Starbucks’ annual Red Cup Day giveaway will return to Seattle and participating stores across the US on 17 November, with customers offered a limited-edition reusable holiday cup when they buy a handcrafted seasonal drink.
The cup will be available while stocks last, making the event one of the busiest dates in the coffee chain’s festive calendar. Starbucks has not yet revealed the full design of this year’s giveaway cup.
Starbucks Red Cup Day returns on 17 November
The promotion follows the launch of Starbucks’ 2026 holiday menu on 5 November, which includes new Tiramisu Velvet Latte and Tiramisu Velvet Cold Brew drinks, as well as Apple Pomegranate Refreshers.
Seasonal favourites returning to the menu include the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brûlée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte and Gingerbread Chai. The company said the free cup will be given with any handcrafted holiday beverage at participating stores.
Starbucks has also introduced a Braised Short Rib Grilled Cheese and a revamped Turkey & Stuffing Sandwich, alongside festive bakery items including the Bearista Cake Pop, Snowman Cookie, Cranberry Bliss Bar and Sugar Plum Cheese Danish.
The Red Cup Day giveaway is part of a wider series of seasonal releases. Mystery Bearista Glass Cold Cup surprise boxes are due in stores on 10 November, while the original Bearista Glass Cold Cup will return to selected coffee shops on 1 December, subject to availability.
The bear-shaped glass cup is modelled on a teddy bear wearing a green knitted hat. Starbucks has made its holiday cups a feature of the season since 1997, when the first designs were created for a limited number of stores.
This year’s wider holiday collection includes four hot-cup designs, a cold cup and a limited-edition holiday pup cup. Starbucks said the designs use festive red and green tones, with ribbons, bows and retro-inspired colours.
