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CNBC
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › chase freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
Chase Freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
December 16, 2025 - Chase officially announced its Q1 2026 cash back categories for the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom® (no longer accepting new applicants).
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Chase
chase.com › personal › credit-cards › freedom › freedomfive
Chase Freedom: Cash Back Credit Card | Chase.com
Activate by March 14, 2026. You are only required to activate once in the quarter. ... Benefits that put you first, from 5% cash back on quarterly categories to 1% on all other purchases, and we’re just getting started…
People also ask

When does Chase announce the Freedom bonus categories?

Chase announces its rotating 5% bonus categories one at a time, shortly before the new quarter begins.

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cnbc.com
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › chase freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
Chase Freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
Do Chase cash back rewards expire?

No, any cash back rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards points you earn do not expire as long as you keep your credit card account open and in good standing.

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cnbc.com
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › chase freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
Chase Freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited have a 5% cash back category?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited (see rates and fees) does not offer rotating 5% cash back categories but earns an unlimited 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel. It also earns 3% back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

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cnbc.com
cnbc.com › cnbc select › credit cards › chase freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
Chase Freedom 5% cash back calendar: 2026 categories
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/creditcards › chase freedom flex q1 2026 5% categories
r/CreditCards on Reddit: Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2026 5% Categories
2 weeks ago -

Norwegian Cruise Line, Dining, and American Heart Association

I never thought we’d see 7x (1x base + 2x ongoing dining + 4x quarterly category) on dining again! It will be available to activate on the app/website starting 12/15.

Edit: For those who are skeptical about the stacking, I can confirm I am earning 7% on dining on my Freedom Flex. My first purchases for the quarter posted today (1/5/26) and show 7% earn in the Ultimate Rewards portal.

