New Girl Scout Cookie Joins Lineup As 2026 Cookie Season Begins

RALEIGH — Girl Scouts across central and eastern North Carolina are gearing up for one of the most anticipated traditions of the year: Girl Scout Cookie™ season. Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines will officially kick off the 2026 cookie season on January 18, running through March 9, bringing sweet treats, community connection and leadership opportunities to 41 counties across the region.

This year’s cookie season introduces an exciting new addition to the iconic lineup. Exploremores™, a rocky road ice cream–inspired sandwich cookie, debuts for the 2026 season. Filled with flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond–flavored crème, Exploremores celebrates the spirit of exploration at the heart of the Girl Scout experience. The new cookie joins longtime favorites such as Thin Mints®, Caramel deLites®, Peanut Butter Patties® and more.

Beyond the cookies, the Girl Scout Cookie Program® remains the largest girl-led entrepreneurial experience in the world. Through the program, Girl Scouts gain hands-on experience in goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics — lessons that last long after the cookie season ends.

From a kindergartener discovering marine life on a troop field trip to a middle schooler building confidence on her first overnight adventure, proceeds from cookie sales help fund meaningful experiences like community service projects, troop travel and summer camp. All cookie proceeds stay local, directly supporting Girl Scout troops and programs within the North Carolina Coastal Pines council.

Community members can support Girl Scouts in several ways this season. Those who know a registered Girl Scout are encouraged to reach out directly to place an order. For those who don’t, the Girl Scout Cookie Finder makes it easy to locate nearby cookie booths or order cookies for direct shipment.

Giving back is also a key part of the season. Through Operation Cookie Drop and the council’s Cookie Share Program, supporters can donate cookies to military members and local organizations, spreading joy while making a meaningful impact in the community.

While Girl Scout Cookie season is recognized nationally from January through April, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines celebrates its cookie season from January 18 through March 9. Serving more than 20,000 members and volunteers, the council is the largest girl-led leadership development organization in central and eastern North Carolina, with its administrative headquarters in Raleigh and additional service centers in Goldsboro, Fayetteville and Wilmington.

As Girl Scouts across the region explore who they are, what they can do and who they can become, community support helps make it all possible — one box of cookies at a time.