Activate Chase Freedom Q1 categories now: Dining, Norwegian Cruise Line and American Heart Association

If you have the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) or legacy Chase Freedom* in your wallet, you'll want to take a moment to activate your Q1 bonus categories now.

From Jan. 1 through March 31, you'll earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) on dining and with the American Heart Association and Norwegian Cruise Lines. After activating, you’ll earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined spending across these three categories.

Here's what you need to know about this upcoming quarter's categories.

*This card is no longer available to new applicants. The information for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Chase Freedom Q1 2026 categories

From Jan. 1 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
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• American Heart Association

A Chase rep confirmed that the 5% cash back you'll earn on dining in Q1 will stack with the bonus cash back the Freedom Flex already earns on this category. So, you'll be able to earn a total of 7% cash back (or 7 points per dollar spent) on dining in Q1 with this card.

Dining out (or in) is a common expense, making this a strong opportunity to rack up rewards. You could max out your earnings in Q1 by spending $500 per month on dining with this card. Just keep in mind that your card charges foreign transaction fees, so it's best used for domestic dining purchases only. (For context, dining was last featured in Q2 2024.)

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Norwegian Cruise Line seems to be a persistent Freedom partner, given it appeared as a category back in Q1 of this year.

Select charities has been offered as a category in the past, but this is the first time the American Heart Association is being featured on its own.

Activate this quarter’s categories now to unlock their bonus-earning potential from Jan. 1.

It’s simple to complete this process through your Chase account; just provide your last name, the last four digits of your card and your ZIP code.

Analyzing the Q1 bonus categories

While the final quarter of the year focuses on family, friends and lots of shopping, the first quarter is usually a time of personal growth and self-care for many. If your early 2026 plans include treating yourself to a nice dinner, booking a cruise or donating to a good cause, it's nice to know you can earn bonus rewards on your purchases.

Here are the details:

• Dining: Virtually everyone eats out at least a few times each quarter, so this category should be easy to take advantage of. You'll earn bonus rewards on takeout and delivery, too, so you don't need to brave the cold and snow to get your extra cash back or points.
• Norwegian Cruise Line: If your 2026 travel plans include a cruise, consider booking through Norwegian Cruise Line to earn a heap of cash back (or transferable points). Just keep that $1,500 quarterly spending cap in mind, in case the excursions you're looking at surpass that amount.
• American Heart Association: Heart conditions are a major obstacle for millions. Whether you're a new donor or a recurring one, all of your American Heart Association donations will earn bonus cash back.

Remember that Chase limits the 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) you can earn to the first $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories each quarter you activate the bonus. After you reach the maximum, you’ll earn 1% back (or 1 point per dollar spent) on these purchases.

Chase Freedom rotating categories history

Chase Freedom bonus categories FAQs

How do rotating categories work?

Each quarter, Chase announces a group of bonus categories that will earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) throughout the upcoming three-month period (on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter).

Generally, these categories are announced halfway through the month before the new quarter starts to give cardmembers time to activate new categories beforehand. However, you can activate your categories until midway through the last month of the quarter.

The categories tend to repeat periodically. For instance, grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations are all common categories you’ll notice frequently pop up on the bonus calendar. So, depending on the categories and whether you can maximize them, these two cards can offer quite a nice chunk of cash back or bonus points over the year.

How much cash back can I earn each quarter?

Chase limits the 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) to the first $1,500 spent in combined bonus categories each quarter you activate the bonus.

While that may not sound like a lot, that cash back adds up over time. Maximizing the cash-back categories each quarter, you’ll earn $75 in cash back quarterly and up to $300 per year. For a no-annual-fee credit card, that’s a lot of value.

Alternatively, suppose you have a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). In that case, you can combine the rewards from your Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex card with those you earn from your more premium Ultimate Rewards-earning card. By doing this, your rewards become fully transferable.

If you follow that method, your $300 in bonus cash back would be worth 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points. TPG’s December 2025 valuations peg Chase points at 2.05 cents apiece, making the 30,000 points you can earn in a year worth $615.

How do I activate my 5% categories each quarter?

You can head to Chase’s site to activate your 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) categories for this quarter. You can also register through the Chase mobile app.

Here’s how to register:

1. Head to the Chase bonus activation page, or log into your Chase account.

2. Enter your last name, the last four digits of your card number and your billing ZIP code. If you don’t have your card on hand, log in to your Chase account to retrieve these digits.

3. Click “Activate your 5%” to register.

4. If you have multiple Chase Freedom cards, make sure to register each one.

5. Save a screenshot of your activation in case of any issues later, though you should also receive a “You’re Activated!” confirmation email.

Can I have both the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Flex to double my earning potential?

Yes, you can have both cards. So, if you already have the Chase Freedom and want to add the Chase Freedom Flex to your wallet, you’re free to do so.

Remember that the original Freedom card is no longer open to new applicants. If you’d rather only have one, though, the Freedom Flex is available as a product change.

Of course, you’ll also want to ensure you’re eligible for a new Chase card.

How do I maximize my Freedom and Freedom Flex cards?

The most important thing is to activate your card to earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar) each quarter in the specific categories and then use your card for purchases in those categories.

You can set up a recurring reminder in your calendar or sign up for the TPG newsletter. (We send out a reminder when it’s time to activate every quarter, plus tips and tricks for how to maximize your card strategy and score some excellent award redemptions.)

In addition to the rotating bonus categories, the Freedom Flex accrues 5% cash back on all other travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases, 3% cash back on dining (including eligible delivery services) and 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

Better yet, when paired with a Chase credit card that earns fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Freedom Flex’s 5% cash back effectively becomes 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar. You can learn all about this in our guide detailing the “Chase Trifecta".

Bottom line

If you’re a Chase Freedom or Freedom Flex cardholder, you can earn 5% cash back (or 5 points per dollar spent) on dining and with the American Heart Association and Norwegian Cruise Line starting Jan. 1.

Activate these categories now so you don't miss out on any bonus rewards. And remember that Chase limits your quarterly bonus category earnings to the first $1,500 of combined spending each quarter.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.

Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex