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Eligible Discover it and Discover More cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on qualifying restaurant, entertainment and utility purchases from October 1 through December 31, 2026, after activating the offer. The 5% rate applies to up to $1,500 in combined qualifying purchases for the quarter, for a maximum of $75 cash back. Discover’s official Q4 2026 calendar lists the categories and terms.
How the Q4 2026 offer works
- Eligible cards: Discover names Discover it and Discover More cardmembers. The calendar does not establish eligibility for every Discover product; check the benefits attached to your account, especially if it is managed through a Capital One-branded channel, where benefits and features may differ.
- Activation: You must activate the offer. The earning period starts on October 1 or the date you activate, whichever is later, and ends December 31, 2026.
- Spending limit: The $1,500 cap is shared across qualifying purchases in all three categories, not $1,500 per category. At 5%, spending the full eligible amount yields up to $75 cash back for the quarter.
- Purchase timing and location: Purchases must be made with U.S. merchants, and the transaction date must be on or before December 31. For online orders, the transaction date may be the date the merchant ships the purchase.
- Rewards timing: Discover says rewards are added within two billing periods.
Discover says activation is free through its mobile app, online account, or by calling 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683). Purchases outside the 5% program earn unlimited 1% cash back under Discover’s rewards summary. See the current calendar and Discover’s rewards summary for the applicable terms.
What counts as a restaurant purchase
Discover’s examples include full-service restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, fast-food locations, and caterers, provided the transaction is classified under an eligible merchant category code. A location’s name or the food it sells does not by itself determine whether the purchase earns 5%.
Restaurants inside or affiliated with hotels or retail stores may not qualify. Establishments classified as bakeries may also be excluded, even if they sell prepared food. For any borderline merchant, the deciding factor is how the transaction is coded.
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What counts as entertainment—and what is excluded
Eligible entertainment examples listed by Discover include movie theaters; professional and semi-professional sports promoters; theatrical and concert promoters; amusement parks; tourist attractions; aquariums; zoos; dance halls; record stores; video rental locations; pool halls; and bowling alleys.
Entertainment purchases that do not qualify include golf courses, country clubs, some collegiate sporting events, charitable events, cable and digital streaming or subscription services. Streaming is not part of the Q4 entertainment category. Amusement-park tickets bought on third-party sites may not qualify, and entertainment or resort packages coded as travel or hotel purchases are excluded.
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Which utility bills may earn 5%
Discover lists residential electricity, natural gas, and water service, along with internet, cable, satellite TV, mobile phone, and landline phone service. For internet, cable, satellite TV, and phone services, the payment must be made over the phone or online to qualify under the stated terms.
In-store retail purchases of phone or internet service are excluded. Bills routed through a landlord, property manager, or homeowners association may not qualify. Home fuel delivery, standalone streaming, some satellite phone or internet service, vehicle connectivity, and purchases of accessories or equipment may also fall outside the category.
Why an apparently eligible purchase can miss the bonus
Discover says merchants and payment processors receive merchant category codes based on the merchant’s typical products and services; Discover does not assign those codes. As a result, a purchase that seems to fit a category may not earn 5% if its merchant code is outside that category.
Payment routing can matter too. Certain third-party payment accounts and digital wallets may not pass along the transaction details or qualifying merchant code needed for the bonus. Paying a utility through an intermediary, for example, does not guarantee that Discover will recognize it as a utility purchase. Discover’s calendar terms and exclusions explain these coding and payment-channel limits.
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Activate and keep track of eligible spending
- Confirm your card’s terms. Make sure your account is a qualifying Discover it or Discover More card and review the benefits shown for your account.
- Activate the Q4 offer. Use the Discover mobile app, sign in to your online account, or call 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683). Keep in mind that earning starts no earlier than your activation date.
- Track the shared cap. Add qualifying restaurant, entertainment, and utility purchases together. The 5% rate stops applying to category purchases after the combined $1,500 quarterly limit is reached.
- Check the transaction date and route. Allow for an online merchant’s shipment date to determine the transaction date, and consider whether a wallet, third-party bill-payment service, or merchant classification could affect eligibility.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
