What Is the Olive Garden Pasta Pass?
A limited pass that buys weeks of unlimited pasta, soup, salad and breadsticks for one upfront price. It returned in 2026 after six years away, and 10,000 passes were gone almost as soon as the sale opened.
The Pasta Pass is different from the Never Ending Pasta Bowl itself. The bowl is a seasonal menu deal anyone can order. The pass prepays for as many of those bowls as you can eat during the promotion.
What the 2026 Pasta Pass includes
| Detail | 2026 Pasta Pass |
|---|---|
| Price | 100 dollars plus tax |
| Number sold | 10,000 |
| On sale | 16 July 2026 at 2pm Eastern, on PastaPass.com |
| Valid for | 13 weeks, with early access from 24 August |
| Covers | Unlimited pasta, sauces and protein toppings, plus unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks |
| Combinations | 120, including a new Spicy Alfredo sauce and Crispy Shrimp Fritta topping |
The regular Never Ending Pasta Bowl runs from 31 August to 22 November 2026, starting at 14.99 dollars. Pass holders and eClub members got in a week early. Past Pasta Passes have been for dining in only, not takeout or delivery.
How fast it sold out
Very fast, as it has every year. When the 2026 sale opened, one buyer who clicked a minute after launch found a queue of about 400,000 people ahead of her for the 10,000 passes. Olive Garden fans on Reddit reported being tens of thousands of places back in line within seconds.
Pasta Pass history
| Year | What was offered |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1,000 passes at 100 dollars for seven weeks. Sold out in about 45 minutes to an hour |
| 2015 | 1,000 individual passes at 100 dollars and 1,000 family passes at 300 dollars |
| 2017 | 22,000 eight week passes |
| 2018 | 23,000 eight week passes at 100 dollars and 1,000 annual passes at 300 dollars |
| 2019 | About 24,000 passes, including 50 Lifetime Pasta Passes at 500 dollars. Gone in milliseconds |
| 2020 to 2025 | No Pasta Pass |
| 2026 | 10,000 passes at 100 dollars for 13 weeks |
In the years that followed, passes regularly sold out within about a second of going on sale.
Is the Pasta Pass worth it?
Only if you will use it. Olive Garden says a 2026 pass pays for itself after about seven visits, and past holders averaged around ten visits during shorter promotions. That works out to roughly one visit every two weeks over the 13 week run.
Keep in mind that drinks, desserts and tips are extra, and that a pass is a lot of pasta. A single large Alfredo bowl can run well past 1,000 calories before the breadsticks, so our calorie calculator is worth a look if you plan to use it weekly. Everyday prices for the rest of the menu are on the Olive Garden menu.
Related Questions
What is the Olive Garden Pasta Pass?
A limited pass that lets the holder order the Never Ending Pasta Bowl as often as they like during a set period. In 2026 it cost 100 dollars and covered 13 weeks of unlimited pasta, soup or salad and breadsticks.
How much is the Olive Garden Pasta Pass?
100 dollars plus tax in 2026. Earlier years offered the same 100 dollar price for shorter periods, plus family, annual and lifetime versions at higher prices.
Is the Olive Garden Pasta Pass back in 2026?
Yes. Olive Garden brought it back for the first time since 2019, selling 10,000 passes on 16 July 2026. They sold out almost immediately.
How many Pasta Passes does Olive Garden sell?
It varies. There were 1,000 in 2014, about 24,000 in 2019 and 10,000 in 2026.
Is the Pasta Pass worth it?
For regular visitors, yes. Olive Garden says a 2026 pass breaks even after about seven visits, and past holders averaged around ten. Drinks, desserts and tips are not included.
What is the Olive Garden Lifetime Pasta Pass?
A 2019 version that cost 500 dollars and was sold to just 50 people, promising the Never Ending Pasta Bowl for life. It has not been offered since.
More on Olive Garden
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Olive Garden or Darden Restaurants. Pass details come from Olive Garden announcements and published reporting, and terms can change each year. Current prices are on the Olive Garden menu.
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