Starbucks Red Cup Day, one of the busiest days at Starbucks coffee shops across the country, is back to celebrate the holidays for 2025 — but the day comes at the same time as a strike was planned by 1,000 workers, the Starbucks Workers United union said.
Thursday, Nov. 13, customers who order any holiday or fall drink at participating Starbucks stores will receive a free, 2025 limited-edition reusable red cup while supplies last, the company wrote in a release.
The coffee giant said this year, it plans to give away “more cups than ever before.”
“Red Cup Day is a beloved tradition for Starbucks customers,” the release said. “This year, we’re giving away more cups than ever before. We’ll also have more baristas in our cafés to welcome customers and ensure a great experience for everyone. This is all part of providing the very best Green Apron Service and celebrating the holidays with our customers.”
This year’s red cup illustration features a snowy holiday scene, “inspired by the little moment of magic you feel when you step into a Starbucks from the cold outside,” according to Starbucks designer Yvonne Chan.
The day also marks the start of a 65-store strike by 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers to protest a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company.
Starbucks Workers United, the union organizing Starbucks baristas, said the stores, across 45 cities, would be impacted by the open-ended strike, including at least three in the Chicago area.
According to a release, one of the rallies will take place at 4 p.m. at the Starbucks store at 1901 Dempster St. in Evanston
“We’re striking for a fair union contract, resolution of unfair labor practices, and a better future at Starbucks,” barista Dachi Spoltore wrote in a release from the union. “For every one barista on strike, dozens more allies and customers have pledged to honor the picket line and not buy Starbucks while we’re on strike.”
In a statement emailed to NBC Chicago, a Starbucks spokesperson said stores were seeing “minimal disruption” Thursday morning due to the strike, with less than 1% of coffeehouses impacted.
“The overwhelming majority of our 10,000+ U.S. company-owned and 7K+ licensed coffeehouses are open and serving customers as normal,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Starbucks has more than 240,000 partners.
As Red Cup Day gets underway, here’s how it works, and how to get your free cup.
What drinks are included?
Starbucks says customers that order any hot, iced or blended holiday or fall beverage will receive the free grande (16-ounce) Starbucks reusable red cup at participating stores, while supplies list.
Here’s the full list of beverages included in the deal:
Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Sugar Cookie Latte, Sugar Cookie Breve, Gingerbread Chai, Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, White Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte, Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, Holiday and Fall Cold Foams and Protein Cold Foams.
How to get the a free Red Cup
The red cup giveaway is available however customers order, including inside cafes and drive-thrus, through the Starbucks ap and through Starbucks delivery via DoorDash, GrubHub or Uber Eats.
How to get discount after Red Cup Day
Any customers who bring in their reusable red cup — or any reusable red cup — will receive a 10-cent discount on their beverage, Starbucks said.
Where are Starbucks workers striking?
According to the union, here’s the full list of Starbucks store locations that will see strikes on Thursday. In Illinois, the list includes stores in Geneva, Evanston and Des Plaines.
Anaheim, CA; Long Beach, CA; San Diego, CA; Santa Clarita, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; Scotts Valley, CA; Seal Beach, CA; Soquel, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Lafayette, CO; Alpharetta, GA; Roswell, GA; Des Plaines, IL; Evanston, IL; Geneva, IL; Chanhassen, MN; Minneapolis, MN; Saint Louis, MO; Brooklyn, NY; New York, NY; Columbus, OH; Lewis Center, OH; Reynoldsburg, OH; Upper Arlington, OH; Worthington, OH; Beaverton, OR; Damascus, OR; Eugene, OR; Gresham, OR; Portland, OR; Dickson City, PA; Lancaster, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Austin TX; Dallas, TX; Denton, TX; Farmers Branch, TX; Mechanicsville, VA; Richmond, VA; Redmond, WA; and Seattle, WA.
This story was updated to reflect a comment from a Starbucks spokesperson with more information about potential impacts to stores.
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