Red Lobster Crabfest 2026: Menu, Prices and Boil Flavors
Quick answer: Crabfest 2026 launched on June 29, 2026 and is built around Crab Your Way, which lets you pick snow crab ($29.99) or Bairdi crab ($34.99), choose from seven preparations and add a spice level. The headline new item is the Crabfest Boil — a full pound of crab legs plus a dozen shrimp, corn and red potatoes in a shake-and-serve bag, at $43.99 with snow crab or $48.99 with Bairdi. Crab is wild-caught, so availability varies with supply.
Crabfest 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start date | June 29, 2026 |
| End date | Not officially announced; limited time |
| Crab types | Snow crab and Bairdi crab |
| Headline dish | Crab Your Way, from $29.99 |
| New for 2026 | Crabfest Boil, with double the crab of the existing boils |
| Flavor options | Simply Steamed plus six sauces |
| Spice levels | Spicy, Extra Spicy, Scorchin’ |
| Availability | Participating locations; wild-caught supply dependent |
Crabfest dishes are limited-time only. The permanent crab and lobster dishes are listed on our Red Lobster menu with prices.
Crab Your Way
This is the centrepiece of Crabfest and the reason the promotion is structured around choice. You get a full pound of crab legs prepared however you like, served over crispy potatoes with a side of your choosing.
| Choice | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Crab | $29.99 | 610 |
| Bairdi Crab | $34.99 | 650 |
Calories shown exclude your side choice. To Go orders include two Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
The Seven Preparations
- Simply Steamed — the plain option, and the lowest in calories
- Roasted Garlic
- Cajun
- OLD BAY® & Butter Sauce
- Lemon Pepper
- RL Signature
- Mike’s Hot Honey®
Simply Steamed with lemon is the choice if you want to taste the crab itself; the sauced preparations are where the calories climb. Mike’s Hot Honey is the sweet-heat option and the most distinctive of the six sauces.
The Crabfest Boil
The new item for 2026, and the most substantial thing on the Crabfest menu. It contains a full pound of crab legs, a dozen shrimp, corn and red potatoes, served in a hot shake-and-serve bag with your choice of flavor — double the crab of Red Lobster’s existing seafood boils.
| Version | Price |
|---|---|
| Crabfest Boil with Snow Crab | $43.99 |
| Crabfest Boil with Bairdi Crab | $48.99 |
Boil Flavors and Calories
Total calories for the boil range from 1,890 to 2,370 depending on which sauce you choose. Here is how the sauces themselves compare:
| Flavor | Calories |
|---|---|
| Cajun | 1,280 |
| OLD BAY® & Butter Sauce | 1,290 |
| Mike’s Hot Honey® | 1,300 |
| Lemon Pepper | 1,390 |
| RL Signature | 1,550 |
| Roasted Garlic | 1,720 |
Worth noting: choosing Cajun over Roasted Garlic saves 440 calories on exactly the same dish. That is a bigger difference than most people would guess from a sauce choice.
Spice Levels and Add-Ons
| Add-On | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Spicy | Included | +20 |
| Extra Spicy | Included | +50 |
| Scorchin’ | Included | +110 |
| Cajun Sausage | $5.99 | +380 |
| Eggs (2) | $3.00 | +160 |
| Extra dunking sauce (4 oz) | $2.99 | 650 – 860 |
You can add up to two boil add-ons. The extra dunking sauces deserve a warning: at 650 to 860 calories per four-ounce container, a side of sauce can carry more calories than a full entree elsewhere on the menu.
The Rest of the Crabfest Menu
| Dish | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Crab & Shrimp Linguini Alfredo | $23.99 | 1,030 |
| Crab-Topped Stuffed Mushrooms | $18.99 | 530 |
| Crab Queso | $15.99 | 930 |
| Salmon Oscar | $30.99 | 760 |
| Steak Oscar (Sirloin) | $25.99 | 580 |
| Steak Oscar (Filet) | $34.99 | 520 |
Crab-Topped Asparagus and a Crab-Topped Baked Potato are also available as sides for adding crab to something you are already ordering.
The Crab & Shrimp Linguini Alfredo pairs lump crab and shrimp with a house-made creamy garlic Alfredo, asparagus and tomatoes. The Oscar dishes — salmon or steak topped with crab — are the best route if you want crab without working through shells.
Snow Crab vs Bairdi Crab
Every Crabfest dish asks you to choose between the two, with Bairdi costing $5 more. Here is what you are actually choosing between.
| Snow Crab | Bairdi Crab | |
|---|---|---|
| Price on Crab Your Way | $29.99 | $34.99 |
| Price on Crabfest Boil | $43.99 | $48.99 |
| Calories (Crab Your Way) | 610 | 650 |
| Leg size | Slimmer | Noticeably thicker |
| Meat texture | Delicate, fine-stranded | Firmer, meatier |
| Flavor | Sweet and mild | Sweet with more depth |
| Shell | Thinner, easier to crack | Thicker, needs more work |
Bairdi is a tanner crab, closely related to snow crab but a larger species, which is why the legs are thicker and the meat comes out in bigger pieces. Whether the extra $5 is worth it depends on what you value: snow crab is easier to eat and sweeter, Bairdi gives you more substantial mouthfuls and is more satisfying if you enjoy the process of cracking shells.
