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The Official 2026 Pumpkin Watchlist

My favorite season is fall, and as it gets closer, I get more and more tired of waiting for the leaves to fall and the weather to cool off. One thing I don’t have to wait for, though, is the arrival of popular fall menus from Starbucks, Dunkin, and more. If you’re like me and anxious for the Great Pumpkin to arrive, check out this list of pumpkin-flavored releases from a few of your favorite chains.

Starbucks

Fall Menu Release: 8/25

Pumpkin Menu Items: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spiced Chai, Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Frappucino, and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin

Starbucks is known for their extensive pumpkin menu, and this year is no different. Alongside returning classics such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, the coffee chain is also adding a brand new Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso and a Pumpkin Cream Matcha. The iconic Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin is also making its reappearance, so be sure to join me in line on August 25 for a sip and snack that tastes like fall.

Dunkin’

Fall Menu Release: 8/19

Pumpkin Menu Items: Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, Nutty Pumpkin Protein Latte, Pumpkin Patch Cloud Latte, Pumpkin Cloud Dunkalatte, Pumpkin Pie Coffee Chiller, Pumpkin Donut, Pumpkin Munchkins, and Pumpkin Muffin

Dunkin’ is releasing their fall lineup early this year, with a nationwide release date of August 19. Their annual release of the Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte and Pumpkin donuts and munchkins are classic and delicious. But I’m most excited for the new Pumpkin Pie Coffee Chiller, which will feature a marshmallow cold foam drizzle and a whipped cream topping.

Dairy Queen

Fall Menu Release: 8/31

Pumpkin Menu Item: Pumpkin Pie Blizzard

Dairy Queen may only have one Pumpkin item releasing at the end of this month, but it might be one of my favorites. The iconic Blizzard from DQ will be getting an Autumn update with this item, featuring pieces of pumpkin pie blended into their classic Blizzard. Milkshakes are always delicious, and the Dairy Queen Blizzard takes it one step further into pumpkin pie perfection.

TBD

Because it’s still early August, many chains haven’t yet released their pumpkin lineups quite yet, but based on past years, there’s still more updates to come. In the past, Auntie Anne’s has released pumpkin spice pretzels toward the end of August, and IHOP will no doubt be unleashing their pumpkin pancakes soon. In the meantime, I’ll wait with you and load up on all the pumpkin I can get my hands on while dreaming of fall.

Juliette Lanier is the senior reporter for her college's newspaper, The Regis Herald. She writes for a variety of genres, including news articles and human interest pieces. Juliette also specializes in writing for the theatre and dance events at her college.

Beyond writing for literary magazines and newspapers, Juliette is also the Senior Editor of her college's literary magazine, Hemetera, where she is published as well. Juliette writes a variety of genres for Hemetera, such as poetry, creative nonfiction, and short stories. She was also recently named the first runner up for the American College Theatre Festival's Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy Program

In her free time, Juliette enjoys reading, acting, and exploring Boston. Juliette is is also a full-time crafter and can always be found with a new hobby in hand, with the most recent being dying Barbie doll hair for the kids at her workplace.