Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a key crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with economic importance for the sugar and ethanol industries. However, its productivity is highly sensitive to drought. In recent years, the concept of drought stress memory has emerged as a promising avenue to enhance plant resilience by exploring the ability of plants to "remember" previous stress events and respond more efficiently upon subsequent exposures. Although this phenomenon has been described in several crop species, evidence in sugarcane remains limited but growing. This chapter provides a critical overview of drought stress memory in sugarcane, with a focus on physiological mechanisms and primary metabolic adjustments. We explore how prior exposure to drought can lead to sustained changes in gas exchange, water-use efficiency, biomass allocation, sugar yield, and the synthesis of primary metabolites involved in osmoprotection and cellular energetic balance. The concept of physiological priming is discussed in detail, including the experimental frameworks used to investigate memory responses. We also discuss the potential for harnessing drought memory in crop management and breeding, highlighting genotypic variability and field applicability. Enhancing drought resilience through stress memory mechanisms may contribute to greater biomass and sugar yields, directly benefiting the sugar-ethanol industry under increasingly variable climate conditions. Finally, we outline future directions to integrate memory-based traits with omics tools and agronomic practices, offering a path toward more climate-resilient sugarcane production systems.