diff --git a/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver.java b/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver.java
index e41c49ce0bf..160cd0cf3ad 100644
--- a/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver.java
+++ b/spring-webmvc/src/main/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2020 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2023 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import org.springframework.web.util.WebUtils;
  */
 public class ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver extends AbstractCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver {
 
-	private UrlPathHelper urlPathHelper = UrlPathHelper.defaultInstance;
+	private UrlPathHelper urlPathHelper = new UrlPathHelper();
 
 
 	public ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver(@Nullable ConfigurableBeanFactory beanFactory) {
@@ -45,6 +45,23 @@ public class ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolver extends AbstractCookieValu
 	}
 
 
+	/**
+	 * Whether to apply URL decoding to cookie values via
+	 * {@link UrlPathHelper#decodeRequestString(HttpServletRequest, String)}.
+	 * A shortcut for doing the same by setting a {@link UrlPathHelper} with
+	 * its {@code urlDecode} property set accordingly.
+	 * <p>By default set to "true" in which case cookie values are decoded.
+	 * @since 6.1.2
+	 */
+	public void setUrlDecode(boolean urlDecode) {
+		this.urlPathHelper.setUrlDecode(urlDecode);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Set the {@code UrlPathHelper} to use to decode cookie values with via
+	 * {@link UrlPathHelper#decodeRequestString(HttpServletRequest, String)}.
+	 * For most cases you can use {@link #setUrlDecode(boolean)} instead.
+	 */
 	public void setUrlPathHelper(UrlPathHelper urlPathHelper) {
 		this.urlPathHelper = urlPathHelper;
 	}
diff --git a/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolverTests.java b/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolverTests.java
index 80507cad758..d6847d7e8ed 100644
--- a/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolverTests.java
+++ b/spring-webmvc/src/test/java/org/springframework/web/servlet/mvc/method/annotation/ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolverTests.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright 2002-2019 the original author or authors.
+ * Copyright 2002-2023 the original author or authors.
  *
  * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
  * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -79,8 +79,20 @@ public class ServletCookieValueMethodArgumentResolverTests {
 		assertThat(result).as("Invalid result").isEqualTo(cookie.getValue());
 	}
 
+	@Test // gh-26989
+	public void resolveCookieWithEncodingTurnedOff() throws Exception {
+		Cookie cookie = new Cookie("name", "Tl=Q/0AUSOx[n)2z4(t]20FZv#?[Ge%H");
+		request.setCookies(cookie);
+
+		this.resolver.setUrlDecode(false);
+		String result = (String) resolver.resolveArgument(cookieStringParameter, null, webRequest, null);
+
+		assertThat(result).as("Invalid result").isEqualTo(cookie.getValue());
+	}
+
 
-	public void params(@CookieValue("name") Cookie cookie,
+	public void params(
+			@CookieValue("name") Cookie cookie,
 			@CookieValue(name = "name", defaultValue = "bar") String cookieString) {
 	}