Red cups are on their way back to Starbucks, alongside Peppermint drinks, a Christmas menu of old favourites and new discoveries - and its first-ever Holiday Cold Cup.
The coffee giant is bringing back its much-loved iconic Red Cups from 5 November, alongside Sticky Toffee Pecan Cake, Chocolate Orange Cake Cube, Red Velvet Scroll, Christmas Tree Brownie and Reindeer Cake Pops.
This year's menu sees peppermint take centre stage, with an entire range of new drinks inspired by the flavour's popularity in the US.
From a Peppermint Mocha topped with crunchy peppermint sugar sprinkles to a chilled matcha creation finished with white chocolate cold foam, there's plenty to tempt those looking for a little festive indulgence.
And, of course, some familiar favourites are making their return, including the Gingerbread Latte, Toffee Nut Latte and Eggnog Latte.
Starbucks Red Cups are back – with a festive twist
For many coffee fans, the arrival of Starbucks' Red Cups marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season.
From 5 November, the recognisable festive cups will return across participating UK stores, giving seasonal coffee runs a familiar splash of red.
This year, however, there's a new addition to the line-up. Starbucks is introducing its first-ever Holiday Cold Cup, offering a festive option for customers who prefer iced coffees and Frappuccino blended drinks to steaming hot lattes.
Whether you're picking up a warming seasonal coffee on the way to work or treating yourself to an iced drink during a Christmas shopping trip, the new cups are designed to bring a little festive spirit to every order.
Starbucks' new peppermint drinks lead the 2026 Christmas menu
Peppermint is the headline flavour this year, with four new creations joining the seasonal line-up.
Starbucks Rewards members can get an exclusive First Taste of the drinks from 29 October, ahead of the nationwide festive menu launch on 5 November.
The new drinks include:
- Peppermint Mocha – from £5.40: Starbucks espresso and steamed milk meet peppermint syrup and mocha sauce, topped with whipped cream and crunchy peppermint sugar sprinkles. Available hot or iced.
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate – from £5.40: A chocolatey combination of steamed milk, peppermint syrup and mocha sauce, finished with whipped cream and peppermint sprinkles. Available hot or iced.
- Iced Peppermint White Chocolate Matcha – from £5.75: Matcha green tea with milk, ice and peppermint syrup, topped with white chocolate-flavour cream cold foam and crunchy peppermint sprinkles.
- Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino blended beverage – from £5.70: Peppermint syrup and mocha sauce blended with milk and ice, finished with whipped cream and peppermint sugar sprinkles.
The range offers a new way to enjoy peppermint beyond the classic chocolate pairing, with the iced matcha bringing a different flavour combination to the festive menu.
The Starbucks Christmas drinks returning for 2026
Not ready to swap your usual festive favourite? Several familiar seasonal drinks are returning, including the sweet, nutty Toffee Nut Latte and warming Gingerbread Latte.
The returning drinks menu includes:
- Toffee Nut Latte – from £5.40: Espresso and steamed milk with toffee nut syrup, whipped cream and toffee nut sprinkles.
- Toffee Nut Frappuccino blended beverage – from £5.55: Coffee, milk and toffee nut syrup blended with ice and topped with whipped cream and toffee nut sprinkles.
- Gingerbread Latte – from £5.40: Espresso and steamed milk with gingerbread syrup, gingerbread-flavoured whipped cream and cinnamon.
- Gingerbread Frappuccino blended beverage – from £5.75: Gingerbread syrup, coffee and milk blended with ice, finished with whipped cream and cinnamon.
- Eggnog Latte – from £5.40: Starbucks espresso combined with eggnog and topped with nutmeg.
Customers can also upgrade any espresso-based drink, including a latte or Americano, to Starbucks Christmas Blend. The seasonal coffee features Arabica beans with notes of herbs and baking spices, finished with a rich chocolate flavour.
The full Starbucks Christmas food menu for 2026
It's not just the drinks getting a festive makeover. Starbucks is also bringing new cakes, brownies and sweet treats to its food counter, alongside savoury options packed with traditional Christmas flavours.
The festive food range launches from 5 November.
New festive cakes and sweet treats
- Sticky Toffee Pecan Cake – £4.50: Toffee cake topped with vanilla buttercream, chopped pecans and sticky toffee sauce.
- Chocolate Orange Cake Cube – £4.50: Chocolate cake with chocolate-orange filling, frosting and orange curd, finished with milk chocolate flakes and an orange-shaped chocolate decoration.
- Red Velvet Scroll – £4.50: Croissant dough filled with red velvet chocolate custard, decorated with white chocolate and red velvet crumbs.
- Christmas Tree Brownie – £3.90: A fudgy chocolate brownie packed with milk and white chocolate chunks, topped with dark chocolate ganache, chocolate drizzle, chocolate-covered toffee and sprinkles.
- Reindeer Cake Pop – £3.05: A chocolate-flavoured cake pop with cookies-and-cream crumb, milk chocolate coating and festive reindeer decorations.
- Tony's Chocolonely Winter Edition Chocolate Bar – £3.30: Milk chocolate packed with spiced biscuit pieces for a seasonal chocolate treat.
Returning Starbucks Christmas treats
- Mini Chocolate Chip Panettone – £3.70: Sweet, enriched dough studded with dark chocolate chips.
- Santa Bearista Gingerbread Cookie – £3.10: A festive iced gingerbread biscuit featuring Starbucks' Bearista character.
The Starbucks festive savoury menu
For those after something more substantial than a sweet treat, Starbucks is also bringing back its festive savoury favourites, alongside a new flatbread.
- Festive Deli Flatbread – £6.15: Turkey, sage and onion stuffing, hickory-smoked maple bacon, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce with spinach, wrapped in soft flatbread with sourdough.
- Pigs Under Blanket Roll – £5.95: Pork sausages with maple-smoked bacon, cranberry sauce, sage and onion stuffing, and Cheddar cheese.
- Festive Feast Toastie – £6.40: Toasted sourdough bloomer filled with chicken, sage and onion stuffing, maple-cured bacon, cranberry sauce and cheese.
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How to try the Starbucks Christmas menu first
There's a little wait for most customers, although Starbucks Rewards members can get an early taste of the new peppermint drinks.
Starbucks Rewards First Taste begins today, with selected festive beverages available exclusively to members in participating stores and through the Starbucks UK app.
The full Holiday menu launches nationwide, including the returning Red Cups and the first-ever Holiday Cold Cup, arrives on November 5.
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