Our recommendation: snow crab for the boil, where you are eating alongside shrimp, corn and potatoes and the crab is one element among several. Bairdi for Crab Your Way, where the crab is the entire dish and the difference is most noticeable.
2026 Crabfest Cocktails
Three Hawaiian-inspired cocktails launched with Crabfest 2026:
- Magical Blue Hawaiian — Malibu Coconut Rum with pineapple, citrus and butterfly pea tea, which gives it the color
- Hula Punch — Ketel One Vodka with peach, hibiscus and club soda
- Lava Flow Margarita — Espolòn Blanco Tequila and Malibu Coconut Rum with a strawberry hibiscus sour
Availability depends on whether your location serves alcohol. Our drink menu guide covers the full lineup.
What Changed for 2026
Red Lobster’s stated aim this year was customisation. Chef Xavier Soto framed it directly: guests wanted more ways to make Crabfest their own.
In practice that means three things. The crab type is now a genuine choice rather than a fixed spec. The preparation is chosen from seven options rather than served one way. And the spice level is a separate decision on top of the sauce. Combined with the boil add-ons, a single Crab Your Way order can be configured dozens of ways.
The Crabfest Boil is the other significant addition, built on the success of the seafood boils that entered the permanent menu in 2025. It carries double the crab of the standard boils.
A Note on Supply
Red Lobster states plainly that the crab it serves is wild-caught and availability varies based on supply. This is not boilerplate — snow and Bairdi crab are quota-managed fisheries with genuinely variable harvests, and it is the reason crab dishes appear and disappear from the menu more than any other category.
If a specific crab type matters for your visit, call ahead. A location can be running Crabfest and still be out of Bairdi.
Ways to Save on Crabfest
- Tuesday Daily Deal. Snow Crab Legs are $24.99 as a weekday deal — cheaper than Crab Your Way, with potatoes and a side. See our daily deals guide.
- Join Red Lobster Nation first. The 20% new-member discount on a $43.99 boil is nearly $9.
- Buy discounted gift cards. A $100 bundle bought at around $80 is an effective 20% off the whole bill — see our gift card guide.
- Skip the extra dunking sauce. $2.99 for 650 to 860 calories you did not need.
- Go at happy hour. Arriving between 3:00 and 6:00 PM on a weekday adds $5 drinks to the meal.
Related Guides
- Endless Shrimp: price, flavors and how it works
- Lobsterfest: dishes, cocktails and dates
- Daily deals and value menu
- Nutrition, calories and allergens
- Happy hour: $5 drinks and $2 off appetizers
- All Red Lobster guides
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Crabfest 2026 start?
June 29, 2026. No official end date has been announced; it runs for a limited time at participating locations.
How much is Crab Your Way?
$29.99 with snow crab and $34.99 with Bairdi crab, including a full pound of crab legs over crispy potatoes and a choice of side.
How much is the Crabfest Boil?
$43.99 with snow crab and $48.99 with Bairdi crab.
What is in the Crabfest Boil?
A full pound of crab legs, a dozen shrimp, corn and red potatoes, served in a shake-and-serve bag with your chosen flavor and spice level.
Is Crabfest all-you-can-eat?
No. Crabfest is a fixed-portion menu. Endless Shrimp is the unlimited-refill promotion.
What flavors can I choose?
Simply Steamed, Roasted Garlic, Cajun, OLD BAY & Butter Sauce, Lemon Pepper, RL Signature and Mike’s Hot Honey, plus an optional spice level of Spicy, Extra Spicy or Scorchin’.
What is the difference between snow crab and Bairdi crab?
Bairdi is a larger tanner crab with thicker legs, firmer meat and a deeper flavor, at $5 more. Snow crab is sweeter, more delicate and easier to crack.
How many calories is the Crabfest Boil?
Between 1,890 and 2,370 depending on the sauce. Cajun is the lightest at 1,280 calories for the sauce component; Roasted Garlic the heaviest at 1,720.
Can I add anything to the boil?
Up to two add-ons: Cajun Sausage at $5.99 and two eggs at $3.00. Extra dunking sauce is $2.99 per four-ounce container.
Is Crabfest available for takeout?
Crabfest items are generally available To Go, and To Go orders include two Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Boils travel less well than the plated dishes.
Why is crab sometimes unavailable?
The crab is wild-caught and subject to seasonal supply. Red Lobster states availability varies accordingly, so a location may be out of one crab type while running the promotion.
Is there a cheaper way to get crab legs?
Yes. The Tuesday daily deal offers a pound of steamed snow crab legs with potatoes and a side for $24.99, which undercuts Crab Your Way.
What cocktails are available during Crabfest?
Magical Blue Hawaiian, Hula Punch and Lava Flow Margarita, subject to alcohol availability at your location.
Is Crabfest available in Canada?
Promotional availability differs in Canada. Check with your local restaurant.
Does Crabfest come with biscuits?
Cheddar Bay Biscuits are served with dine-in meals as standard, and To Go orders of Crab Your Way and the Crabfest Boil include two.
Red Lobster Menu Deals is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Red Lobster. Promotion dates, pricing, menu items and availability vary by location and are subject to change without notice. Crab is wild-caught and supply dependent. Always confirm current details with your local restaurant.