5 Changes You'll See At Costco In 2026

Besides the money-saving advantage of buying in bulk, there may be more enticing reasons to shop at Costco in 2026. If you've been hesitant to purchase a Costco membership, this year may be a good time to give the mega-wholesaler a try. The reason Costco functions as a members-only retailer to begin with lies in the company's exclusive perks and steep discounts available online and in-store. However, this year, Costco is fine-tuning some of its processes to ensure customers have a more enjoyable shopping experience.

Despite tariff concerns and the ongoing rise of food costs in the U.S., Costco continues to see an uptick in sales both online and in-store nationwide. Currently, Costco operates 924 stores around the world and manages approximately 82 million paid members every year. Not to mention, Costco continues to expand digitally and plans to open more locations in the coming years.

To keep customers happy and continue to see record sales growth, Costco is working to make some much-needed changes to improve operations, customer satisfaction, and overall efficiency in both its brick-and-mortar locations and online marketplace. For all the potential, new, and current cardholders, here are five changes you should expect to see regarding Costco in 2026.

Even the most loyal Costco members loathe waiting in long checkout lines. Fortunately, though, Costco is streamlining the checkout process with proficient "scan-and-go" technology. As a matter of fact, certain digital upgrades are already being implemented in select stores.

In many Costco locations, you can now have the items in your cart pre-scanned by an employee. Then, at checkout, all you need to do is scan your Costco card at a walk-up kiosk and pay for the items. While you can still speed up your shopping time at Costco by better positioning items in your cart for easy access, pre-scanning (prior to checkout) should reduce the amount of time you have to wait in line. Costco is continuing to test and gradually expand pre-check, though it has not confirmed when it will be available at most locations.

More exclusively, to further optimize the efficiency of Costco's check-out capabilities, the mega-wholesaler has also rolled out a new system in 27 select stores that allows customers to pre-scan items as they shop. Costco members use the app to both scan products and make purchases. In-store purchases are verified through a QR code, which is scanned upon exiting the store. If the pilot proves successful, Costco plans to implement this new technology at all stores in the coming years. These effective digital upgrades should ultimately lead to shorter check-out lanes and a faster, more convenient shopping experience for customers.

Believe it or not, Costco will finally let customers order custom cakes and deli platters online. Before this move toward in-app purchases, Costco customers had to place custom orders in person at their preferred Costco location. This proves to be a tedious task that often takes multiple trips to the warehouse for orders and pickups. Now, many customers (based on their locations across the U.S.) can access the online ordering form through the Costco app under the "Warehouse" tab. While this feature will eventually expand to more stores nationwide, for now, there's only a select number of stores that accept digital custom orders.

Once online ordering becomes a perk for every Costco customer, more and more patrons can utilize this convenient perk for parties and home events. The best part about ordering cakes and deli platters through the Costco app is that they're easy to customize. Specifically, when it comes to cakes, you have full rein in deciding your cake's size, color, flavor, and inscription–all through the Costco app. Just keep in mind that any order made through the app requires a Costco membership card, must be placed at least 72 hours in advance, and can be scheduled up to two weeks ahead.

While many Costco customers remain divided on the wholesaler's prepared meals, Costco plans to release a more varied selection of options through 2026. While there isn't an official list of upcoming products, there have been a few new meals and prepackaged ingredients spotted at various Costco locations throughout the first few months of 2026.

For example, Costco's Kirkland Signature BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese with Bacon is one of Chowhound's favorite Costco finds to add to your cart for April 2026. Loaded with shredded rotisserie chicken, bacon crumbles, and shredded cheese, this is one take-and-bake meal many customers enjoy. Additionally, for the colder days of spring, many Costco locations are featuring a more simplified take-and-bake meal that includes creamy tomato basil soup and pre-assembled brioche grilled cheese sandwiches with butter. Each kit costs $4.99 per pound (though prices may vary by location) and comes with two small containers of soup and four pre-grilled sandwiches stacked with cheddar and American Swiss cheeses.

Meal kits aside, if you like buying fully-cooked, ready-to-use ingredients, certain Costco locations are now selling fully cooked 32-ounce bags of flame-seared, chargrilled chipotle chicken for $11.99. While you can always opt for bags of Costco's plain, pre-pulled rotisserie chicken, this flame-grilled chipotle chicken is a fully seasoned, ready-to-eat option that appears to be the seasoned chicken used in Costco's pre-assembled taco kits. So make sure to continue checking the deli section of your nearest Costco for new offerings throughout the year.

One of the perks of being a member is enjoying all of Costco's food court items without breaking the bank. While food court access has technically been intended for members only, enforcement has historically been inconsistent, and even non-members have often been able to grab staples like the $1.50 hot dog or chocolate and vanilla soft-serve. However, as of 2026, Costco has been working toward making food court access a more consistent members-only perk.

As noted on one Reddit thread, in select locations as far back as 2024, certain Costco locations were notifying members that soon, they would have to scan their membership cards to make purchases at the food court. Fast forward to 2026, and scanners have already been implemented in many stores across the U.S. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and Costco has not confirmed a nationwide requirement for food court purchases.

Given the fact that a basic gold membership at Costco costs $65 per year while an executive membership (with 2% annual rewards and early shopping hours) costs $130, Costco's food courts becoming members-only makes sense. While this has produced some contention between members and non-members, charging members annual fees is how Costco sells its food court items at low, affordable prices. 

While there is one Costco location you may want to avoid, there are many more Costco stores to shop at in 2026. In a fourth quarter earnings call in 2025, Costco CEO Ron Vachris stated that at least 35 additional stores will open in 2026. Given the fact that Costco continues to see gains in net sales, the company plans to expand their footprint to reach even more potential customers over the next few years. As a matter of fact, on Costco's more recent earnings call, Vachris stated that the company plans on opening 30 new stores every year moving forward.

However, many of these new locations won't be built in suburban communities. Costco says it plans to shift their tactics and target urban areas to reach untapped demographics and new landscapes. This means shifting to condensed, multi-level stores. While this overarching plan is still in the works, Costco locations continue to open around the world. As of now, some of the new stores that are slated to open in March and April of 2026 include locations in Texas, Utah, and California. As Costco's business continues to grow at a rapid rate, expect to see more Costco locations near you in coming years.