12 Hands-Down Best New Fast Food Drinks Of 2026 (So Far)

Fast food drinks come in bold colors, bubbly flavors, and all kinds of creamy, dreamy coffee varieties. They're the fun treat you get alongside your regular drive-thru order or the little indulgence that gets your day started. Every year, fast food restaurants release a whole slew of new drinks for customers to obsess over. For the past few years, many of the new releases have combined nostalgia with innovation, making sure every drink shines brightly for social media. From Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino to Sonic's Picklerita Slush, fast food drinks have been getting more creative as the years go by.

In 2026, fast food's new drink lineup has been all about fruit-forward flavors, Instagram-worthy twists on nostalgic classics, and dirty sodas. That's right, Swig isn't the only fast food joint slinging the creamy soda drinks anymore — they've been popping up on drive-thru menus all year. Fast food chains have been highlighting drink trends from around the world in 2026 as well, from decadent combos featuring Dubai chocolate to tropical drinks with boba pearls. Not every attempt has gone over well; Dunkin's Dirty Soda combined Pepsi with coffee milk, and landed on our list of fast food items that have totally bombed in 2026. Other drinks wowed our taste testers and reviewers online, truly standing out as creative and delicious.

If McDonald's new drinks are coming for Swig's dirty soda crown, the Orange Dream Crafted Soda has a chance at the throne. Reviewers say it's reminiscent of an orange creamsicle with a layer of thick foam floating on top of the orange soda. They describe it as the ultimate nostalgic drink; something close to a melted popsicle from childhood. One TikToker who appears to be a McDonald's employee suggested people reframe it as a dessert drink instead of considering it a soda. "Think orange sherbet or creamsicle — rather than a tart citrus soda," the TikToker wrote.

Taco Bell's Mountain Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda Freeze is a frozen dirty soda that had our tester going back for more. It's a slushie version of the Mountain Dew Baja Blast Dirty Soda, which is itself a twist on Taco Bell's classic Baja Blast fountain drink. They're both made with a swirl of sweet vanilla creme. Customers like Taco Bell's take on a dirty soda, but reviewer consensus is the frozen version is the better of the two.

In our review, we decided McDonald's Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer is the Grimace-looking beverage we've been waiting for. It's a striking iced drink with 80 milligrams of caffeine and an ombré-style look. It's made with a can of Red Bull and blue raspberry syrup all topped with bits of freeze-dried dragon fruit. The color transitions from purple to bright green at the bottom of the cup and tastes like a sweeter, tarter Red Bull, according to customers. Our reviewer noted the freeze-dried dragon fruit is the detail that makes the drink memorable.

Starbucks' Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha is basically a dessert, according to fans. It was on last winter's menu at the beginning of this year and leaned into the flavors of the then-viral Dubai chocolate bar. It combined an iced mocha with Pistachio Cream Cold Foam and a Salted Buttery-Brown Topping, and customers loved it. People describe it as more decadent and creamier than a traditional mocha with a hint of nutty flavor from the cold foam. Our reviewer said they liked it so much Starbucks' Dubai chocolate-inspired matcha and mocha may have become their go-to order (we'll clue you in on the matcha version next).

Starbucks' Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha was another winter seasonal drink inspired by Dubai chocolate. It's a velvety take on a classic iced matcha with pistachio syrup, a chocolate cold foam, and Salted Brown-Buttery Topping. Some happily compared it to an upscale, pistachio-flavored chocolate milk. Other reviewers noted the interesting flavor balance. The earthy, bitter matcha intermingles with the much sweeter chocolate notes for a unique drink many couldn't wait to order again.

Starbucks Tropical Butterfly Refresher was the anchor drink for the chain's 2026 summer menu. Fans hailed it as beachy and offbeat thanks to the fun collection of flavored popping boba pearls at the bottom of the cup. Mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and guava are the flavors that dominate this drink. Tasters compared it to something you'd get on vacation, noting it's not overly sweet and has enough of a tart undertone to balance everything out.

Taco Bell partnered with pop star Olivia Rodrigo for the Pretty Pink Baja Blast, a pink lemonade twist on its popular Baja Blast which released in September. It's appealing to a cross-section of fans who like the singer, people who adore anything pink, and longtime lovers of Baja Blast. The Takeout's reviewer said the drink brought them straight back to elementary school. Others point out the pink lemonade syrup tends to settle at the bottom (just use the straw to mix it back in), and describe the flavor as starting with the limey taste of Baja Blast and wrapping up with a Minute Maid-style pink lemonade flavor as you get further into the drink.

Sonic released four new banana-based drinks for the summer of 2026, and the top pick among them was the Banana Pudding Shake. It's a milkshake made with vanilla soft serve ice cream, banana pudding flavor, and vanilla wafer cookie crumbles — all topped with whipped cream and a cherry. It tastes just like the Southern dessert it's based on, according to people who have taken a sip. They praise the shake for being creamy, thick, and very much a dessert-style drink.

Dunkin' chose to craft several seasonal fall drinks with flavors inspired by the classic Italian desert tiramisu. The collection featured three lattes and a matcha, and the cozy flavors all impressed customers, but especially the Tiramisu Cloud Latte which is topped with a creamy marshmallow cold foam and hot chocolate powder. It's on the sweeter side with just a light touch of marshmallow flavor, and those who like it say it's a dessert-style drink with a balanced ratio of syrup-to-coffee.

Dunkin's Tiramisu Shakin' Espresso more or less ties with the Tiramisu Cloud Latte in terms of positive reviews, but it's the more coffee-forward of the two drinks. It's made with a double shot of espresso, oat milk, and a swirl of sweet tiramisu flavoring. People enjoyed the drink's strong coffee overtones, saying that while the flavoring takes a back seat to the espresso the drink is still velvety sweet and creamy. It's not overcomplicated with a ton of toppings, either; our reviewer here at The Takeout described it as being basic in a good way.

McDonald's introduced its own line of Refreshers in three flavors in 2026 and the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher was a hit with customers. It's a soda-style drink served over ice, with strawberry and watermelon flavors in a lemonade base. McDonald's adds freeze-dried strawberries for a little texture and visual garnish. Customers like its sweet-tart balance and summery fruit vibes.

Starbucks stuck with the Refresher trend and added 125 milligrams of caffeine, calling the new lineup Energy Refreshers. The Mango Strawberry Energy Refresher wowed those who like a pick-me-up that doesn't involve coffee. It's made with Starbucks' Strawberry Acaí Refresher Base, mango syrup, and a green coffee extract blend. It's mango-forward scent and flavor is what made this drink a hit with customers, as did the added caffeine boost.