Starbucks has confirmed its 2026 fall lineup, and while the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back on schedule, the company used the announcement to introduce an entirely new drink category rather than simply resurrecting old favorites. The Pumpkin Spice Latte returns August 25, according to Starbucks’ own announcement, but the drink drawing the most attention this year is something the chain has never sold before.
Key Points
- The Pumpkin Spice Latte returns August 25, 2026, according to Starbucks.
- Starbucks introduced “Chaider,” described in the company’s own release as “a cozy twist on chai for fall” built around cider-inspired flavors including cinnamon and sweet spice.
- New pumpkin drinks joining the PSL this year include the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha.
- A new banana bread-inspired lineup debuts as well, including an Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai.
- New food items include a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket with 20 grams of protein and a Hedgehog Cake Pop.
The Chaider is the headline addition. Rather than another variation on pumpkin spice, Starbucks built the drink around chai spiced with cider-forward flavor notes, positioning it as a genuinely new category rather than a repackaged seasonal classic, per the company’s announcement. It’s a notable break from the pattern Starbucks has followed in recent years, when most “new” fall items were pumpkin or pecan riffs on drinks that already existed.
The Rest of the Pumpkin and Pecan Lineup
Alongside the PSL, Starbucks is bringing back the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, while adding the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha as new options within the pumpkin family, according to Starbucks. A pecan lineup rounds out the coffee side of the menu with the Pecan Cortado, Iced Pecan Crunch Latte and Pecan Crunch Latte. Yahoo’s coverage of the rollout confirmed the same lineup and specifically flagged the Chaider as the standout new item, echoing the framing in Starbucks’ own release.
New Food Items and Merchandise
On the food side, Starbucks is adding a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket made with toasted whole wheat lavash, chicken, bacon and garlic herb cheese, delivering 20 grams of protein, according to the company. A new Hedgehog Cake Pop, made with vanilla cake, buttercream and chocolate icing, joins the returning Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin. Starbucks is also releasing a “PSL Society” merchandise collection with new drinkware and its now-familiar seasonal hat, rounding out a rollout that leans as heavily on new product categories as it does on nostalgia.
