McDonald’s to debut new refreshers, crafted sodas, beaded drink carriers this week

Megan Swift TribLive Wed, May 6, 2026 • 10:38 AM

Pittsburgh-area McDonald’s are launching six brand-new specialty drinks featuring bold, crafted sodas and refreshers, including: Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, Mango Pineapple Refresher, Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher, Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream, and Dirty Dr. Pepper. (Courtesy of McDonald’s)

New refreshers and crafted sodas launch at McDonald’s starting Wednesday.

There are six options in the new lineup of drinks, according to an announcement. Three will be refreshers and three will be crafted sodas.

Here are the specifics:

Strawberry Watermelon Refresher* blends sweet strawberry and watermelon flavors with a lemonade base, plus freeze‑dried strawberries for an extra burst of flavor and visual flair.
Mango Pineapple Refresher* mixes tropical mango and pineapple flavors with a lemonade base and strawberry popping boba to deliver a juicy burst of flavor.
Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher* pairs bold blackberry and passion fruit flavors with lemonade alongside freeze‑dried dragon fruit for a touch of sweetness and a pop of color.
Sprite® Berry Blast infuses Sprite® with a sweet blue raspberry syrup – topped off with decadent cold foam as the final touch.
Orange Dream is a twist on the fan-favorite Hi‑C® Orange Lavaburst at McDonald’s mixed with a hint of vanilla flavor and finished with cold foam for a smooth, dreamy citrus sip.
Dirty Dr Pepper® layers classic Dr Pepper® flavor with a vanilla flavor and a cloud of cold foam to create a rich finish.

The refreshers, which are denoted with stars, will contain caffeine.

McDonald’s said the six drinks will be available at its nearly 14,000 restaurants nationwide — and they are here to stay.

“Our fans have an obsession with beverages — to them, drinks are more than just drinks. And soon, our beverages won’t just be a reason you come to McDonald’s, they’ll be the reason,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald’s USA. “We’ve taken the time to get this right, introducing new drinks that are handcrafted with bold flavors and quality ingredients our fans can taste in every sip.”

Alongside the new beverages, six limited-edition beaded drink carriers are launching through designer Susan Alexandra’s website. They can be purchased starting Wednesday as well.

McDonald’s said each carrier will come with a $10 gift card when purchased.

“What you drink isn’t just a drink — it’s a daily ritual, a mood, a statement and now, the ultimate accessory,” the announcement says.