An Iconic Diet Coke Flavor Is Finally Coming Back
Coca-Cola is also dropping a new flavor inspired by an ice cream treat.
Diet Coke fans know the calorie-free soda belongs in a class of its own. And we’d bet the people at Coca-Cola think that way, too, considering they released Coke Zero in 2005, yet Diet Coke doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
Now, a classic Diet Coke flavor is returning to store shelves after a years-long break — and it’s being joined by a new flavor, too.
When is Diet Coke Cherry coming back?
In 1986, Diet Cherry Coke rolled out as the cousin to Cherry Coca-Cola, the brand's first flavored take on its classic cola. Over time it was joined by flavors like Diet Coke with Lemon, Diet Coke Vanilla, Diet Coke Raspberry and the recently reintroduced Diet Coke Lime, among others. Diet Coke Cherry (as it's been called since 2005) remained on store shelves in one form or another until the company phased it out in 2020.
But that extended absence ends this month. Coca-Cola announced Diet Coke Cherry will be returning to stores nationwide in February of 2026. The soda will be sold in 12-ounce cans and 20-ounce bottles and has, as of this writing, only been confirmed as returning for a limited time into next year, a representative for the brand told Food Network. As with last year's rollout of Diet Coke Lime, some (but not all) markets will see retro Diet Coke label art, too.
What’s the difference between Diet Cherry Coke and Cherry Coke Zero?
If you feel like you’ve seen sugar-free cherry-flavored Coke in stores all along, you’re not wrong: a cherry version of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar has been around since 2007, even while Diet Coke Cherry was on hiatus. And Diet Coke Cherry has always been available in Coca-Cola Freestyle machines at some fast-food restaurants and movie theaters. But now, Diet Coke drinkers can finally find it back in convenient bottles and cans after a six-year hiatus.
What is Coca-Cola Cherry Float?
Diet Coke Cherry isn’t the only cherry-flavored soda rolling out this month. Coca-Cola is also introducing the new Coca-Cola Cherry Float and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Cherry Float.
The brand’s announcement states that the Cherry Float flavor was “crafted to deliver the taste of a Cherry Coke float — without ice cream or dairy” and that “the beverage blends Coca‑Cola Cherry with smooth, creamy vanilla notes for a familiar yet new profile.”
This makes Coca-Cola yet another major brand to launch a float-inspired drink in recent months. Mug and Mountain Dew both launched retro cream soda flavors, likely reacting to the super-popular dirty soda trend, in the fall.
Both the full sugar and zero sugar varieties of Coca-Cola Cherry Float will be available nationwide in 12-ounce cans and 20-ounce bottles, as well as in Freestyle machines, beginning this month. They'll also stick around until at least 2027, but nothing past that has been confirmed yet.
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