McDonald's New Holiday Menu Items 2026: Drinks, Dates, McRib
McDonald's US holiday menu for 2026 starts with five limited-time drinks on November 3: two Frosted Cranberry sips and three Cookie Butter coffees. Here is what is official, what is not, and where the McRib is back.
- McDonald's new US holiday items for 2026 are five limited-time drinks: Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite, a Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer and Cookie Butter Frappé, Latte and Iced Coffee.
- They arrive at participating restaurants nationwide on Tuesday, November 3; McDonald's has not announced prices or an end date.
- The McRib returned in select cities on October 27, while the Holiday Pie and the Grinch Meal have not been announced for 2026.
As of October 28, 2026, McDonald's new holiday menu items in the US are five limited-time drinks: the Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite, the Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer, and a Cookie Butter Frappé, Latte and Iced Coffee. They arrive on Tuesday, November 3 at participating restaurants nationwide, according to the McDonald's USA Menu Spotter update posted on October 27.
That announcement contains no new holiday food. The seasonal sandwich in the news is the McRib, which came back in select cities on October 27. The Holiday Pie and last year's Grinch Meal have not been announced for 2026, and McDonald's has not published prices for any of the new drinks.
McDonald's new holiday menu items for 2026
McDonald's pitches the lineup as an early start to the season, signing off its post with "Consider this your official holiday kick off." Here is what each drink is, based on the company's own descriptions:
- Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite: Sprite flavoured with orange and cranberry, finished with cold foam and cranberry sprinkles.
- Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer: the same Frosted Cranberry flavour, foam and sprinkles, built on Red Bull. You can choose classic Red Bull or Red Bull Zero.
- Cookie Butter Frappé: a blended McCafé drink with cookie butter flavour, topped with caramel cookie crumbs and vanilla whipped topping.
- Cookie Butter Latte: the same cookie butter flavour and toppings in a latte.
- Cookie Butter Iced Coffee: the iced coffee version of the cookie butter drink.
Reports from USA TODAY, Dexerto and Complex list the same five drinks and the same November 3 date. Parade adds that the Sprite drink is McDonald's own recipe, not the separate Winter Spiced Cranberry Sprite.
When and where you can get the holiday drinks
The drinks are due on November 3 at "participating restaurants nationwide", so not every McDonald's has to carry them. McDonald's describes all five as limited-time drinks but has not given an end date.
The announcement covers the United States only. Dexerto and Complex both describe it as a US launch, and no international rollout of these particular drinks has been confirmed. The McDonald's app shows each restaurant's own menu, so it is the simplest way to check before you go.
Prices and caffeine: what is known
McDonald's has not announced prices. Dexerto reports that the company has not released pricing for the drinks, and Parade notes that prices may vary. Any figure you see on social media or menu-tracking sites is a local listing, not a national price.
The holiday post also gives no caffeine figure. Parade reports that the Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. For comparison, the McDonald's Canada Menu Spotter says its own Red Bull Energizers use one 250 mL can of Red Bull and contain 80 mg of caffeine, with a Health Canada caution for children under 14, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people sensitive to caffeine. Treat the US number as reported until McDonald's lists it, and check the official nutrition information if you limit caffeine.
Why there is a Red Bull drink on the holiday menu
The cranberry Energizer is a seasonal version of a newer menu line. In an August 11 press release, McDonald's USA said the Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, its first energy drink, would reach participating restaurants nationwide on August 17, 2026. Alyssa Buetikofer, McDonald's USA's chief marketing and customer experience officer, said fans loved it in US testing and added, "And we're just getting started."
Restaurant Dive reported that McDonald's added crafted sodas and refreshers to its McCafé lineup in May, and that CEO Chris Kempczinski said US sales from the new drinks were "ahead of the plan." The cookie butter coffees follow the same seasonal pattern as the Caramel Apple Pie coffees McDonald's added in August, according to its Menu Spotter.
Returning favourites: McRib, Holiday Pie and the Grinch Meal
McRib: select cities from October 27
McDonald's senior marketing director Guillaume Huin posted on X on October 22 that "The McRib is coming back as early as 10/27 in select McDonald's restaurants across the US," as quoted by Dexerto. USA TODAY, citing McDonald's, and Just Jared, citing People, list Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas.
Reports differ on the details. WSMV's CNN Newsource report names five of those cities without Philadelphia, while USA TODAY also mentions Cleveland, Seattle and St. Louis. HollywoodLife and Dexerto say participating Michigan restaurants started a day early, on October 26. McDonald's has not published a full 2026 list or an end date; Just Jared notes that past runs lasted about three to four weeks.
The sandwich is back earlier than last year. In 2025, the Menu Spotter put the McRib's return at November 11, in cities such as Miami, Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Holiday Pie: not yet announced for 2026
As of October 28, McDonald's has not announced the Holiday Pie for 2026. Last year it posted on November 11 that the custard pie, glazed with sugar and topped with rainbow sprinkles, would return on November 14, 2025 at participating restaurants nationwide. Newsweek covered that McRib and Holiday Pie double return and noted that no end date was given. In 2023, the pie came back on November 15 in select markets.
