Fall is a mindset, and PSL season just made it official.
It doesn't matter that it's still technically summer. The moment pumpkin spice hits the menus, autumn begins — and 2026 is shaping up to be the most stacked PSL season yet. We're talking new drinks, earlier-than-ever launch dates, and a whole new category of fall flavors fighting for your attention (and your student budget).
Whether you're a die-hard PSL loyalist or a fall flavor curious newcomer, here's everything dropping right now — from Starbucks and Dunkin' to Krispy Kreme, Tim Hortons, and beyond.
Keep your eye on our best student deals of the week for deals and freebies.
Need more? Check out our ultimate student guide to food.
Why Pumpkin Spice took over Fall (and never left)
Let's be real: pumpkin spice isn't really about pumpkin. The classic blend — cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves — has been spicing up pies for centuries.
But it wasn't until Starbucks launched the original Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003 that it became a full-blown cultural obsession. More than two decades later, PSL season has turned into an unofficial national holiday, with brands racing to be first and students everywhere treating their first fall drink order as a rite of passage.
And the season is starting earlier every year. In 2026, the pumpkin spice drop was underway by mid-August — before most of you have even moved back into your dorms.
If you love PSL, check out the best Pumpkin Spice products.
Krispy Kreme — Already Live (August 11)
Krispy Kreme kicked off fall 2026 the earliest, dropping their autumn collection on August 11. If you haven't been yet, go now.
Drinks:
Pumpkin Spice Latte — latte with pumpkin pie sauce, whipped cream, and pumpkin spice seasoning
Apple Crisp Latte (new) — apple crisp syrup, whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and a graham topping
Doughnuts:
Pumpkin Spice Cake Doughnut — the classic, back again
Maple Cheesecake Doughnut (new) — shell doughnut with cheesecake filling, maple icing, graham crunch, and maple drizzle
Café Mocha Doughnut (new) — Original Glazed with chocolate icing, coffee buttercream, and a mocha bean on top
Biscoff® Cookie Butter Doughnut — Biscoff Kreme filling, cookie butter icing, and Biscoff pieces
Krispy Kreme has also teased more seasonal items arriving later in September, so keep an eye out.
Obsessed with donuts? Find out how to get free donuts at Krispy Kreme all year round.
Scooter's Coffee — August 13
If you have a Scooter's nearby, they were ahead of the big two this year with four pumpkin drinks:
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Pumpkin Caramelicious Latte
Pumpkin Chai Latte
Pumpkin Cinnalicious Latte
Dunkin' — August 19
Dunkin' beat Starbucks to the pumpkin punch (again), launching their fall menu on August 19. The lineup leans into cloud lattes — their signature frothy style — and pumpkin is all over it.
Drinks:
Pumpkin Cloud Dunkalatte
Pumpkin Patch Cloud Latte
Pumpkin Pie Coffee Chiller
Harvest Spiced Chai (new)
Tiramisu Cloud Latte & Tiramisu Marshmallow Matcha (new non-pumpkin options)
Food:
Pumpkin Donut
Pumpkin Munchkins®
Pumpkin Muffin
Maple Sugar Bacon
Budget tip: Dunkin' is generally the most wallet-friendly of the big coffee chains — and they brought back their 48-oz iced drink buckets for a limited August run, which is basically a deal for students pulling late-night study sessions.
Get a free medium drink with the Dunkin' student discount.
Starbucks — August 25
This is the one people wait for. The Pumpkin Spice Latte returning to Starbucks is practically a cultural event, and the 2026 fall menu is the biggest one yet — with several brand new drinks joining the PSL's returning lineup.
Returning fan favourites:
Pumpkin Spice Latte (the original, the icon)
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai
Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin
New for 2026:
Chaider — Starbucks' brand new drink category; a chai-meets-cider vibe with cinnamon and sweet spice. This is genuinely exciting.
Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso
Pumpkin Spice Chai
Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha
Iced Banana Bread Latte (available beyond fall season)
Iced Banana Bread Chai (available beyond fall season)
New pecan drinks (if pumpkin isn't your thing):
Pecan Cortado
Iced Pecan Crunch Latte
Pecan Crunch Latte
New food:
Hedgehog Cake Pop — vanilla cake, buttercream, chocolaty icing, and sprinkles (cute enough to photograph, delicious enough to eat immediately)
Chicken Bacon Protein Pocket — for the students who need 20g of protein to survive morning lectures
Tim Hortons — Available Now
Tim Hortons' US fall menu is already live, and it's got some underrated options worth knowing about.
Pumpkin:
Pumpkin Spice Latte (hot or iced)
Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp
Pumpkin Spice Muffin with cheesecake center
Apple:
Cinnamon Caramel Apple Latte (hot or iced)
Cinnamon Caramel Apple Iced Coffee
Berry Apple Crisp Refresher (caffeine-free — great if you're trying to cut back)
Apple Cider Timbit
Beyond the coffee cup: Pumpkin Spice at the grocery store
Can't afford a $7 latte every day? (Relatable.) Starbucks has dropped their pumpkin spice creamers, ground coffees, and ready-to-drink beverages into grocery stores for 2026, so you can make your own PSL situation from the comfort of your dorm. International Delight's Pumpkin Spice Creamer is also back on shelves if you want something a little lighter.
What's trending beyond Pumpkin Spice in 2026
According to drinks trend forecasters, pumpkin spice is still queen — but pecan, maple, and apple are the flavors gaining real momentum this fall. Starbucks' new pecan latte line, Krispy Kreme's Maple Cheesecake Doughnut, and Tim Hortons' apple-forward menu all signal that fall 2026 is expanding its flavor identity. Worth trying something new if you've never fully bought into the PSL hype.
Your PSL Season Cheat Sheet
Brand | Launch Date | Must-Try |
Krispy Kreme | August 11 | Maple Cheesecake Doughnut |
Scooter's Coffee | August 13 | Pumpkin Cinnalicious Latte |
Dunkin' | August 19 | Pumpkin Pie Coffee Chiller |
Starbucks | August 25 | Chaider (new!) or classic PSL |
Tim Hortons | Available now | Pumpkin Spice Iced Capp |
Make It Count on a Student Budget
Fall drinks add up fast — a daily PSL habit can hit $150+ a month. A few ways to stretch your budget this season:
Use your Student Beans discount wherever it's available - download the Student Beans app
Download the Starbucks app — stars accumulate fast during fall promos and they always run bonus star events in September
Dunkin' Rewards consistently has free drink offers for new app signups
Grocery store dupes — Starbucks' own bottled PSL drinks at the store are a fraction of the price
Check out our food & drink student discounts to see where you can save.
If you hate Pumpkin Spice, these fall drinks might be more your thing.
Fall officially starts September 22, but honestly? It starts right now. Go get your drink.
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