Starbucks is ringing in the holidays with the return of its wildly popular Starbucks for Life Merrython game, offering Rewards members a chance to win everything from free drinks and food to Starbucks gift cards, Bonus Stars, the viral Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup, Starbucks for a Year*, and the coveted grand prize, Starbucks for Life.
The interactive celebration began on December 8, 2025, and runs through January 4, 2026, inviting members to explore four festive cities while competing for instant wins and sweepstakes entries.
Each week introduces a new virtual destination, whether Seattle, Milan, Tokyo, or New York City, along with a free weekly Prize Play. Members can instantly win handcrafted beverages, bakery treats, Bonus Stars, and more.
By playing weekly, members automatically earn entries into the Starbucks for Life sweepstakes, and during the weeks of Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, participants also unlock entries for Starbucks for a Year.
This year marks the debut of a fully interactive experience that guides players with a running avatar through a city in a 90-second virtual run, collecting red holiday cups and collectable items to rack up points.
Completing menu item sets earns bonus points, while the live leaderboard fuels friendly competition among friends and nationwide players. Participants can run as many times as they’d like, share results online, and chase higher scores all season long.
With an average of 600+ Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cups awarded daily, members have numerous chances to claim this fan-favorite prize.
Extra Prize Plays can be earned simply by visiting a Starbucks café and scanning the Starbucks Rewards app, or by completing rotating Weekly Challenges that might include sending e-gift cards, ordering seasonal beverages, or trying new protein drinks.
Bonus Stars are also doubled every Friday for added excitement. Starbucks Rewards members can jump into the Merrython at Starbucksforlife.com to begin their festive run. Those not yet enrolled can join Starbucks Rewards anytime before Jan. 4 to participate.
Watch this Starbucks Instagram reel for a look at some of the excitement.