Originally published on 11/23/25

It’s officially Red Cup Day at Starbucks, but before you get too excited, there’s something customers should know. Right now, 65 stores across the United States are experiencing a worker strike, leading to even longer wait times on one of the coffee chains biggest days of the year. We share the latest updates on Red Cup Day and the strike below. 

What to know about Starbucks Red Cup Day 

On November 13, Starbucks officially brought back Red Cup Day. On this popular day, customers receive a free reusable red cup when they purchase a qualifying drink. In past years, only handcrafted holiday drinks such as lattes, mochas and Americanos qualified for a free Red Cup, and it seems as though that’s the same this year. To view the company’s holiday drinks, click here.

“Red Cup Day is a beloved tradition for Starbucks customers, and we’re excited to bring it back to coffeehouses on Thursday, November 13. When customers purchase a handcrafted holiday beverage at a participating store, they will receive a reusable red holiday cup, while supplies last,” the company wrote on Instagram. 

The design for this year’s Red Cup is an outline of a white Starbucks storefront, complete with holiday lights, a wreath and people sipping and smiling inside. It’s reusable, holds 16 ounces and can be used for hot and cold drinks. 

“It’s sure to be a busy day in stores, and the company is ready for it! As part of our ‘Back to Starbucks’ investments to provide the best customer experience, Starbucks is adding more baristas in stores on Red Cup Day to greet customers, craft beverages and bring the day to life,” a Starbucks Communications Manager told Woman’s World. 

A look at how the Starbucks strike might impact Red Cup Day

A couple of days before Red Cup Day, over 1,000 Starbucks workers announced that they were going on strike on November 13 over concerns about staffing issues and wages— which they tried to negotiate back in April of this year. 

“We’re turning the Red Cup Season into the Red Cup Rebellion. Starbucks’ refusal to settle a fair union contract and end union busting is forcing us to take drastic action,” Amos Hall, a barista at a store in Pittsburgh, told ABC News. 

Others like Dochi Spoltore, a barista from Pittsburgh, told the AP that they “want Starbucks to succeed. My livelihood depends on it. We’re proud of our work, but we’re tired of being treated like we’re disposable.”

Now, because of these strikes, several Starbucks stores across the country will be experiencing longer wait times on Red Cup Day. Some customers have said that it has taken up to 45 minutes for them to get their drinks, and that they didn’t even get a red cup at the end of it. It has also resulted in customers deciding to boycott Red Cup Day because they didn’t want to “cross the picket line.” 

“Don’t buy Starbucks during a strike,” one customer said on Instagram. “Back the union—always.” 

As of publication, there is no news on when the Starbucks strike will end. There is also no information available on how this situation will impact Red Cup Day sales, but Sara Kelly, chief partner officer at Starbucks is confident it will be over soon. 

 “For months, we were at the bargaining table, working in good faith with Workers United and delegates from across the country to reach agreements that make sense for partners and for the long-term success of Starbucks. We reached more than 30 tentative agreements on full contract articles,” she said in a statement. “Our commitment to bargaining hasn’t changed. Workers United walked away from the table but if they are ready to come back, we’re ready to talk. We believe we can move quickly to a reasonable deal.”

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/food-recipes/food-news/starbucks-red-cup-day