Wednesday August 26 2026 – McDonald’s is making a major change to its fall coffee menu in 2026, and fans of pumpkin spice have noticed. Searches for “McDonald’s discontinues pumpkin spice latte” are surging after new reports said the fast-food giant is dropping its seasonal McCafé Pumpkin Spice Latte following a tradition that stretches back more than a decade.

The headline is largely accurate for fall 2026, but there is an important distinction. McDonald’s has confirmed that its Pumpkin Spice Latte will not be part of this year’s fall coffee lineup. However, the company has not clearly announced that the drink has been permanently retired and will never return.

Instead of pumpkin spice, McDonald’s is betting on a distinctly different autumn flavor: Caramel Apple Pie.

According to an August 26 report from TheStreet, McDonald’s is ending its Pumpkin Spice Latte’s 13-year fall-menu tradition in 2026 and replacing it with a collection of Caramel Apple Pie coffees. (TheStreet) You can read TheStreet’s report on McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte change.

Is McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Discontinued?

For the 2026 fall season, yes—the Pumpkin Spice Latte is off the menu.

McDonald’s confirmed the situation directly to Delish when discussing its new seasonal drinks. A company spokesperson said Caramel Apple Pie would be McDonald’s only fall coffee flavor this year and confirmed that Pumpkin Spice would not be included in the 2026 lineup. The company added that it continues to explore different seasonal flavors for customers. (Delish)

That wording matters.

Some current reports describe the decision as McDonald’s “discontinuing” the Pumpkin Spice Latte. But McDonald’s own statement specifically addresses this year’s lineup, rather than declaring that the PSL has been permanently eliminated.

That leaves the door open for a possible future return.

Read the original confirmation in Delish’s report on McDonald’s 2026 fall coffee menu.

There is another reason not to assume the PSL has vanished forever: McDonald’s still has a live product page for the McCafé Pumpkin Spice Latte, and an official McDonald’s seasonal-menu FAQ published earlier in 2026 still names the Pumpkin Spice Latte among examples of its seasonal offerings. (McDonald's)

Those pages may simply be legacy website content, so they do not override McDonald’s confirmation about the 2026 menu. But they reinforce the point that the company has not publicly framed the decision as a permanent retirement.

How Long Has McDonald’s Sold the Pumpkin Spice Latte?

McDonald’s relationship with pumpkin spice goes back more than a decade.

TheStreet reports that McDonald’s initially launched the Pumpkin Spice Latte at selected restaurants in 2013, before giving the seasonal beverage a broader nationwide rollout in 2016. (TheStreet)

That history explains why the 2026 change is attracting so much attention. For many customers, McDonald’s PSL had become a predictable part of the transition from summer into fall.

While Starbucks remains the brand most closely associated with the Pumpkin Spice Latte, McDonald’s provided consumers with another widely available option through its McCafé line. Removing it from the fall menu therefore represents a noticeable break with the chain’s seasonal routine.

What Is Replacing the McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte?

McDonald’s has chosen Caramel Apple Pie as its signature fall coffee flavor for 2026.

The new seasonal lineup includes four versions:

• Caramel Apple Pie Frappé
• Caramel Apple Pie Hot Latte
• Caramel Apple Pie Iced Latte
• Caramel Apple Pie Iced Coffee

McDonald’s describes the flavor as a combination of apple and caramel, paired with coffee and finished with salted caramel-flavored whipped topping and apple pie crumble. The drinks are available for a limited time at participating U.S. restaurants. (McDonald's)

McDonald’s official product listing describes the hot Caramel Apple Pie Latte as containing caramel apple pie-flavored syrup, espresso, steamed milk, salted caramel-flavored whipped topping and apple pie crumble. A small hot latte has 340 calories, while a medium contains 410 calories. (McDonald's)

See McDonald’s official Caramel Apple Pie Latte page for current product information.

Why Did McDonald’s Replace Pumpkin Spice With Caramel Apple Pie?

McDonald’s has not said that poor PSL sales caused the change.

Instead, the company is positioning Caramel Apple Pie as a new take on familiar fall flavors. That also gives McDonald’s a seasonal drink with a stronger connection to its own brand.

Apple pie has been part of McDonald’s menu history for decades. By converting the flavor profile of one of its recognizable desserts into a McCafé beverage, McDonald’s can offer something that feels autumnal without competing directly with every coffee chain serving another pumpkin spice drink.

NBC’s coverage of the launch notes that McDonald’s itself introduced the new range by essentially telling pumpkin spice to step aside in favor of a new fall flavor. The drinks are being offered nationwide at participating restaurants for a limited period. (NBC Chicago)

More details are available in NBC Chicago’s coverage of McDonald’s Caramel Apple Pie coffee launch.

The Change Is Part of McDonald’s Bigger Beverage Push

The switch may also make more sense when viewed alongside McDonald’s broader strategy.

TheStreet reports that beverages have become an increasingly important growth category for McDonald’s. The company has been experimenting with energy drinks, refreshers, iced coffees and crafted sodas, building on lessons learned from its former beverage-focused CosMc’s concept and subsequent U.S. drink testing. (TheStreet)

McDonald’s current U.S. menu reflects that expansion. Alongside conventional McCafé coffees, consumers can now find drinks such as refreshers, crafted sodas and its newer Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer at participating restaurants. (McDonald's)

Seasonal coffee innovation therefore fits into a larger attempt to make beverages a more significant reason for customers to visit McDonald’s outside traditional meal occasions.

Will the McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Come Back?

For now, there is no confirmed 2027 return date for the McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte.

There is also no definitive announcement saying it has been permanently canceled.

The most precise way to describe the news is that McDonald’s has discontinued the Pumpkin Spice Latte from its fall 2026 lineup, ending its 13-year seasonal run for now. Whether the chain brings it back in a future year will depend on McDonald’s future seasonal-menu decisions.

That distinction is especially important because headlines published on August 24-26 have increasingly characterized the PSL as completely discontinued, while McDonald’s statement to Delish only confirms its absence “this year.” (thestreet.com)

Bottom Line on McDonald’s Discontinuing the Pumpkin Spice Latte

The surge in searches for “McDonald’s discontinues pumpkin spice latte” comes as the chain makes one of its biggest fall coffee changes in years.

McDonald’s Pumpkin Spice Latte is not returning for fall 2026, breaking a seasonal tradition that began with the drink’s introduction at selected locations in 2013. In its place, McDonald’s is serving a limited-time Caramel Apple Pie coffee collection featuring hot and iced lattes, iced coffee and a Frappé.

For pumpkin spice fans, the bad news is straightforward: you won’t find the McCafé PSL on McDonald’s 2026 fall lineup. The better news is that McDonald’s has stopped short of saying the drink is gone forever.

So while “McDonald’s discontinues Pumpkin Spice Latte” captures the current trend, “McDonald’s drops Pumpkin Spice Latte for fall 2026” is the more accurate description until the company confirms whether its longtime seasonal drink has been permanently retired.

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