After years of anticipation and social-media drooling, McDonald’s is finally rolling out The Big Arch across the United States, marking the end of a nearly two-year wait for American fans eager to sink their teeth into a towering new classic. As the fast-food giant prepares for the U.S. rollout of what is being called their biggest burger in history, the question remains: does this beefy behemoth live up to the multi-year hype, or is it simply too much to handle?
America may soon get a taste of McDonald’s biggest burger yet
McDonald’s The Big Arch has been years in the making, and now, after a long global rollout, signs suggest America’s turn may finally be near. First floated in December 2023, the oversized sandwich marked a historic move for the brand as its first new permanent, worldwide menu addition since Chicken McNuggets launched in 1983. Momentum picked up in summer 2024 with an early trial in Canada, before the towering burger made its way across Portugal, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, quickly earning a reputation as McDonald’s biggest burger ever. But while the burger went global, the U.S. was left off the list — until now.
According to The Daily Mail, during the first weekend of 2026, a U.S. McDonald’s employee shared a Reddit post showing an internal manager document teasing January menu additions, with The Big Arch listed alongside hot honey sauce and the returning Oreo and Shamrock shakes. While McDonald’s has yet to make an official announcement about The Big Arch’s U.S. debut, the Reddit leak has fueled speculation that the long-anticipated burger could arrive on menus sooner rather than later.
How big is McDonald’s The Big Arch?
McDonald’s The Big Arch is a massive upgrade over the chain’s classic hamburger. While a regular hamburger measures about 3.5 inches in diameter and features a single quarter-pound beef patty, a modest amount of cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and a standard bun, The Big Arch stacks two quarter-pound patties, three slices of white processed cheese, extra pickles, lettuce, onions, and a special Big Arch sauce—all on a larger 5-inch-diameter sesame-and-poppy-seed bun.
The difference in size is dramatic: the burger is not only taller but also wider, making it the biggest burger McDonald’s has ever offered, clearly designed for those with a serious appetite. The overall weight of The Big Arch is roughly 14 oz, with a total calorie count of approximately 1,057 kcal, while the chain’s regular hamburger weighs only 3.5 oz with 255 kcal.
Fans weigh in on McDonald’s The Big Arch
Burger fans who’ve sampled The Big Arch abroad have been quick to comment on its sheer size. Many called it massive, with one describing it as feeling like “two Big Macs in one.” Another fan joked it was “over the top,” highlighting just how towering and hearty the burger truly is.
Not everyone, however, was sold on the new Big Arch sauce. Several reviewers mentioned they would prefer the classic Big Mac sauce instead. “It’s huge, but the sauce didn’t quite hit the mark for me,” wrote one diner in a post shared on a McDonald’s employee forum.
Price is also on U.S. fans’ minds. In Canada, a Big Arch meal—including fries and a drink—cost about CAD $12.59, roughly USD $9, positioning it as a premium step up from McDonald’s regular menu items while still undercutting many competitor burgers.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski described the burger as a “quintessential McDonald’s burger with a twist,” emphasizing its blend of classic familiarity with a bigger, more indulgent build.
The introduction of The Big Arch comes as part of McDonald’s strategy to regain momentum after reporting its first sales decline since the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2024. Executives have noted that customers are seeking more value, prompting the chain to focus on larger, more filling items rather than endlessly tweaking existing burgers.
Source: The Daily Mail