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The Infatuation
media.chase.com › news › chase-freedom-2026-q1-categories
Chase Freedom® Introduces Q1 2026 Categories: Dining, Supporting the American Heart Association, and Norwegian Cruise Line
That’s why this quarter’s 5% cash back categories include activities our cardmembers love – cruises and dining – as well as important causes we know they care about,” said Wittney Rachlin, General Manager of Chase Freedom. “We are so proud to support the American Heart Association as our first charity in our rotating categories, and we look forward to making a meaningful difference together.” · Starting January 1 through March 31, 2026, cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases and donations on the following:
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Your Mileage May Vary
yourmileagemayvary.com › home › credit cards › chase extends pay yourself back into 2026 (new categories & bonuses)
Chase Extends Pay Yourself Back Into 2026 (New Categories & Bonuses) - Your Mileage May Vary
3 days ago - Through March 31, 2026, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents per point (a 25% bonus vs. cash back at 1 cent per point) for statement credits in these categories: Gas Stations – 1.25¢ per point (through 3/31/26) Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships – 1.25¢ per point (through 3/31/26) ... Select charities are the best deal for Sapphire Reserve users: redemptions are worth 1.5 cents per point (a 50% bonus) through December 31, 2026. Chase is also offering Pay Yourself Back bonus redemptions on the Sapphire Preferred.
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Bankrate
bankrate.com › credit cards
Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2026 Categories: Foodies Rejoice | Bankrate
1 month ago - APA: Rossman, T. (2025, December 19). Chase Freedom Flex Q1 2026 categories: Foodies rejoice.
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Investing News Network
investingnews.com › home
Chase Freedom® Introduces Q1 2026 Categories: Dining, Supporting the American Heart Association, and Norwegian Cruise Line | INN
December 15, 2025 - Freedom and Freedom Flex cardmembers ... cash back on the following rotating categories: Dining, donations to the American Heart Association, and Norwegian Cruise Line purchases....
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Yahoo! Finance
finance.yahoo.com › news › chase-freedom-introduces-q1-2026-130000315.html
Chase Freedom® Introduces Q1 2026 Categories: Dining, Supporting the American Heart Association, and Norwegian Cruise Line
December 15, 2025 - WILMINGTON, Del., December 15, ... cash back on the following rotating categories: Dining, donations to the American Heart Association, and Norwegian Cruise Line purchases....
Find elsewhere
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NerdWallet
nerdwallet.com › credit-cards › news › chase-5-percent-bonus-categories-q1-2026
Chase 5% Bonus Categories, Q1 2026: Dining, Norwegian Cruise Line, American Heart Association - NerdWallet
December 15, 2025 - From Jan. 1 through March 31, 2026, holders of the Chase Freedom Flex® and the legacy Chase Freedom® can earn 5% cash back on dining as well as some more niche categories — Norwegian Cruise Line and the American Heart Association.
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LendingTree
lendingtree.com › credit-cards › articles › chase-freedom-quarterly-bonus-category-calendar
Chase 5% Calendar 2026: See the Latest Categories
1 day ago - Chase Freedom 5% categories for the first quarter of 2026: Norwegian Cruise Line®, dining and the American Heart Association®.
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The Points Guy
thepointsguy.com › credit-cards › activate-chase-freedom-5x-earnings
Chase Freedom quarterly categories: 2026 calendar - The Points Guy
2 weeks ago - Through March 31, Freedom and Freedom Flex cardholders can earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) on up to $1,500 in combined purchases across these Q1 bonus categories (then 1% back): Dining (elevated 7% cash back for Freedom Flex cardholders) ... A Chase rep confirmed that the 5% cash back earned on dining in Q1 stacks with the bonus cash back the Freedom Flex already earns on this category.
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Frequent Miler
frequentmiler.com › home › q1 2026 activation links for cards offering 5% in rotating categories
Q1 2026 activation links for cards offering 5% in rotating categories
2 weeks ago - Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex, Discover It, US Bank Cash+, and Citi Dividend cards all have rotating quarterly categories that earn 5% back, and the new categories for Q1 2026 are now live.
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One Mile at a Time
onemileatatime.com › home › chase freedom flex 5-7x points categories q1 2026: register now
Chase Freedom Flex 5-7x Points Categories Q1 2026: Register Now - One Mile at a Time
2 weeks ago - Between January 1 and March 31, 2026, it’s possible to earn 7x points on dining, as well as 5x points with Norwegian Cruise Line and the American Heart Association. Personally I’m excited about the bonus points on dining, but find the other bonus categories to be less useful. What do you make of the Q1 2026 Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories?
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Points 2 Wanderlust
points2wanderlust.com › home › chase q1 bonus categories 2026 for chase freedom
Chase Q1 Bonus Categories 2026 for Chase Freedom - Points 2 Wanderlust
2 weeks ago - Chase has announced its January 1 – March 31, 2026, bonus categories for Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex.
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Travel And Tour World
travelandtourworld.com › home › norwegian cruise line joins chase freedom's 2026 rewards program
Norwegian Cruise Line Joins Chase Freedom’s 2026 Rewards Program - Travel And Tour World
December 15, 2025 - Between January 1 and March 31, 2026, Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex cardmembers can earn 5 percent cash back on purchases made at restaurants, donations to the American Heart Association, and Norwegian Cruise Line bookings. These categories are sure to appeal to those planning vacations and supporting meaningful causes.
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Thrifty Traveler
thriftytraveler.com › news › credit-card › chase-freedom-categories
Chase Announces 5% Freedom Flex Bonus Categories for Q1, 2026
December 15, 2025 - Keep reading for more information on these categories, how to use them, and why it might be worth keeping the Chase Freedom Flex® card in your wallet. All information about the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex was collected independently by Thrifty Traveler and has not been reviewed by the issuer. ... For the first quarter of 2026 (January through March), the new bonus categories are for spending on dining, Norwegian Cruise Line, and donations made to the American Heart Association.
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Points with a Crew
pointswithacrew.com › home › chase freedom q1 2026 5% bonus categories (2 duds and 1 good one)
Chase Freedom Q1 2026 5% Bonus Categories (2 Duds and 1 Good One) - Points with a Crew
2 weeks ago - Finally, it's time to activate your Chase Freedom Q1 2026 Bonus categories, and there are some good ones. You must activate before earning 5% cash back and ...
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Award Wallet
awardwallet.com › home › chase freedom 5% cash back categories for q1 2026: what they are and how to activate
Chase Freedom 5% Cash Back Categories for Q1 2026: What They Are and How to Activate
1 week ago - If you have the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the Chase Freedom®, listen up. Chase unveiled its 5% bonus categories for Q1 2026 back on December 15, 2025, but now you can start earning in these categories.