• Coca-Cola has confirmed Diet Cherry Coke is returning nationwide, rolling out across the U.S. and Canada in February 2026.
• The flavor was pulled from most U.S. shelves in 2020 after debuting in 1986, meaning it spent roughly five years off shelves before this comeback, according to Fox News.
• It arrives alongside a brand-new spinoff, Coca-Cola Cherry Float, in both full-sugar and zero-sugar versions.
• A limited retro-packaging test run in late 2025 sold well enough to convince the company to make the flavor permanent, per Food Network.

Diet Cherry Coke is officially coming back. Coca-Cola confirmed the zero-sugar cherry flavor will launch nationwide across the U.S. and Canada in February 2026, according to the company’s own newsroom announcement, ending a stretch of roughly five years without a permanent presence on American shelves.

Five years, one persistent craving

Diet Cherry Coke first hit shelves in 1986, riding the coattails of Cherry Coke’s 1985 debut as Coca-Cola’s original flavor extension. It quietly disappeared from most retailers in 2020, according to Fox News, though it never fully vanished — diehards could still track it down through Coca-Cola Freestyle machines at select movie theaters and fast-food chains, per Food Network’s reporting.

That partial availability didn’t stop the flavor from becoming one of the most requested “bring it back” items in Coca-Cola’s lineup. Company representatives confirmed the news was coming at the National Association of Convenience Stores trade show in Chicago last fall, ahead of any formal press release, Fox News reported.

The comeback tour started overseas

Coca-Cola actually tested the water in the United Kingdom first. Diet Coke Cherry returned there in limited retro packaging in October 2025 before the company confirmed in a UK-market announcement that it would stick around for good. “Fans asked for it, and loved the retro limited edition launch while it was here!” said Tara Byrnes, Senior Brand Manager for Diet Coke Great Britain, in Coca-Cola’s own UK media statement. That version goes fully permanent on British shelves starting January 2026, just weeks before the American relaunch.

What’s landing on U.S. shelves

The U.S. and Canada rollout brings back Diet Coke Cherry in 12-ounce 12-packs and 20-ounce bottles with refreshed cherry-themed branding, per Coca-Cola’s own official announcement. It’s zero sugar and zero calories, and it’s launching alongside an entirely new product: Coca-Cola Cherry Float, which blends cherry flavor with a dairy-free vanilla note meant to evoke old-school soda fountain floats.

A win for the diet soda purists

For the generation that grew up cracking open a can of Diet Cherry Coke after school, this is as close as soda gets to a hometown reunion. Retro packaging is expected in select markets to underline the throwback angle, similar to last year’s Diet Coke Lime revival, according to Food Network. Whether it sticks around for another 34 years remains to be seen — but for now, the cherry is officially back in the can.