Regal may swap Pepsi for Coca-Cola in 2027, an employee claims

The Coke-at-Regal rumor traces back to one anonymous Reddit comment from a self-described Regal employee. Regal, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo haven’t said a word.

Regal Cinemas might be going back to Coke. Might. The evidence so far is one Reddit comment.

Rumors that Regal will drop Pepsi and pour Coca-Cola nationwide starting next year spread Monday after Delish wrote them up under an “insiders reveal” headline. The source Delish cites is a comment in the r/RegalUnlimited subreddit from someone who says they currently work for Regal.

“As a current employee, I can confirm this,” the commenter wrote, according to Delish. They said Coca-Cola reps visited their theater, took photos and looked over the soda layout at the concession stand.

Regal hasn’t announced anything. Neither has Coca-Cola or PepsiCo. The moviegoer advocacy account Save Your Cinema posted Sunday night on X that Regal is “reportedly” switching to Coca-Cola products in 2027.

So for now, file this under rumor. Even if it’s true, the claim is that nothing changes until 2027.

Why would Regal switch to Coca-Cola?

Regal hasn’t given a reason, because Regal hasn’t confirmed anything. The rumor does land in the middle of a rough stretch for Pepsi’s fountain business.

• KFC said in October that its U.S. restaurants will move from Pepsi to Coke starting in January 2027, ending a run of nearly 40 years. [We covered the KFC switch here.](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/kfc-is-dropping-pepsi-for-coca-cola)

• Costco ended a 12-year Pepsi contract last summer and now serves Coke in its food courts, Delish noted.

• PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call last month that PepsiCo isn’t “competing well in soft drinks,” per Delish.

Delish also reported that PepsiCo has closed bottling plants in Maryland and Tennessee since September.

None of that proves Regal is next.

Has Regal switched sodas before?

Yes, twice.

• Regal served Pepsi from its founding until 2002, Delish reported.

• In 2002, it signed an 18-year exclusive deal with Coca-Cola.

• On Jan. 8, 2020, Regal announced it was going back to Pepsi that spring. It tweeted at Pepsi, “You are everything I never knew I always wanted.”

The 2020 deal brought Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Mountain Dew, Lifewtr, Bubly, Pure Leaf and AMP Game Fuel to Regal’s 546 U.S. theaters at the time, Boxoffice Pro reported. Pepsi also became the sponsor of Regal’s 4DX theaters.

Regal already sold Frito-Lay snacks, another PepsiCo brand. Regal’s parent company, Cineworld, served Pepsi at its U.K. theaters, too.

At the time, Coca-Cola supplied most major theater chains, including AMC and Cinemark, Spectrum News reported. So a switch back would put Regal in line with its biggest rivals again.

What would change for Regal moviegoers?

Nothing right now. If the rumor pans out, here’s what to watch:

• Fountain drinks: The lineup would flip from Pepsi, Mountain Dew and friends to Coca-Cola brands. Regal hasn’t said which drinks it would carry.

• Icee: One Pepsi fan quoted by Delish said they’d welcome the switch if it brings back a cola-flavored Icee at Regal. Regal hasn’t said anything about Icee flavors.

• Regal Crown Club perks: Regal’s 2026 Snack Saver, sold to Crown Club and Regal Unlimited members, discounts large popcorn and large soft drinks through Dec. 31, 2026, according to its posted terms. Regal hasn’t said what 2027 perks look like or which brand fills the cup.

What did fans say about Regal switching to Coke?

The reaction Delish rounded up was mostly happy. “Oh this is absolutely the best news possible!!” one X user wrote.

Coke loyalists have had to settle for Pepsi at Regal for more than six years, so that tracks. Pepsi fans have Taco Bell, which PepsiCo said is staying with Pepsi under a 10-year deal.

We’ll update this if Regal, Coca-Cola or PepsiCo comment.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• Delish (Nov. 9, 2026), the Reddit employee claim, fan reaction, PepsiCo context and Regal’s soda history

• Save Your Cinema on X (Nov. 8, 2026), the “reportedly” 2027 post

• Boxoffice Pro (Jan. 2020), the 2020 Pepsi deal’s drink lineup, theater count and 4DX sponsorship

• Spectrum News 13 (Jan. 8, 2020), Regal’s 2020 announcement, tweet and the AMC and Cinemark note

• Slickdeals (Dec. 26, 2025), Regal’s 2026 Snack Saver terms

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