2026 Fourth Quarter 5% Categories
The end of the year is near—which means fresh bonus points opportunities on some of our favorite cards. Let's preview the new 2026 fourth quarter 5% categories. The first rule of the quarterly spend categories: Make sure to activate them. We've provided shortcut links for each below. Enroll in them as you read, so you don't forget. And on that note, if you haven't wrapped up your third quarter categories, make sure to check them off, too.
Chase Freedom Flex (or OG Freedom – No Longer Available)
The 2026 fourth quarter 5% categories for the Chase Freedom® Flex℠ Credit Card, and OG Freedom, are as follows (5x earning on your first $1,500 in spend from all 3 combined):
- Grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®)
- Dining
- American Red Cross donations
- See the list of inclusions and exclusions here.
These categories should be a huge win for many, especially dining. That will stack for 7% total (3% base +4% for quarterly bonus). Add in some Paze restaurant spend, and you are really winning!
Activation Link
Discover Card
The Discover card is another great quarterly spend option. (In fact, the 5% rotating categories are part of why we think this card is worth a slot in your wallet once over 5/24.) It earns a cumulative 5% cash back on the first $1,500 in spend the quarterly categories. You can activate the 2026 fourth quarter 5% categories now:
- Restaurants
- Entertainment
- Utilities
This is well-timed for fall with some dining get togethers, fall sports or those higher utility bills. Full terms state the following:
- Restaurant purchases include those made at merchants classified as full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and caterers. Restaurants located inside of or affiliated with another business, such as hotels or retail stores, and establishments classified as a bakery may not qualify.
- Entertainment purchases include ticket purchases at movie theaters, sports promoters (professional and semi-professional live events), theatrical promoters, concert promoters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, video rental locations, pool halls and bowling alleys. Tickets for or fees at golf courses, country clubs, some collegiate sporting events, charitable events, as well as cable and digital streaming and subscription services, amusement park tickets purchased on third-party sites, and entertainment and resort packages categorized as “travel” or “hotel” do not qualify.
- Utilities purchases include purchases for residential electricity, natural gas, and water service. Utilities purchases also include purchases made over the phone or online for internet, cable, satellite TV, and mobile and landline phone service. Purchases at physical retail stores for internet, cable, satellite, and mobile and landline phone service do not qualify. Purchases made through third parties, such as through a landlord, property management company, or homeowners association, may not qualify. Purchases for home fuel delivery, standalone streaming services, some satellite phone and internet service, vehicle connectivity, accessories, or equipment may not qualify.
Activation Link
US Bank Cash+
The card earns 5% back on up to $2,000 in spend each quarter, which is higher than most other options capped at $1,500. You also get to select two categories from its list, for some nice flexibility. The best way to get this card is to grab a US Bank Altitude Connect card and then downgrade it to this after the first 12 months. (As long as you are securely over 5/24, of course.)
- Shopping
- Furniture stores
- Electronic stores
- Department stores
- Select clothing stores
- Sporting goods stores
- Services & Utilities
- Home utilities
- Cell phone providers
- Gyms/fitness centers
- Ground transportation
- Entertainment
- Movie theaters
- Fast food
- TV, internet and streaming
How To Activate
Citi Dividend
The Citi Dividend card was the precursor to the Citi Custom Cash (a unique 5% option that also recently closed to new applications). Unlike the Custom Cash, though, the Dividend works with a traditional 5% back on quarterly categories format. It's good for up to $6,000 in spend per year across all quarters, meaning you can skip some quarters and still maximize it for a total of $300 cash back. You can now activate the 2026 fourth quarter 5% categories for the card, which are as follows:
- Restaurants
- Citi Travel
The Citi Travel category purchases include hotels, car rentals and attractions booked through the Citi Travel. The restaurant category includes purchases at cafes, bars, lounges and fast-food restaurants. It excludes purchases at bakeries, caterers, restaurants located inside another business (such as hotels, stores, stadiums, grocery stores, or warehouse clubs) and third-party dining delivery services. And if you didn't use your full $6,000 per year in quarter one, you can knock out as much of it as you want to now.
Activation Link
2026 Fourth Quarter 5% Categories: ToP Thoughts
Dining out, travel and entertainment are definitely the running themes of the 2026 fourth quarter 5% categories. This is timely for some fall parties, whether via grocery or dining and travel or sports. Overall, these options should have pretty broad appeal and be useful to many. Let us know which category you are looking most forward to over in the ToP Facebook Group.
