
[RELATED: 2026 Sweets & Snacks Expo Wraps Vegas Debut With Record Innovation Field]About Utz Brands
Utz Brands manufactures a diverse portfolio of snacks through brands including Utz, On The Border Chips & Dips, Zapp’s, and Boulder Canyon. Based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the company distributes nationally through grocery, mass merchandisers, club, convenience, drug and other channels.