Key Points:
- 2026 Cookie Season kicks off nationwide, supporting girl-led entrepreneurship and skill-building beyond fundraising.
- New cookie Exploremores™ launches, adding a fresh flavor alongside classic favorites.
- Hybrid selling model grows impact, combining in-person booths with digital sales to support local communities.
The Girl Scout Cookie season for 2026 officially launched this week, signaling the return of one of America’s most recognizable and anticipated annual traditions. Beginning in early January, Girl Scouts across the country have started selling cookies through in-person booths, neighborhood deliveries, and digital platforms, with sales continuing through the spring depending on local council schedules.
The cookie program remains the largest girl-led entrepreneurial initiative in the world, involving millions of scouts nationwide. Beyond the excitement surrounding the treats themselves, the season represents a major fundraising effort that supports troop activities, community service projects, travel opportunities, and leadership programs. Proceeds from cookie sales stay within local councils, directly benefiting the communities where the cookies are sold.
Organizers stress that the Girl Scout Cookie season is about far more than sales. Each year, participants acquire practical skills such as goal setting, financial literacy, communication, and ethical decision-making, designed to prepare them for future careers and leadership roles. As booths appear outside grocery stores and orders circulate online, the cookie program once again becomes a visible symbol of youth entrepreneurship across the United States.
New Cookie Joins a Lineup of Classic Favorites
A key highlight of the 2026 Girl Scout Cookie season is the debut of a brand-new cookie called Exploremores™. Inspired by the flavors of rocky road, the sandwich-style cookie features chocolate cookies with a marshmallow and toasted almond-flavored crème filling. The new addition reflects the organization’s emphasis on curiosity, adventure, and exploration, values central to the Girl Scout mission.
ExploreMore enters a lineup that continues to feature long-standing favorites, such as Thin Mints®, Samoas®, Caramel deLites®, Tagalongs®, Peanut Butter Patties®, Trefoils®, Do-si-dos®, Lemonades®, and Adventurefuls®. While these classics remain strong sellers year after year, the introduction of new flavors helps keep the program fresh and appealing to returning customers.
The new cookie follows the retirement of a few recent flavors that concluded their run at the end of the previous season. These periodic changes are part of a broader effort to balance nostalgia with innovation, ensuring the cookie lineup evolves while still honoring decades-old favorites that have become cultural icons.
Community Impact and a Digital-First Approach
In 2026, the Girl Scout Cookie season continues to blend traditional methods with digital tools. Customers can buy cookies directly from scouts, visit local booths, or place orders online through official platforms that allow for shipment or local delivery. This hybrid approach has expanded the program’s reach while helping scouts develop digital communication and marketing skills.
Cookies typically sell for prices that vary by region, reflecting local costs and council decisions. Regardless of price, each purchase contributes to programs that promote leadership development, teamwork, and community engagement among young participants.
As the season unfolds, cookie booths and online links serve as reminders that the program is not just about treats; it is about empowering the next generation with real-world experience. With a new flavor attracting attention and classic cookies continuing to delight fans, the 2026 Girl Scout Cookie season blends tradition, innovation, and purpose, reinforcing its place as both a beloved ritual and a meaningful youth development initiative.
