Rotating 5% Cash Back Categories: Q4 2026 Calendar

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Updated Oct 29, 2026 · Written by Cash Back Specialist Editors · Reviewed by: reviewer to be added · How we rate cards

Short answer: For October to December 2026, Chase Freedom Flex pays 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), on dining and at the American Red Cross, once you activate. Discover it Cash Back also runs quarterly 5% categories; check Discover’s calendar for this quarter’s list.

Chase Freedom Flex 5% calendar

Quarter 5% categories Activation
Oct–Dec 2026 (current) Grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®), dining, American Red Cross Activation opened Sept. 15, 2026
Jan–Mar 2027 (next) Grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®), top streaming services Activate starting Dec. 15, 2026
Jul–Sep 2026 (previous) Gas stations, public transit, EV charging, select live entertainment, United Way® Activation closed

Source: Chase’s Freedom Flex category page, checked Oct 29, 2026.

Discover it Cash Back 5% calendar

Not verified yet. Discover’s calendar page didn’t show this quarter’s categories when we checked. See Discover’s 5% calendar.

How to get the full 5%

  1. Activate every quarter. Both cards require activation; Chase opens activation about two weeks before each quarter (Sept. 15 for Q4 2026, Dec. 15 for Q1 2027).
  2. Know the cap. Chase pays 5% on up to $1,500 in combined category purchases a quarter, worth up to $75; spending above the cap earns 1%.
  3. Watch exclusions. Chase’s Q4 2026 grocery category excludes Walmart and Target.
  4. Back it up with a 2% card for everything outside the categories.

Rotating 5% categories

Chase Freedom Flex®

Annual fee $0
Rewards
  • 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating categories each quarter you activate
  • 5% on travel through Chase Travel; 3% on dining and drugstores; 1% on everything else
Welcome offer $250 bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months (Chase labeled the offer "ending soon")
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR 18.49%–27.99% variable APR after the intro period
Foreign transaction fee None (Chase: "no foreign transaction fee")

See rates & fees on Chase's site

Terms checked on Chase’s site on Oct 29, 2026. Offers change; confirm the current rates and fees before you apply.

Rotating 5% plus first-year Cashback Match

Discover it® Cash Back

Annual fee $0
Rewards
  • 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter, up to the quarterly maximum, when you activate
  • 1% on all other purchases
  • Cashback Match: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year
Welcome offer Cashback Match in the first year (no fixed cash bonus listed)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR 18.74%–28.74% variable APR after that
Foreign transaction fee Not verified yet: check the issuer’s current terms

See rates & fees on Discover's site

Terms checked on Discover’s site on Oct 29, 2026. Offers change; confirm the current rates and fees before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Chase Freedom Flex 5% categories for Q4 2026?

Grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target), dining and the American Red Cross, on up to $1,500 in combined purchases from October through December 2026 after activation, per Chase's site on Oct 29, 2026.

Do I need to activate 5% categories?

Yes. Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back both require you to activate each quarter to earn 5%.

What are next quarter's categories?

Chase lists grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target) and top streaming services for January to March 2027, with activation starting Dec. 15, 2026.

Sources