The Pumpkin Spice Latte will return to Starbucks on August 25, marking the unofficial start of fall for the coffee chain’s customers.
The drink, often called PSL by fans, arrives one day earlier than last year’s August 26 debut. In 2024, Starbucks released it even sooner—August 22—setting a record for the earliest return in recent years.
An expanded pumpkin lineup
This year’s fall menu isn’t just about the PSL. Starbucks is rolling out an expanded pumpkin collection, including new and returning drinks.
New to the lineup is the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, a cold, frothy take on the seasonal flavor. The Pumpkin Spice Chai and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha also join the menu for the first time this year.
Returning favorites include the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, and Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino. The chain is also bringing back the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin, a spiced pumpkin muffin with cream cheese filling and spiced pepitas on top.
Pumpkin isn’t the only seasonal theme. Starbucks is testing other flavors, including a new banana-inspired line. The Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai combine banana, cinnamon, and brown sugar—flavors that won’t disappear when fall ends.
Beyond pumpkin: chai, pecan, and protein
The fall menu also introduces the Chaider, a chai-cider hybrid with cinnamon notes, available hot or iced. Pecan flavors return after a successful 2025 run, with drinks like the Pecan Cortado and Iced Pecan Crunch Latte, both featuring brown-buttery spices.
For those looking for something savory, the Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket offers 20 grams of protein in a whole wheat lavash filled with chicken, bacon, and garlic herb cheese spread. On the sweeter side, the Hedgehog Cake Pop—a vanilla cake and buttercream treat dipped in chocolate icing—joins the menu as a limited-time offering.
Starbucks is also releasing new merchandise for PSL fans. The PSL Society Collection includes drinkware and a hat, marketed as a way to celebrate the 2026 season.
The early return of the PSL suggests the chain is betting on the drink’s enduring appeal. While some customers treat it as a cultural event, others see it as a predictable ritual—one that starts earlier every year. Whether the trend holds or fades may depend on how much novelty Starbucks can inject into the season without diluting the original’s identity.
Last year, the PSL generated over $100 million in sales during its limited run, according to internal estimates. The chain hasn’t released projections for 2026, but the expanded menu suggests confidence in another strong season.