Starbucks’ 2026 holiday menu arrives November 5, and Tiramisu Velvet is joining the lineup. That means a new latte, a new cold brew and mascarpone cold foam, alongside returning favorites like Peppermint Mocha.
Starbucks confirmed the date and menu preview on October 5, 2026. We finally have an actual drink list to work with. The cup calendar still has a few blanks.
This tracker now includes the confirmed menu and merchandise dates, plus the older rumors below with their original sources. Red Cup Day is returning, but its date has not been announced.
A closer look at the new Starbucks holiday arrivals
- Starbucks’ New Apple Pomegranate Refresher Has Popping Pearls
- Starbucks Turned Its Glass Bear Cup Into a Bearista Cake Pop
- Starbucks’ Holiday Bearista Collection Has a Plush Keychain, and the Glass Bear Is Coming Back
- Starbucks Is Adding a Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese to Its Holiday Menu
When does the Starbucks holiday menu launch?
November 5, 2026. Starbucks has confirmed that date for its holiday menu. Here’s how the other holiday releases line up:
| What’s coming | Christmas 2026 U.S. status |
|---|---|
| Holiday drinks and food | Launch November 5; new and returning items announced |
| Holiday Bearista, Holiday Village and Peppermint Mocha merchandise collections | November 5 |
| Winter Wonderland merchandise collection | November 17 |
| Original Bearista Glass Cold Cup | Returning; release timing still to come |
| Red Cup Day | Returning; date still to come |
| Holiday paper-cup designs and prices | Not detailed in the October 5 menu preview |
The menu launch, merchandise drops and reusable-cup giveaway have their own schedules. November 5 is not an announced date for Red Cup Day or the original Bearista Glass Cold Cup.
Tiramisu Velvet is the new holiday coffee lineup
The new Tiramisu Velvet Latte comes hot or iced, and there’s a Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew, too. Starbucks says both get mascarpone cold foam with a dusting of cocoa and coffee, taking their cue from the Italian dessert.
For something fruity, the Apple Pomegranate Refresher combines apple flavors with popping pomegranate-flavored pearls. The Snowy Apple version adds coconut milk.
Four returning drinks are named in the announcement: Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte and Gingerbread Chai. Chestnut Praline and Eggnog are not named in this preview, so their 2026 status remains open.
There’s a Bearista Cake Pop, too
The new Bearista Cake Pop, inspired by the glass bear cup, arrives November 5 for a limited time. The food lineup also adds a Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese and brings back the Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich with a new recipe.
Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish are returning as well. Starbucks has not listed prices in this preview.
Holiday cups and Red Cup Day: what’s confirmed?
The Holiday Bearista, Holiday Village and Peppermint Mocha merchandise collections arrive November 5. Winter Wonderland follows November 17.
Starbucks also confirms that the original Bearista Glass Cold Cup will return during the holiday season, with timing still to be announced. That does not settle the Santa-hat and elf-cup speculation saved below.
Red Cup Day is coming back, but there is no announced date yet. Starbucks says customers will get a collectible reusable holiday cup with the purchase of a handcrafted holiday beverage at participating stores while supplies last. The October 5 preview does not confirm the November 12 date circulating in earlier predictions.
Holiday coffee for home and drinks from the TTB archives
The café menu now has its own announcement. There are also holiday coffee options for home, including the Peppermint Mocha formats below.
And these are a few TTB archive drinks that explain why certain flavors keep coming up every Christmas. The images are historical; the linked pages tell you whether the needed ingredients still exist in 2026.
Why Chestnut Praline and Eggnog were on the watch list
Our earlier watch list drew on USA Today’s October 6, 2025 report, republished by The Spokesman-Review. It named Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée, Sugar Cookie, Gingerbread, Chestnut Praline and Eggnog. The initial 2025 menu launched November 6, with Chestnut Praline and Eggnog slated for later that season.
That is last year’s information. Four returning drinks now have confirmation in the October 5, 2026 preview above. Chestnut Praline and Eggnog still need a separate 2026 announcement.
The older cup rumors, with their original sources
The specific cup designs and collaborations below remain unconfirmed. Starbucks has since announced merchandise collections and the return of the original Bearista Glass Cold Cup. Those announcements do not verify these earlier theories.
This is the nosy section. The “wait, are they actually doing that?” section. We’re collecting the theories, the wish lists, and the alleged leaks—with the source attached, because I want the gossip AND the context.
A Santa-hat or elf Bearista?
A bear cup dressed for Christmas? Fine. You have my attention.
In a September 16 Reddit comment, Competitive-Ad-7351 said they and their coworkers were speculating about a Santa-hat or elf bear cup. There’s no product photo or release date in that comment, and the market isn’t specified.
Why we’re watching: A Christmas outfit for the bear is an easy idea to get excited about. Starbucks already released a pink summer Bearista, as ABC News reported in July 2026, so we understand the guess.
Why it’s a long shot: This commenter is speculating, with no product photo, launch date, or confirmed market. We verified the comment, not a Christmas bear cup.
A Smiski collaboration?
The person who started that thread, Possible_Error_8590, was hoping for Smiskis or another cute collaboration.
That is a wish, not someone saying they’ve seen a shipment. But yes, this is exactly the kind of Christmas-cup brainstorming we’re collecting here.
Why we’re watching: The idea came up in an actual holiday-merch discussion, and it’s fun to imagine.
Why it’s a long shot: The original poster is hoping. They do not claim to have inside information. No collaboration, market, or launch date is confirmed.
Celestial cups and a suspiciously specific “leak”
A February 17 article credited to Silas at Flavor365 claims a celestial collection with color-changing cups and a matte-black jeweled design. I couldn’t trace its claimed inventory evidence to an original source.
Why it caught our attention: Color-changing Christmas cups sound fun.
Why we’re skeptical: The article’s sourcing does not establish that these products exist. This belongs in the questionable-claims pile.
The Stanley story that apparently traveled through time
Another Flavor365 article, dated February 28, alleges blue-and-gold “Celestial Pine” and purple “Sugar Plum” Stanley designs.
It also describes Christmas 2026 as a past experience and calls November 4, 2026 a Tuesday. It’s a Wednesday. I have questions.
Why it caught our attention: Those are very specific designs for an alleged leak.
Why we’re skeptical: The timeline contradicts itself, and we couldn’t verify the original leak. Treat this as an example of a claim that doesn’t hold up, not a reason to plan a shopping trip.
What happened to those November date predictions?
DrinkDigits’ September 16 forecast predicted November 5 for the holiday menu and November 12 for Red Cup Day using previous calendars. The author labeled them predictions.
November 5 is now official for the menu, thanks to Starbucks’ October 5 announcement. November 12 remains an unconfirmed Red Cup Day prediction. Getting one date right does not confirm the other.
What we’re still watching
The next useful updates are a Red Cup Day date, timing for the original Bearista Glass Cold Cup, and any additional menu announcements. We’ll keep each release’s prices, availability and purchase requirements attached to the item they actually apply to.
For the wider coffee-chain picture, we’re also keeping track of holiday drinks from Starbucks, Dunkin and Dutch Bros. If you’re still in pumpkin mode, start with our Starbucks fall guide or the separate Black Cat Halloween release.
Have a public post we should investigate? Send the original link with the screenshot. I am ready to overthink a festive cup. I just want to know which year we’re overthinking.
Still deciding? Browse our Starbucks secret menu recipes and ordering guide for your next drink.
