Coca-Cola has said goodbye to a long list of flavors over the years, many of which still have loyal fans hoping for a return.
Orange Vanilla, Cherry Vanilla (at least in bottled form), Coke Spiced, Black Cherry Vanilla, Coke with Lime, Cinnamon Coke, and even the mid-2000s coffee-cola blend Coca-Cola BlāK have all disappeared from shelves. Some lasted months; some, such as lime, have returned temporarily—others quietly faded after a single year.
But in 2026, one of the brand’s most nostalgic flavors is rumored to make a comeback.
Snackolator, a popular Instagram account known for tracking snack and beverage news, reports that Diet Cherry Coke, which was first released in 1986, will return to store shelves in early 2026. In a post on Sunday, it shared what appeared to be artwork for 20-ounce bottles and cans.
It follows the announcement last month that Diet Cherry Coke in retro packaging would be on sale in the U.K. for a limited time.
Snackolator reported that a Coca-Cola representative described the flavor as a “sustain” item, meaning it is intended to become a permanent part of the lineup, not a seasonal or temporary revival.
For longtime fans, the expected return is the comeback they’ve all been waiting for. On Threads, many shared the post and reaced enthusiastically to the prospect. One user who goes by Laura wrote, “Dreams do come true,” while another wrote, “Finally!!!”
Coca-Cola Keeps Reviving Old Favorites
There’s a reason discontinued products often find their way back. Marketing research highlighted by The Street shows that when a beloved brand is pulled, fans can feel that their freedom of choice has been taken away.
Coca-Cola has been down this road before. One of the clearest examples is Surge, the neon-green citrus soda the company discontinued in 2003.
A dedicated “Bring Back Surge” Facebook group eventually grew to hundreds of thousands of members, and their campaigning became so intense that researchers later studied it. They eventually put it back on shelves in 2014.
Other Discontinued Coca-Cola Flavors
Diet Cherry Coke isn’t the only flavor Coca-Cola has retired over the years. Here are several other discontinued varieties that once appeared on U.S. shelves
- Coca‑Cola Orange Vanilla was launched 2019 and discontinued 2022. A vanilla-orange spin introduced as a permanent addition, later quietly phased out.
- Coca‑Cola Cherry Vanilla was introduced February 2020, discontinued in bottled/canned from September 2024.
- Coca‑Cola Spiced was launched Feb 2024, discontinued Sept 2024. It was supposed to be Coca-Cola’s “first new permanent offering in three years” but pulled quickly due to low demand.
- Coca‑Cola Black Cherry Vanilla was released in 2006 and discontinued in 2007. Short-lived cherry-vanilla variant replaced by other lines.
- Coca‑Cola with Lime was launched 2005, discontinued 2006. Now, in 2025, the lime flavor has returned temporarily to shelves.
- Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar Cinnamon was launched 2019 (holiday/seasonal context), not maintained as permanent.
- Coca‑Cola BlāK, a coffee-cola blend, was introduced in 2006, and discontinued 2007-08.
Coca-Cola Is Looking for Steady Wins
According to The Street, Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey acknowledged during the company’s third-quarter earnings call that the operating environment has become “complex.”
While many consumers are still doing relatively well, he reportedly noted that certain groups are feeling pressure from a mix of factors: inflation, erratic weather, shifting trade dynamics, and broader geopolitical uncertainty.
Despite that, Coca-Cola continues to post solid results. According to Quincey, the company saw volume growth improve by September, organic revenue grew toward the high end of its long-term model, and comparable earnings per share were up 6 percent—even with notable currency headwinds.
In a competitive landscape of soda brands, including celebrity-backed projects such as Ben Stiller ‘s Stiller’s Soda, a nostalgic product returning to shelves could be a winning strategic move.
Newsweek reached out to Coca-Cola’s press office for comment.
