Starbucks’ Red Cup Day — the hectic day when customers can get a free reusable cup with purchase at the coffee giant’s participating stores — will return on Thursday, Nov. 13.
Those who purchase a handcrafted holiday beverage of any size that day will receive an additional grande-sized reusable red holiday cup (unfortunately for some, it’s not the viral, brawl-starting Bearista cup).
According to Starbucks, a handcrafted beverage is any drink handmade by a barista. On Nov. 6, the coffee chain launched its holiday menu (and seasonal cups), which feature festive drinks like Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Iced Sugar Cookie Latte and Iced Gingerbread Chai. Customers will be able to get their hands on the Chestnut Praline Latte and Eggnog Latte on Dec. 2.
Starbucks reveals its reusable red cup design
This year’s cup, which is made with “95 percent recycled material,” according to Starbucks, features an illustration from Starbucks designer Yvonne Chan.
“The design is inspired by the little moment of magic you feel when you step into a Starbucks from the cold outside,” Chan said in a press release. “With the hand-drawn sketch, I tried to capture the feeling of something crafted by one person for another.”
How to get your free red cup
You can get your free, reusable red cup however you order — whether that’s in-store, in the drive-thru, via the app or delivery on DoorDash, Grubhub or Uber Eats.
Order any size of the following holiday beverages — hot, iced or blended — and you’ll get a free grande (16-ounce) Starbucks reusable red cup at participating stores, while supplies last:
Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte, Sugar Cookie Breve, Gingerbread Chai, Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, White HotChocolate, Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, Holiday and Fall Cold Foams and Protein Cold Foams.
Starbucks announces more holiday merch amid Bearista cup craze
Starbucks announces holiday menu: Here's what's on it
Not included in the offer are Starbucks Christmas Blend and Starbucks Reserve Christmas brewed coffee.
Starbucks gets extra busy on red cup day
Starbucks calls its Red Cup Day “a beloved tradition for Starbucks customers” that brings many customers into its coffeehouses. In 2024, a TikTok from user @bridgettdigtt went viral showing how much busier the coffee chain gets on the reusable cup-centered day.
“Be nice to Starbucks baristas today for free Red cup day ❤️,” the TikToker wrote on the video, showing many drinks ready for pickup.
And on social media, folks have been sharing their excitement for the day.
“I’m totally getting a red cup! I get one every year. It’s my own little tradition ❤️🎄,” wrote one commenter on TikTok.
“My favorite time of year 😊,” wrote an Instagram user.
Starbucks says it will be “giving away more cups than ever before,” as well as adding more baristas in stores on Red Cup Day to greet customers, made drinks and “bring the day to life” as part of its “Back to Starbucks” strategy.
But Starbucks’ unionized baristas have voted to authorize an open-ended strike to start that day if it doesn’t reach a collective bargaining agreement with Starbucks by Nov. 13.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
- Starbucks’ Holiday Cups Are Here: See the Designs
- Red Cup Day 2025: Here’s How to Get a Free Reusable Cup at Starbucks
- Starbucks’ Holiday Menu Includes New Drinks and Returning Favorites
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
