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McDonald’s is betting on bigger burgers, viral menu hacks and nostalgia to drive traffic in 2026, according to reports.
THE fast food giant is rolling out some high-profile menu changes this year, including its biggest burger ever, an official “secret menu” and a Pokémon partnership, although not all updates are expected to come to the United States.
McDonald’s has made the Big Arch – a huge double-patty burger – a permanent menu item in the UK and Ireland. The item includes two beef patties, three slices of cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions and a new tangy Big Arch sauce on a sesame poppy seed bun, according to a press release.
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McDonald’s could be preparing for a US rollout, according to the Daily mail, but the company has not publicly confirmed when or if the Big Arch will launch nationally.
When asked about its plans, McDonald’s declined to comment to Fox News Digital.
The fast food giant is reportedly rolling out menu changes in all markets. (Image Froese/Ullstein via Getty Images)
So far, fans aren’t happy with the new prices.
When the Big Arch became a permanent menu item overseas, its price increased from £7.99 to £8.79 – or about $10 to $11 – with a average meal costing more than £10, or about $13, according to The Sun.
“It was the messiest burger I’ve ever eaten.”
“It’s a scam,” exclaimed one person in a social media post, in response to the news of the new article on the site. Snackolator Instagram account.
Other reviewers have given mixed reviews of the new Big Arch sauce, which some say doesn’t compare to the classic Big Mac version, as well as the overall flavor.
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“This was the messiest burger I’ve ever eaten,” one Instagram user said, adding that it was “decent” overall.
“This is very onion forward,” someone else commented.
The Big Arch burger has recently become a permanent menu item in the UK and Ireland. (iStock)
Another part of McDonald’s international release is a “secret menu” that is going viral on social media. food tips in limited-time deals, according to a press release, although no U.S. rollout has been confirmed.
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The range includes mashups such as the Surf N’ Turf burger, a Chicken Cheeseburger and the return of the Chicken Big Mac, as well as new additions like an Espresso Milkshake, an Apple Pie Mini McFlurry and a Big Mac sauce sold separately as a dip.
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“Some of these mixes shouldn’t work, but they are strangely good and must be tried to be believed,” Ben Fox, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said in a statement.
McDonald’s reportedly leverages partnerships between nostalgia and pop culture to increase customer traffic. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This limited-time programming celebrates the creativity of our customers that we see every day on social media.”
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In the meantime, something that could be heading to the United States is a Pokémon-themed Happy Meal tied to the 30th anniversary that the gaming franchise is celebrating this year, according to reports.
The surge comes as consumers are giving up discretionary spending, according to reports. (iStock)
The collaboration has not been officially confirmed, but The street reported that the limited-time promotion could include themed packaging and Pokémon trading cards.
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The strategy reflects McDonald’s broader push to rely on nostalgia and grassroots partnerships to drive traffic and loyalty at a time when consumers are increasingly cautious about spending, the outlet reported, citing a recent earnings call.
