Coffee fans, the time of the year that we have been waiting for is here. The weather is cooling off, and soon Starbucks fans can enjoy the event that gives the season extra warmth and festiveness: Red Cup Day. If you somehow don’t know about it, it’s a cherished tradition in which Starbucks lovers can grab the coffee chain’s latest limited-edition reusable red cup for free with the purchase of a holiday or fall drink. And if you do know about it, then you know it’s a really big deal.
The tradition dates back to 2018, when the brand wanted to celebrate the return of the holiday season by giving customers reusable holiday cups. Since then, it’s become a sensation, with fans flocking to Starbucks stores on Red Cup Day to get their hands on the special cups. And it’s not just about the free keepsake — all year long, you can bring back your clean cup to receive a 10-cent discount on your beverage order.Â
And Red Cup Day will be back soon, as Starbucks confirmed on Oct. 5 that Red Cup Day is definitely happening this year. But when is Starbucks Red Cup Day 2026? As of Oct. 15, there hasn’t been a date announced this year for the Red Cup Day, but we can look to the past for some context clues: It took place on Nov. 13 in 2025, Nov. 14 in 2024, and Nov. 16 in 2023. So, it would be safe to predict it’ll happen sometime mid-November, as long as the brand keeps up with tradition.​
In the meantime, you can enjoy the new holiday menu lineup that includes new drinks, bites, and collections. If you’re a big fan of tiramisu, then the Tiramisu Velvet drink may be calling your name. For those who like Refreshers, the Apple Pomegranate Refresher might be your new go-to. On top of that, if you are a fan of cold drinks but you still want to immerse yourself in the season, then grab the Snowy Apple Version of the Refresher, made with coconut milk.
Some bites you can gather are the new Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese and the Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich, the Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie, and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish. You can also get to explore new collections, including the Holiday Bearista collection, Holiday Village collection, and Winter Wonderland collection.