Starbucks Is Giving 4 Lucky Customers Free Coffee for 30 Years—Here’s How to Enter

Starbucks has launched a new contest that will give one customer free coffee (or another drink or food item) for the next 30 years.

The promotion is called "Starbucks for Life," although it's not exactly life if you read the fine print. "Starbucks for Life, the annual holiday game for Starbucks Rewards members, is back, offering chances to instantly win free drinks, food, Starbucks gift Cards, and Bonus Stars as well as the viral Glass Starbucks Bearista Cold Cup, Starbucks for a Year and the grand prize: Starbucks for Life," the company wrote on December 8. That's the date the game went live online.

According to People, 17,000 people will win Bearista Cold Cups, and four players will win Starbucks for Life.

The 'Starbucks for Life' Promotion Involves a 'Virtual Journey' With a 'Free Prize Play'

The Bearista cup went viral as fans clamored to get the souvenir, and many wrote on social media that they could not get the cup because of limited supply. The new promotion gives fans a chance to finally get a handle on the trending item.

According to Starbucks:

• The promotion runs from December 8, 2025, through January 4, 2026.
• Players "can embark on a virtual journey through four festive cities: Seattle, Milan, Tokyo and New York City." There is a new city each week and a "free prize play, " which gives people a chance to win instant prizes. They include "handcrafted beverages, cake pops, Bonus Stars and more," Starbucks wrote.
• To qualify to win the Starbucks for Life promotion, people must play the game each week. They will then be "automatically entered into the sweepstakes."
• During the weeks of December 22 and 29, "members who play will also be entered into the sweepstakes for Starbucks for a year," Starbucks wrote.

"For the first time ever, this year’s Starbucks for Life game is an interactive experience, putting members at the center of the action as they compete in a 90-second virtual run, dashing an avatar through one of the cities, snagging collectables and red cups to earn points. The more collectables gathered, the higher the score," Starbucks wrote.

Some People Had Problems Logging Into the Online Game on December 8

Fans weighed in on social media, and some wrote that they were having trouble logging in. One X user wrote that she kept getting a "come back soon" message when she tried to play the game.

"@Starbucks when I log in for the Starbucks for life it just keeps saying logging in," wrote another fan. "Is http://StarbucksForLife.com not working for anyone else? Or is it just me? Trying to get there for the @Starbucks bear," wrote a fan.

How do you play?

• "Choose the city and avatar. Each week, a new city — Seattle, Milan, Tokyo and New York — will be featured, showcasing iconic Starbucks landmarks in each location," Starbucks wrote.
• "Collect as many Starbucks red holiday cups as possible in 90 seconds. The more players collect, and the faster they complete their run, the higher their score, moving them up the leaderboard."
• "Complete menu item sets for bonus points. Gather all four featured menu items on the virtual run, such as breakfast sandwiches and lattes, for extra points."
• "Challenge friends." There is a "live leaderboard," according to Starbucks.

Related: Starbucks Announces Red Cup Day 2025—Here’s How to Get Yours