Pepero Day 2026: Stray Kids Collaboration, Limited Editions & Korea’s Sweetest November 11 Tradition
The latest collectible packs, K-pop idol favorites, and brand sponsorships, plus the cultural meaning behind Korea’s favorite gift-giving day.
November in Korea marks a festive season like no other. On November 11th every year, Korea comes alive with awesome store displays and limited-edition and year-round classic Pepero sticks that we have all grown to love! So, what limited-edition flavors will be on the shelves this year?
Why Pepero Day Is a Thing
This is a question that many people ask all the time. Well, Pepero Day actually began in the mid-1990s when schoolgirls in Yeongnam swapped Pepero boxes while playing, wishing to grow tall and slim like the snacks. Lotte embraced this idea officially, and November 11, 1997, marked the first of many Pepero Days. This stress-free day is all about gift-giving in schools and workplaces across Korea.
2026 Pepero Flavors, Sponsorships & Special Editions
This year's Pepero Day line-up will feature exclusive collectible Pepero packaging from Stray Kids, with some of the packs featuring adorable character sets featuring Sanrio favorites and Ganadi.
A fun fact for this year's Pepero Day is that massive video billboards are set to take over New York's Times Square, promoting Pepero Day to a new audience, and it's also rumoured that more displays will be across Los Angeles and Vietnam.
These one-of-a-kind kits allow Pepero consumers to enjoy what the day has to offer. Our writer Lewis Hooper is looking forward to trying this year's new release, which is the Double Rich Salty Vanilla flavor, as well as beloved classics ranging from Almond and White Cookie to Crunky and Nude Choco, which are available year-round at supermarkets and convenience stores. Plus, some really cool Stray Kids exclusive merch!
Exclusive Social Media Event & Fan Rewards
This year, there will even be an interactive special event for Pepero fans. From students to office workers, everyone can share a pack with their favorite people!
Lotte Wellfood's global "PLAY WITH PEPERO" Instagram campaign allows fans worldwide to participate through February 5, 2027, by sharing photos or videos featuring Pepero snacks.
This could be one of the reasons why there will be promotional billboards in the US: to drive more international attention to this much-loved Korean snack!
The Dojeon Media team, however, is most excited that there will be a total of 111 selected global winners. These lucky winners will be invited to an exclusive Stray Kids meet-and-greet in Seoul next April!
For the even luckier 11 grand prize winners, they will also receive round-trip flights and hotel accommodation, where the group is expected to perform their collaborative campaign track "11월 11일" (November 11th) live for the first time, and we simply cannot wait to see this brand-new live performance!
Final Thoughts
For the Dojeon Media team, Pepero Day is a fundamental part of Korea's modern identity.
This harmless day of fun, although a somewhat commercial holiday, has humble beginnings, and it continues to showcase how a simple snack can bring people of all ages together. With the rise of K-culture and bigger sponsorships, Pepero Day is here to stay!
So, whether you are hunting for exclusive K-pop merchandise this year or you're simply picking up a classic box at a local corner shop, remember that it remains one of Korea's most charming annual celebrations.
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