IHG One Rewards has opened registration for the IHG Q4 2026 promotion, its fall 2026 global offer. From October 1 to December 31, 2026, registered members earn 2X points on paid stays starting with their second stay, or 3X when the stay is booked in the IHG One Rewards app. Unlike last year, there’s no cap. The promotion also runs right up to IHG’s December 31 status deadline, so it’s your last chance this year to earn bonus points while locking in 2027 status and lounge access.
IHG Q4 2026 Promotion at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration | Open now through December 31, 2026 |
| Stay period | October 1 – December 31, 2026 |
| 1st qualifying stay | Base points only (it unlocks the offer) |
| 2nd stay onward, booked in the IHG app | 3X points |
| 2nd stay onward, other IHG direct channels | 2X points |
| Bonus cap | None |
| Minimum | 1 night, over $30 per night, booked direct |
| Register | IHG “Up to 3X” offer page |
What changed from last year’s Q4 promotion:
| Q4 2025 | Q4 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3X starts on | 3rd stay | 2nd stay (app bookings) |
| Bonus cap | 70,000 points | Unlimited |
Here’s what that looks like in practice. A $150-per-night stay earns 1,500 base points. If it’s your second stay or later and you book it in the app, it earns 4,500. At roughly 0.5 cents per IHG point, the extra 3,000 points are worth about $15. That’s close to a 10% rebate, before your elite bonus.
The Fine Print That Matters
- Register before your first stay. Stays completed before registration don’t count, even if they fall inside the window.
- Book stay #1 direct too. Stays booked through Expedia or Booking.com won’t unlock the offer.
- Some bookings are excluded. Reward Nights and Points & Cash stays don’t qualify.
- One room per night. Only one room per night earns credit.
- Promo points don’t count toward status. Only base points count toward elite qualification.
How to Maximize the IHG Q4 2026 Promotion
- Register today, even with nothing booked.
- Book everything in the app. It’s the same two minutes as IHG.com and earns 50% more total points.
- Make your first stay short and cheap. It earns no bonus, so don’t spend a big trip on it.
- Check your account for targeted offers and register for those as well.
Year-End Strategy: Lock In 2027 IHG Status and Lounge Access
IHG’s elite year ends December 31, and status earned in 2026 lasts through December 31, 2027. Most of our clients care about two things: the tier and the Club Lounge. These are earned differently.
- Status comes from qualifying nights or qualifying points.
- Lounge access comes from the Annual Lounge Membership, a Milestone Reward offered at 40 and 70 nights. It works as follows:
- It’s based on nights only. Points don’t unlock it, and rollover nights don’t count.
- If you earn it in 2026, it covers you plus one guest through December 31, 2027, at hotels with a Club Lounge.
- At 40 and 70 nights you pick two rewards, so you can take the lounge and 10,000 points or a confirmable suite upgrade.
| Goal | 2026 requirement | What you keep through 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 20 nights or 40,000 points | 40% bonus points |
| Platinum | 40 nights or 60,000 points | 60% bonus, upgrades, 72-hour room guarantee |
| Diamond | 70 nights or 120,000 points | 100% bonus, free breakfast amenity, Diamond support |
| Annual Lounge Membership | 40 or 70 nights (nights only) | Club Lounge access + 1 guest |
The Math: Platinum at 25 Nights
Here’s a common Q4 case. You’re Platinum with 25 nights and 30,000 qualifying points, and you have no more travel planned.
| Goal | Gap | Cheapest route | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep Platinum | 30,000 points | 6 × Qualifying Night + 5K Points | $459 |
| Keep Platinum + lounge | 15 nights | 15 × Qualifying Night | $598.50 |
| Diamond + lounge | 90,000 points | 18 × Qualifying Night + 5K Points | $1,377 |
The last row is the standout. Eighteen nights with 5K points take you to 120,000 points, which is Diamond. They also bring you to 43 nights, past the 40-night lounge milestone. Reaching Diamond on nights alone would take 45 nights and cost $1,795.50.
Close the Gap Before December 31
- IHG Mattress Run – Qualifying Night costs $39.90 per night. It’s best when you need nights, for example to reach the 40-night lounge milestone or top up for Platinum.
- IHG Mattress Run – Qualifying Night with 5K Points costs $76.50 per night and adds 5,000 points toward points-based status. It’s best for Diamond, or when you’re closer on points than on nights.
No actual stay is required. Nights must post by December 31, so order early rather than in the final week.
Not sure which route is best for you? Email your current nights and qualifying points to support@elitestatus.run and we’ll run the numbers. For the full tier breakdown, see our IHG Elite Status guide.