Key Takeaways
- McDonald’s will bring back the McRib for a limited time starting Oct. 27, but only in select regional markets.
- Confirmed cities include Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Cleveland, Seattle and St. Louis, with availability listed in the McDonald’s app.
- Fans have already reported early sightings across several states, while Columbus and Pittsburgh locations may begin serving the sandwich on Oct. 26.
McDonald's is on the verge of bringing back a popular menu item, but there's a catch. It won't be available everywhere, at least not yet.
The McRib sandwich is making an early return this year, but fans shouldn't expect to find the popular sandwich on McDonald's menus nationwide.
The fast-food chain told USA Today the limited-time sandwich will begin returning to select regional markets on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Confirmed cities include Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas. Customers can use the McDonald's app to find out whether the McRib is available at a location near them.
This isn't the first time the McRib has come back around this time of year. In 2025, the McRib returned to some markets in mid-November. The sandwich last made a nationwide comeback on Dec. 3, 2024.
McDonald's announcement for 2026 comes after reports of the McRib popping up in a handful of markets earlier this week, according to the McRib Locator website.
Among the cities where shoppers have reported buying the McRib this week, according to the McRib Locator website, are San Antonio; Charlotte, North Carolina; Kearney, Nebraska; Overland Park, Kansas; Oxford, Mississippi; Acworth, Georgia; Bonita, California; and Clovis, California.
The McRib has also been spotted in other cities, according to USA Today, though shoppers haven't submitted purchase receipts to the McRib Locator website to confirm their sightings.
Even though the sandwich is officially set to arrive on Tuesday, there are more indications that the sandwich could arrive ahead of schedule in some areas. According to The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio is expected to start serving the McRib on Oct. 26. The Pittsburgh area is also expected to get the sandwich that day, KDKA Radio reported.
McDonald's has also confirmed Cleveland, Seattle and St. Louis among the markets getting the sandwich beginning Oct. 27.
