TL;DR: Starbucks’ iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) officially returns on Tuesday, Aug. 25, along with an expanded lineup of new drinks like the Iced Banana Bread Latte and Chaider.
If you’ve been in any department store lately, you’ve probably noticed pumpkins, faux leaves, and Halloween decorations are already stocked on the shelves.
Now, Starbucks is joining the madness. The coffee giant just announced that it’s bringing its iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) back to the menu on Aug. 25, along with an expanded lineup of brand-new seasonal drinks. (I could honestly go the rest of my life without tasting another pumpkin spice anything, but to each their own.) Of course, if you can’t wait until late August, the pumpkin creamers are already in grocery aisles at Target and other retailers.
Here’s what you can expect to see on Starbucks’ 2026 fall menu:
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Pumpkin faves: You can get the PSL hot, iced, or blended, or order one of Starbucks’ other pumpkin-inspired drinks like the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, or the Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. New additions to its pumpkin lineup include the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and the Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha.
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Pecan is back: Returning favorites include the Pecan Cortado, Iced Pecan Crunch Latte, and the Pecan Crunch Latte.
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Banana bread is making a cameo: Starbucks is introducing the Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai to its menu.
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Chaider is the new cider: The Chaider is a cider-inspired twist on chai. It’s supposed to taste like autumn in a cup.
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Food and sweet treats: The food menu will also include a Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket, Hedgehog Cake Pop, and, of course, the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin.
According to new data compiled by Yelp, PSL season has kicked off earlier than ever this year. Apparently, internet searches for “pumpkin spice latte” and “pumpkin latte” increased by 301 percent and 256 percent, respectively, in July. July! (I credit all the Gilmore girlies and my sister for these stats.)
This is ridiculous. I wrote about this in 2016 — premature pumpkin spicing should be a crime. But now we’ve got silly little “pre” holidays like “Summerween” and “Augtober.” Call me old-fashioned, but I cannot stand it when marketing teams try to rush my seasons through. I like to enjoy each season as the universe intended: late August is for squeezing out the last drops of summer, not sweating into a wool sweater while sipping liquid nutmeg.
Source: https://mashable.com/life/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte-release-date
