Love is in the air – and so are no-shows: Valentine's Day 2026 by the numbers

Valentine's Day is a major revenue driver for the restaurant industry. The number of reservations is significantly higher compared to other days. However, our analysis of Valentine's Day 2026 (Saturday, February 14, 2026) also shows that the no-show situation is worsening—precisely on an evening when every table is especially valuable.

Key figures at a glance

• Strongest reservation day of the current year: On 02/14/2026 the number of reservations was over +140% compared to the previous days in 2026.
• No-show rate on Valentine's Day 2026: 3.31%
  

• Compared to the previous year (2025), the no-show rate on Valentine's Day rose by 19% from 2.79% to 3.31%
• Furthermore, at 3.31%, the no-show rate on Valentine's Day 2026 is 48% higher than the average rate for 2025 (2.24%)

Planning happens earlier to secure a table

Valentine's Day reservations are made significantly further in advance than for an average restaurant visit:

• 8+ days lead time: 35.3% of reservations (vs. 26.4% annual average)

This confirms that those wanting a table on Valentine's Day tend to plan further in advance.

Not surprising: mostly couples

As expected, Valentine's Day is a "couples' evening":

• Share of 1–2 people on Valentine's Day 2026: approx. 71%
  • for comparison: ~52% in the full year 2025
  • and ~55% on an average Saturday in 2025

Conclusion

On Valentine's Day, reservations are practically a must for guests. If a cancellation happens at the last minute or guests simply don't show up, restaurants often have no time left to fill the table. Credit card guarantees, deposits, or prepayments help to protect against these losses and minimize the impact on revenue.