The Grinch Meal: 2025 only so far
ABC News and TODAY reported that the Grinch Meal went on sale at participating US restaurants on December 2, 2025. It paired dill pickle "Grinch Salt" McShaker Fries with a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, a medium drink and a pair of Grinch socks. McDonald's has not said whether it will return in 2026, so treat any claim that it is coming back as unconfirmed.
Key dates to watch
- October 26 and 27: the McRib returns, first in participating Michigan restaurants, then in select cities.
- November 3: the five holiday drinks reach participating US restaurants.
- Mid-November (expected, not confirmed): the Holiday Pie returned on November 14 in 2025 and November 15 in 2023.
- UK (2026 date not yet announced): McDonald's UK launched its 2025 festive menu on Wednesday, November 26.
Holiday menus in the UK, Canada and elsewhere
McDonald's UK and Ireland has not published a 2026 festive menu as of October 28. Last year its newsroom announced a Grinch-themed menu from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, running for six weeks. The Grocer reported that it included a UK Grinch Meal with gherkin-seasoned McShaker Fries and socks, a Grumble Pie, a Frozen Grinch Lemonade and coconut hot drinks. Fan and menu-tracking sites are already circulating 2026 dates and items, but McDonald's has confirmed none of them.
In Canada, the official Menu Spotter lists the Big Tasty as its newest item on October 27, 2026, with no holiday entries yet. We found no official 2026 holiday menu from McDonald's in other countries as of October 28, and this post will be updated as markets announce theirs.
Our take
Based on the announcements so far, McDonald's is leading its 2026 holiday season with drinks rather than food. That fits the beverage push it has described since the summer: Restaurant Dive reported CFO Ian Borden saying more than half of the new drink platform's traffic comes after lunch, when restaurants have spare capacity.
The calendar has also moved earlier. The McRib is back about two weeks sooner than in 2025, and the holiday drinks arrive before any holiday food has been announced. If past years are a guide, a Holiday Pie announcement would come in November, but McDonald's has not committed to that.
How to follow it
- Check the McDonald's USA Menu Spotter, where the company posts new and returning items with their dates.
- Use the McDonald's app to see whether your local restaurant has the drinks or the McRib, and what it charges.
- Planning other holiday errands? See our guides to what is open on Thanksgiving 2026 and Black Friday 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are McDonald's new holiday menu items for 2026?
In the US, McDonald's has announced five limited-time drinks: the Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite, the Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer, and the Cookie Butter Frappé, Latte and Iced Coffee. No new holiday food items were part of the October 27 announcement.
When do the McDonald's holiday drinks come out?
McDonald's says the drinks arrive on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at participating restaurants nationwide. They are limited-time items, and no end date has been announced. Not every restaurant has to carry them, so check the McDonald's app for your location.
How much do the McDonald's holiday drinks cost?
McDonald's has not announced official prices, and prices vary by restaurant. Any prices circulating online are local listings rather than national prices. The McDonald's app shows what your nearest restaurant charges.
Is the McRib back in 2026?
Yes, in select areas. McDonald's said the McRib would return as early as October 27 in select US restaurants, with reports naming Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas, and Michigan restaurants starting October 26. No end date has been given.
Is the McDonald's Holiday Pie back for 2026?
Not yet. As of October 28, 2026, McDonald's has not announced the Holiday Pie's return. It came back on November 14 in 2025 and November 15 in 2023, so a mid-November return would fit past years, but it is not confirmed.
Sources
- McDonald's USA Menu Spotter, McDonald's USA
- McDonald's USA Enters the World of Energy with Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, McDonald's USA via PR Newswire
- McDonald's New Menu Item Spotter (Canada), McDonald's Canada
- New Season, New Flavours: McDonald's Unwraps Its New Festive Menu, McDonald's UK & Ireland
- McDonald's is adding new holiday drinks on Nov. 3. See the flavors, USA TODAY
- The McRib is coming back to McDonald's. See where, USA TODAY
- McDonald's Is Launching 5 New Holiday Drinks, Including a Red Bull Cranberry Energizer, Parade
- McDonald's reveals new cranberry-flavored Red Bull and Sprite drinks, Dexerto
- McDonald's confirms McRib comeback as bizarre Bitcoin rally theory resurfaces, Dexerto
- McDonald's Just Announced 5 New Holiday Drinks — And One Features Red Bull, Complex
- McDonald's McRib returns this week! But only in these cities, WSMV (CNN Newsource)
- When Is the McRib Coming Back in 2026? Dates & Where to Find It, HollywoodLife
- McDonald's Reveals McRib Return Date for 2026, But Only Six Cities Are Getting It Right Now, Just Jared (via Yahoo)
- McDonald's Announces Two Limited-Edition Menu Returns, Newsweek
- McDonald's features The Grinch in 2025 Christmas ad and menu, The Grocer
- McDonald's announces new Grinch-themed meal with a twist: Details, ABC News
- McDonald's Releases Limited-Edition Grinch Meal, TODAY
- McDonald's rolls out Red Bull energy drinks, Restaurant Dive
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 18 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 28, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
