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Amex Gold Card Refresh 2026: New 5X Hotels, Hertz Status and Dining Partners

The Amex Gold Card received a 2026 mini refresh with 5X points on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, Hertz Five Star status, new Dining Credit partners and limited-time anniversary offers.

Written by: Sebastian FungLast updated: May 11, 2026
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The American Express® Gold Card just received a small refresh for its 60th anniversary, adding new travel benefits, updated dining partners, and several limited-time offers, without increasing the card’s annual fee.
This is not a major overhaul, but the changes are mostly positive for current and future cardmembers.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Rates and fees.

Quick Take

The Amex Gold Card got a light refresh in May 2026. The biggest updates are:
  • 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
  • Complimentary Hertz Five Star® status
  • New Dining Credit partners, including Buffalo Wild Wings and Wonder
  • Limited-time anniversary offers, including an Uber One credit and Hilton transfer bonus
  • No annual fee increase
For most people, this does not completely change the value of the Amex Gold Card. It is still primarily a dining and grocery card. But if you already use Amex Travel, Hertz, Uber, or the monthly dining credits, these updates make the card slightly easier to justify.
🍽️ Best for Dining Rewards
card art for the American Express® Gold Card cardAmerican Express® Gold Card
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual fee: $325

Terms apply | Rates & Fees

Sebby's take: One of the strongest cards that's great for people who spend a lot on dining, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly. The annual fee is offset with a monthly dining credit and monthly Uber Cash.

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Summary of Amex Gold Card Changes

Here’s a quick look at what changed.
 

5X Points on Prepaid Hotels Through Amex Travel

The Amex Gold Card now earns 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
Previously, these bookings earned 2X points.
This is probably the most meaningful permanent change. If you already book hotels through Amex Travel, earning 5X instead of 2X is a nice improvement.
That said, this applies only to prepaid hotel bookings made through Amex Travel. If you book directly with a hotel, this new 5X category does not apply.
That distinction matters because booking through a travel portal can sometimes mean:
  • You may not earn hotel loyalty points
  • You may not receive elite night credits
  • Hotel elite benefits may not apply
  • Changes or cancellations may be less flexible
For independent hotels, boutique stays or The Hotel Collection bookings, 5X through Amex Travel can make sense. For chain hotels where you care about status benefits, booking direct may still be better.
 

New Hertz Five Star Status

Amex Gold Card members now get access to complimentary Hertz Five Star® status.
Hertz Five Star status can include benefits like:
  • Skipping the counter at select locations
  • Vehicle upgrades when available
  • Adding an additional driver at no extra cost, when eligible
Enrollment and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards registration are required. Terms apply.
This is a nice travel perk, but I would not overvalue it. Rental car status benefits can vary depending on the location, vehicle availability, and how busy the rental counter is.
If you rent from Hertz a few times per year, this is useful. If you rarely rent cars, it is more of a nice bonus than a reason to get the card.
 

Updated Dining Credit Partners

The Amex Gold Card’s $120 Dining Credit is also getting updated.
Cardmembers can earn up to $10 in statement credits per month when paying with the Gold Card at participating dining partners. Enrollment is required.
Current partners include:
  • Grubhub, including Seamless
  • Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Five Guys
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • Wonder
The new additions are Buffalo Wild Wings and Wonder, which may make the credit easier to use for some cardmembers.
The catch is that this is still a monthly credit. If you forget to use it, the value does not roll over. A $120 annual credit sounds simple, but in practice, it is really a $10 monthly coupon.
If you already use one of these merchants, great. If not, I would not value the credit at the full $120.

Limited-Time Amex Gold Anniversary Offers

American Express is also offering several limited-time perks for the Amex Gold Card’s 60th anniversary.
 

Up to $96 Uber One Membership Credit

Eligible Amex Gold Card members can enroll and receive a one-time statement credit of up to $96 when using the Amex Gold Card to pay for an annual Uber One membership.
This offer is available through October 30, 2026.
This can be useful if you already use Uber or Uber Eats enough to justify Uber One. If you were not already planning to pay for Uber One, I would not treat this as a full $96 in value.
 

