The short answer

The month’s headline is Japan, where September 2 was a coordinated autumn opening day: McDonald’s launched its 35th-anniversary Tsukimi moon-viewing lineup, Starbucks dropped a chilled sweet-potato Frappuccino and tea latte, and KFC added dip chicken a week after its own Tsukimi burgers. In the US, fall menus are fully live: Starbucks’ new Chaider, Dunkin’s tiramisu line, Wendy’s Apple Crumble Frosty. Korea’s gochujang butter burgers arrive September 17. Updated through the month as releases land.

This is the monthly worldwide roundup: every item here comes from the chains’ own announcements, with local prices and dates where published.

McDonald's Japan's 2026 Tsukimi lineup poster with egg-topped burgers under a full moon The month’s biggest drop: McDonald’s Japan’s eight-item Tsukimi lineup (“Tsukimi Burger, on sale 9/2”); the item-by-item translation is on our McDonald’s Japan page. Image: McDonald’s Japan

Japan: Tsukimi season, the annual main event

Every September, Japanese chains celebrate tsukimi (moon viewing) by putting a fried egg on things, and it’s the country’s biggest limited- time ritual after sakura season.

  • McDonald’s Japan runs eight Tsukimi items through late October, the 35th year of the tradition: the classic Tsukimi Burger (¥460, ~$2.91), a new seared-beef sukiyaki-style version (¥570, ~$3.61), a double-cheese double-patty edition sold only on the after-5pm Night Mac menu (¥670, ~$4.25), a renewed Tsukimi Pie with red bean and mochi (¥200, ~$1.27), and a Shine Muscat grape McShake. Full details in our McDonald’s Japan menu page.
  • Starbucks Japan answered on the same day with its melty honey-sweet-potato pair: a Beniharuka Frappuccino (¥700, ~$4.44) and a cold-only Mousse Tea Latte (¥640, ~$4.06); our Starbucks Japan page has the lineup.
  • KFC Japan started Tsukimi earliest (August 26) with five items, including a triple-katsu Tsukimi burger at ¥990 (~$6.27), then added Crazy Dip Chicken with three sauces on September 2 and a garlic soy-sauce chicken on September 16.

United States: fall menus, fully deployed

  • Starbucks: the Pumpkin Spice Latte returned August 25 alongside the new Chaider, a chai-apple-cider hybrid (about $4.95), plus an Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso and banana-bread lattes that the company says will outlast fall.
  • Dunkin’ went tiramisu: a Tiramisu Cloud Latte and three siblings, next to the new Pumpkin Patch Cloud Latte and an Alix Earle collab meal.
  • Wendy’s brought back the fan-voted Pretzel Bacon Pub Cheeseburger and added an Apple Crumble Frosty Fusion.
  • Taco Bell launched a pink-lemonade Baja Blast fronted by Olivia Rodrigo and confirmed Nacho Fries are going permanent.
  • Burger King reworked its chicken nuggets (new recipe from September 1) with a garlicky Special Savory Sauce; McDonald’s US brought Spicy McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce back the same day and added a Caramel Apple Pie McCafé line.

Korea: the gochujang wave

McDonald’s Korea launches McCrispy and McSpicy Gochujang Butter burgers on September 17, with the sauce also sold as a dip; its Bulgogi Burger just joined the value menu at ₩2,500 (~$1.85) as lunch prices soar. Starbucks Korea’s fall list brings back the Black Glazed Latte and adds a Hojicha Glazed Tea Latte. And the region-wide story: McDonald’s announced a G-Dragon campaign across 13 Asian markets on September 9, so expect tie-in items shortly.

India: the Signature range

McDonald’s India quietly added a premium tier in late August: the Signature 7 Veggies Burger (₹215, ~$2.23) and Signature Whole Muscle Chicken Burger (₹229, ~$2.38), the latter built on a whole fillet rather than a formed patty. A Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie tie-in is running across the meal combos, and July brought Corn & Cheese Strips, a vegetarian answer to chicken strips. The full Indian menu — the only McDonald’s on Earth with no beef and no pork — is now on this site with veg marks and prices.

North America: the Heist and the drink explosion

McDonald’s Canada’s World Menu Heist is running now with its strongest lineup yet: Spain’s McExtreme Pulled Pork, Australia’s Chicken Parmi Burger, the UK’s Garlic & Black Pepper McNuggets, Cheesy Bacon McFlavour Fries and the Netherlands’ Stroopwafel McFlurry — the full Canadian menu is now on this site. McDonald’s USA brought back Spicy Chicken McNuggets in August and spent 2026 adding an entire drink line (Refreshers, dirty sodas, its first Red Bull drinks), with a Caramel Apple Pie McCafé range for fall — the verified US menu is up too, along with El Salvador and Honduras, whose bean-built McMuffins and horchata McCafé deserve the trip.

Britain, Australia

McDonald’s UK’s September rotation runs Black Pepper & Garlic McNuggets, a Big Arch with Bacon, Cheesy Potato Bites and a Cornetto Strawberry McFlurry. McDonald’s Australia launched the Birdie’s Brekkie Meal on August 26, the first meal fronted by the mascot Birdie anywhere in the world, with a pink “Birdie sauce” McMuffin and a Strawberry Shortcake Frappé.

FAQ

What is Tsukimi season at Japanese fast food chains?

September’s moon-viewing tradition: chains add fried-egg (“full moon”) items for six weeks or so. McDonald’s Japan has done it every year since 1991, and KFC, Burger King and others now join with their own lineups.

What’s new at Starbucks for fall 2026?

In the US: the PSL returned August 25 with the new Chaider and banana-bread lattes. In Japan: a chilled sweet-potato Frappuccino and mousse tea latte from September 2. In Korea: glazed hojicha and black-glazed lattes.

How often is this roundup updated?

Weekly during the month, with the date stamp above reflecting the last check. Bigger releases get their own pages on the chain hubs.

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About Kevin

I track what the world's biggest chains are serving, country by country — new releases, exclusives and prices, checked against the chains' own menus and press rooms. Every page shows when it was last verified.

Prices, schedules and closures change. If you spot something stale, email us and we’ll check it.