ShanghaiMay 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Children’s Day approaches, McDonald’s China has once again launched its “Love to Come and Play” themed series of activities. This year, McDonald’s China has partnered with POP MART’s popular IP, Starry People, drawing inspiration from whimsical stories. Combining limited-edition treats, themed packaging, co-branded merchandise, and offline experiential spaces, the campaign invites both children and adults to step into the magical starry world of Starry People, unleashing their inner child while enjoying delicious food.
McDonald’s China partners with POP MART’s popular IP Starry People to celebrate Children’s Day
From now until June 9, consumers can enjoy festival-exclusive new items at over 7,900 McDonald’s restaurants nationwide, including the Long Long Deep Sea Cod Burger, Star Wish Potato Wedges, Orange Flavor Jelly Soda, and Nebula Sea Salt Caramel McFlurry. During the event, product packaging and select restaurants will also be refreshed with a Starry People theme. Starting May 23, pop-up “Love to Come and Play • Starry McDonald’s” themed events will launch in Beijing, Tianjin, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Suzhou, offering consumers a more engaging and childlike experience.
“For many, McDonald’s is not just a symbol of delicious food, but also a familiar and cherished part of childhood memories. Now, whether for adults or children, everyone can feel joy and childlike fun at McDonald’s every Children’s Day,” said He Yabin, Chief Growth Officer of McDonald’s China. “This year, we’ve specially partnered with POP MART’s Starry People, starting from a whimsical, childlike perspective, to bring a creative Children’s Day experience. We hope every friend who comes to McDonald’s can feel the unique warmth and charm of McDonald’s.”
Love to Come and Play! Unleash Delicious Inspiration
During the event, McDonald’s is launching several festival-exclusive new items to offer consumers a richer variety of flavors: the Long Long Deep Sea Cod Burger, made with high-quality Pacific cod from the deep North Pacific; the Star Wish Potato Wedges, crispy on the outside and soft inside, shaped like stars; the returning Nebula Sea Salt Caramel McFlurry and Orange Flavor Jelly Soda. McDonald’s is also introducing a Chicken & Wedges 20-Piece Value Share Pack, containing 10 Chicken McNuggets and 10 Star Wish Potato Wedges. In addition to the classic sweet and sour sauce, it now includes a limited-time pizza-flavored sauce and honey mustard sauce, bringing consumers a new and delicious experience.
Consumers can enjoy the new festival-exclusive series of flavors, limited-edition packaging, and co-branded merchandise at McDonald’s restaurants
Love to Come and Play! Limited-Time Themed Experiences Debut
For this collaboration, McDonald’s China has partnered with POP MART’s Starry People, using its warm and healing fairy-tale expressions combined with McDonald’s classic icons—such as the Hamburger, Fries, Chicken McNuggets, as well as Mayor McCheese, Birdie, and Hamburglar—to create imaginative “Starry McDonald’s” themed visual works. This allows Starry People’s healing starlight to shine into McDonald’s joyful scenes, evoking everyone’s inner child.
During the event, themed series products will be adorned with Starry People co-branded limited-edition packaging, making the joy not just a taste sensation but also a collectible holiday memory. Select restaurants will also be transformed into “Starry McDonald’s” themed spaces, offering an immersive experience of the cross-border spark between delicious food and fairy-tale inspiration. Themed pop-up stores will also launch in six cities nationwide. These pop-up spaces will revolve around the “Starry McDonald’s” concept, featuring multiple interactive and playful installations, such as a dipping sauce fountain, a fry workshop, and spinning Chicken McNuggets, allowing consumers to gain a richer participatory experience beyond just the food.
Love to Come and Play! Multiple Co-Branded Merchandise Launches
McDonald’s China will also roll out several Starry People co-branded merchandise items, adding more interactive fun to the festival. Starting May 20, consumers can purchase one “Starry People Choir” item at McDonald’s stores nationwide with any purchase and an additional fee. This series includes four designs, each with built-in music and bouncing effects. When multiple items are connected, they can dance in sync, resembling a joyful “Starry People Band.” Starting June 1, the “Starry Answer Machine” will also debut. Inspired by an electronic book of answers, this merchandise features a button that, when pressed, displays a fun response from Starry People on the screen, offering consumers a lighthearted and healing interactive experience.
McDonald’s China will also launch multiple Starry People co-branded merchandise items to add more interactive fun to the festival
Appendix: Pop-Up Event Information