Starbucks Unveils Its First-Ever Holiday Pup Cup Complete With Festive Design and Whipped Cream

Starbucks has something festive in store this holiday season, and this time, it is specifically designed for its four-legged and furry customers. While the Seattle-based coffeehouse chain already serves popular complimentary or low-cost treats known simply as pup cups or puppacinos to visiting dogs, the company is elevating the experience by introducing a specially designed holiday-themed cup to hold the canine delicacy beginning November 5.

The introduction of the holiday pup cup marks a brand-new milestone for the global coffee giant, which has a long-standing tradition of rolling out seasonal beverage cups for human consumers. This year, however, the company’s canine patrons are getting a dedicated piece of holiday art. The miniature vessel features a vibrant candy apple red background that is adorned with a charming blue-and-white spotted pup printed across the surface. According to details shared by Starbucks with USA TODAY, the illustrated dog on the cup is not just a generic design; it wears a festive gold bow and is directly inspired by a real beagle named Junie. This special dog belongs to a member of the company’s internal creative team, adding a personal and heartwarming touch to the seasonal rollout.

In addition to the spotted beagle illustration, the cup is rich with classic holiday imagery. The design incorporates an elegant green-and-white ribbon alongside Starbucks’ signature white Christmas tree. This stylized tree is meticulously decorated with gold and green ornaments, a delicate white garland, and is proudly topped with a gleaming gold bow. To complete the winter wonderland aesthetic, the festive cup also features a dusting of white stars scattered across the rich red background.

This unique holiday release serves as a special, unexpected addition to the company’s broader 2026 holiday cup unveiling. While millions of human coffee drinkers eagerly anticipate the annual change from standard green-and-white branding to festive winter cups, pets can now join in on the aesthetic tradition as well.

Here is what we know about Starbucks’ first-ever holiday pup cup, the treat inside, and the history behind the company’s famous seasonal cup designs.

What Is in the Pup Cup?

For pet owners wondering what exactly comes inside the festive miniature vessel, the offering remains true to the classic favorite. The 3.5-ounce pup cup is generously filled with fresh, fluffy whipped cream, providing a sweet and simple indulgence that dogs have come to recognize and love during trips to the drive-thru or cafe counter.

However, pet owners hoping to secure the limited-edition holiday version of the treat should note certain availability details. To purchase one of these specific holiday pup cups, customers must visit a company-owned or standalone Starbucks location, as confirmed by the company to USA TODAY on November 5. Furthermore, Starbucks has indicated that these special holiday-themed canine cups will only be available while supplies last, meaning enthusiastic pet owners may want to visit their local stores earlier rather than later in the season.

The Evolution of Starbucks Holiday Cups

The introduction of a holiday-themed dog cup arrives during a rich history of seasonal packaging innovation for the coffeehouse chain. The Seattle-based enterprise first began releasing holiday cups back in 1997, marking the beginning of a cultural phenomenon that now signals the unofficial start of the winter holiday season for millions of consumers around the world.

When the company first embarked on its holiday cup tradition, conventional wisdom might have suggested sticking to traditional seasonal colors like bright red or forest green. However, Starbucks famously shied away from that predictable seasonal custom during its initial rollout. Instead, the very first holiday cups came in four distinct colors: a deep magenta and three other striking jewel tones. This artistic departure set a precedent for bold, design-forward holiday branding that would evolve significantly over the subsequent decades.

Just two years after the initial launch, the company released its first classic red holiday cup, a colorway that would eventually become synonymous with the brand’s winter identity. Over the years, the designs have ranged from minimalist modern art to intricate storytelling illustrations depicting snowmen, ice skaters, winter landscapes, and holiday motifs.

Today, the seasonal lineup has expanded to include a diverse array of colors and visual themes. Modern cups frequently feature classic shades of red and white, but have also incorporated unexpected palettes, such as light, powdery blue. The contemporary designs are often adorned with traditional holiday elements like decorative garland, green-and-white holiday trees, sparkling stars, and vintage-style bows, creating a nostalgic yet fresh aesthetic for coffee drinkers every winter.

With the addition of the new holiday pup cup featuring Junie the beagle, Starbucks has expanded its seasonal storytelling to include the pets that accompany millions of customers on their daily coffee runs. As the holiday season gets underway, the company continues to blend its core coffeehouse culture with festive cheer for both people and their pets, keeping a watchful eye on supplies as the limited-edition canine cups make their debut in stores nationwide.