MAJOR CHANGES Coming to Costco in 2026

Costco is making MAJOR changes in 2025 and 2026 — but half of what you've heard online is completely wrong.
In this video, we separate fact from fiction and break down every verified change coming to Costco: VIP shopping hours for Executive members, Coca-Cola returning to food courts after 12 years, upgraded credit card rewards, scan-and-go checkout technology, membership scanner crackdowns, and more.
We also debunk the fake claims circulating online — including biometric facial recognition (not happening), senior hours returning (false), and Executive food court discounts (also false).
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:47 - VIP Shopping Hours (Executive Members)
3:52 - Coca-Cola Returns to Food Courts
6:41 - Membership Crackdown & Entrance Scanners
9:28 - Credit Card Upgrades
11:33 - Scan-and-Go Checkout Technology
13:51 - E-Commerce & Website Changes
16:22 - Debunking False Claims
18:19 - Conclusion

Costco is rolling out some of the biggest changes to how you shop that we've seen in years. VIP shopping hours now give certain members first access to everything, Coca-Cola is finally back after more than a decade, and new checkout technology could eliminate lines entirely.
But here's the thing, a lot of what's circulating online about these changes is flat-out wrong. Claims about biometric facial recognition, senior hours returning, and credit card upgrades that don't exist are spreading everywhere, and most people can't tell fact from fiction. This video breaks down exactly what's actually changing at Costco, what's already rolled out, and what's coming in 2026.

June 2025 brought the most significant shift to the Costco membership structure in years, and Executive members are the ones reaping the benefits.
Exclusive early shopping hours launched that month, giving Executive cardholders warehouse access before anyone else shows up. Weekdays open up from 9 to 10 AM for Executive members, a full hour before regular members can walk through the doors. Saturdays give them a 30-minute head start from 9 to 9:30 AM, and Sundays return to that full hour window from 9 to 10 AM.
And this benefit isn't actually brand new, because a Costco representative confirmed that these early hours existed earlier in the company's history. What we're seeing is a revival rather than a fresh initiative.
The rollout happened in stages starting in June 2025, and by September 1st every location nationwide had implemented the change. CEO Ron Vachris shared that these early shopping hours have added approximately one percent to weekly U.S. sales, which might sound modest until you remember we're talking about Costco, where one percent represents an enormous amount of revenue.