20% Hilton Honors Transfer Bonus

Amex Gold Card members may also see a 20% transfer bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Hilton Honors.
This offer is available through May 30, 2026.
One important note: Amex says this offer is valid for eligible Membership Rewards members with access to Hilton Honors as a transfer partner. That means it is not necessarily exclusive to the Amex Gold Card, even though it is being promoted as part of the anniversary offers.
I would only transfer Amex points to Hilton if you have a specific redemption ready. Speculative transfers usually are not worth it because Membership Rewards points are more flexible before you transfer them.
 

The Hotel Collection Offers

Through July 15, 2026, Gold Card members can access special offers at select properties in The Hotel Collection when booking through Amex Travel.
Offers may include:
  • Complimentary 3rd Night
  • Complimentary 4th Night
  • 25%+ off select rooms
  • 30%+ off all suites
  • $150+ property credit toward eligible charges
The Hotel Collection requires a minimum stay of 2 consecutive nights. Terms apply.
These offers can be valuable, but compare the Amex Travel rate against the hotel’s direct rate before booking.

What’s Staying the Same

The biggest thing staying the same is the annual fee.
The Amex Gold Card still has a $325 annual fee. Rates and fees.
The card also continues to earn:
  • 4X points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1X
  • 4X points at U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X
  • 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel or the Amex Travel App
  • 1X points on other eligible purchases
The card also keeps its existing statement credits, including:
  • Up to $120 Dining Credit
  • Up to $120 Uber Cash
  • Up to $100 Resy Credit
  • Up to $84 Dunkin’ Credit
If you can use those credits naturally, the Amex Gold can still be a strong card for food-focused spending.

Is the Amex Gold Card Better After This Refresh?

Yes, but only slightly.
The 2026 Amex Gold refresh is a net positive because Amex added benefits without raising the annual fee. The new 5X hotel earning rate is useful, Hertz Five Star status is a nice perk, and the new Dining Credit partners may make the monthly credit easier to use.
But this does not change the core identity of the card.
The Amex Gold Card is still best for people who spend a lot on:
  • Dining
  • U.S. supermarkets
  • Uber or Uber Eats
  • Resy restaurants
  • Participating Dining Credit merchants
The new travel benefits are helpful, but they should be viewed as extras.
🍽️ Best for Dining Rewards
card art for the American Express® Gold Card cardAmerican Express® Gold Card
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Annual fee: $325

Terms apply | Rates & Fees

Sebby's take: One of the strongest cards that's great for people who spend a lot on dining, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly. The annual fee is offset with a monthly dining credit and monthly Uber Cash.

View Offer

Who Should Consider the Amex Gold Card?

The Amex Gold Card may be worth it if you:
  • Spend heavily at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets
  • Can use the monthly Dining Credit without forcing it
  • Use Uber or Uber Eats regularly
  • Visit Resy restaurants
  • Value Membership Rewards transfer partners
  • Occasionally book hotels through Amex Travel
  • Rent cars with Hertz
The card may not be a good fit if you:
  • Prefer simple cash back
  • Do not want to track monthly credits
  • Rarely eat out or order food delivery
  • Do not spend much at U.S. supermarkets
  • Prefer booking hotels directly for elite benefits
  • Will not use the card’s statement credits naturally

Bottom Line

The Amex Gold Card refresh for 2026 is a small but positive update.
Cardmembers now get 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, complimentary Hertz Five Star status, updated Dining Credit partners, and limited-time anniversary offers. The best part is that the annual fee is staying at $325.
For existing Gold Card members, this is good news. You are getting a few extra benefits without paying more.
For new applicants, the decision is mostly the same as before: the Amex Gold Card is worth considering if you spend heavily on dining and groceries and can use the credits naturally. If the credits feel like work, these new benefits probably are not enough to change the math.

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