Starbucks’ Famous Red Holiday Cups Are Here — Here’s What They Look Like

Today is the day holiday season lovers wait for all year: Starbucks seasonal cups are back!

The chain released five new cups, which are available starting Thursday in stores across the U.S. And even though it's not even Thanksgiving, the chain — much like competitor Dunkin' — is reliably leaning into Christmas a bit early.

While the classic red and green color scheme is back, Starbucks' designer Bridget Shilling also added a "mood-boosting magenta" to the mix.

"When we were looking at trends when designing this year’s holiday, we kept seeing bright, bold, uplifting colors," Kristy Cameron, creative director at Starbucks, said in a statement. "We found that magenta alongside the holiday reds and greens lifts the traditional holiday colors and makes the red look even brighter."

The cups also feature sparkles and a blank gift tag where a gifter can write the name of the drink's recipient.

The theme this year, Cameron said, is "Share the Joy," saying it's "our shared human experience and togetherness that makes the season special."

Each of the five cups in the seasonal lineup has intention behind its design.

The inspiration for the plaid cup was a warm winter scarf. "I was thinking about a classic plaid scarf, but I wanted it to feel a bit more modern,” Shilling said.

She made it a bit more geometric and added the bright colors.

The swirl design pays homage to Starbucks' iconic Peppermint Mocha.

"This illusory cup design is inspired by sensorial movement and evokes the familiarity of tissue paper and the swirling shapes of peppermint candies," she said.

Ribbons also have a place on the cup menu with this gift wrap-inspired cup.

Shilling wanted it to feel "joyful and a bit imperfect, similar to how you might store your ribbons for holiday wrapping."

Baubles take center stage in two of the holiday cups this year.

"There’s a subtle tilt to the pattern that plays well with our tapered cup shape and brings to mind a uniquely wrapped gift," Shilling said of the hot cup version, while the cold cup "features playful baubles and sparkles in a snowy white."

In addition to the beloved themed cups, the chain released its seasonal drink menu.

Customers who want something new can order the Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai or the Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte.

Returning drinks on the menu include the Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte and Iced Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte.

Starbucks snacks also get the holiday treatment.

There's the Peppermint Brownie Cake Pop, featuring peppermint chocolate cake with white-chocolaty frosting and pieces of candy cane on top, and Gingerbread Loaf topped with icing.

A blondie cake with dried cranberries and cream-cheese icing is called the Cranberry Bliss Bar, and an icing-topped shortbread cookie resembles a smiling snowman.

There's also a Sugar Plum Cheese Danish with cream-cheese filling and spiced sugar-plum spread.

The seasonal food options: