Credit Cards That Offer Entertainment Perks – January 2021
This article was last updated Dec 31, 2020. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
Having the right credit card can get you exclusive access to sporting events, theater performances, amusement parks and more, or access to VIP events ranging from celebrity chef demonstrations to the best seats in the house to hear your favorite band perform.
Along with providing admission to unique events and experiences, some credit cards also let you earn rewards on entertainment purchases, such as movie theater tickets and streaming service subscriptions.
We selected several credit cards that reward you for your entertainment purchases, as well as some top card issuer benefits that offer exclusive access to entertainment events to cardholders.
- Credit cards offering rewards on entertainment purchases
- Exclusive entertainment benefit programs by issuer
Credit cards offering rewards on entertainment purchases
If you regularly attend entertainment events or stream music and movies, there are a handful of credit cards that can help you offset those expenses with cash back or points:
Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Along with a generous cashback rate on entertainment purchases, including movie theater tickets, amusement park purchases and more, Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card members can earn rewards on Vivid Seats purchases (a ticket broker for top theater and music performances and sport events) for a limited time.
Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.
Rewards can be redeemed for statement credits, checks, credits for previous purchases, gift cards and more.
Which purchases qualify for the entertainment category? Entertainment includes ticket purchases made at movie theaters, sports promoters (professional and semiprofessional live events), theatrical promoters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, pool halls and bowling alleys.
Note, golf courses, country clubs (including membership fees), collegiate sporting events, amusement park tickets purchased on third-party sites and nonindustry entertainment merchants, such as cable, digital streaming and membership services, are excluded from this category.
What else we like. Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card members earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Cardholders also receive exclusive access to culinary experiences, music events and sporting events (through Capital One Premier access, details below).
What to look out for. The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card charges an annual fee of $95.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 3% Cash Back on dining; 3% Cash Back on entertainment; 2% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases.
Which purchases qualify for the entertainment category? As with the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card, the entertainment cashback categories include ticket purchases made at movie theaters, sports promoters (professional and semiprofessional live events), theatrical promoters, amusement parks, tourist attractions, aquariums, zoos, dance halls, record stores, pool halls and bowling alleys.
Golf courses, country clubs (including membership fees), collegiate sporting events, amusement park tickets purchased on third-party sites and nonindustry entertainment merchants, such as cable, digital streaming and membership services, are excluded from this category.
What else we like. Cardholders earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Additionally, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card charges a $0 annual fee.
What to look out for. The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a slightly lower cashback rate on entertainment and select streaming services than the Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card. It also doesn’t offer a promotional cashback rate on Vivid Seats purchases.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
If you regularly stream movies and music, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
You receive cash back in the form of reward dollars that you can redeem as a statement credit.
Additionally, cardholders receive access to ticket presales and card member-only events through Entertainment Access® (details below).
What is included in the U.S. streaming subscriptions category? U.S. streaming subscriptions includes the following providers: Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Audible, CBS All Access, Disney+, ESPN+, HBO, Hulu, iHeartRadio, Kindle Unlimited, NBA League Pass, Netflix, Pandora, Peacock, Prime Video, Showtime, Sling TV, SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite, Spotify, TIDAL Music, YouTube TV and much more.
Note, if your subscription is bundled with another product or service or billed by a third party (such as a digital platform, a cable, telecommunications or internet provider, or a car manufacturer), your purchase may not be eligible.
What else we like. New cardmembers receive a $250 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months..
What to look out for. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express comes with a $95 annual fee.
To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express please click here.
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
The Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card also offers rewards on streaming services. Earn 3X points on eating out, ordering in and popular streaming services, 3X points on gas stations, rideshares and transit, and 3X points on travel including flights, hotels, homestays and car rentals. Earn 1X points on other purchases.
Points can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards, merchandise, charitable donations and more.
What is included in the streaming services category? This category includes Apple Music®, Apple News+, Apple TV+, Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, ESPN+, Disney+, fuboTV, HBO Now, Headspace, Inc., Hulu, Kindle Unlimited, Netflix, NHL.TV, Pandora®, Prime Video, Sirius XM Radio Inc. and Spotify Premium.
Know that if your streaming service subscription is bundled with another product, membership or service, or billed by a third party (such as a digital platform, a cable, telecommunications, internet provider, online retailer or in-vehicle streaming service), your purchase may not be eligible for bonus rewards points.
What else we like. Cardholders earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
What to look out for. Although the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card offers a variety of redemption options, cash redemptions are only available in increments of $25 by phone or online and in increments of $20 from a Wells Fargo ATM. Also, you must have a Wells Fargo debit or ATM card to redeem rewards at a Wells Fargo ATM.
Exclusive entertainment benefit programs by issuer
In addition to earning rewards on entertainment purchases, several major credit card issuers offer special access to ticket sales and events through entertainment programs for their cardholders. And if you’re carrying a premium credit card, those experiences may be upgraded.
American Express Experiences
Select American Express cards come with Experiences, which gives cardholders exclusive access to ticket presales and cardholder-only events, such as Broadway shows, concert tours and family or sporting events. Cardholders can sign up online for email alerts to find out about upcoming events.
The following credit cards offer American Express Experiences:
- American Express® Gold Card
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- American Express Cash Magnet® Card – $150 Welcome Offer
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with By Invitation Only, a program that offers access to customized, once-in-a-lifetime events, including sports, fashion, fine dining and arts and theater.
Capital One Premier Access
With Capital One Access, cardholders get inside access to premium dining, entertainment and sports experiences. This includes intimate dinners and unique chef collaborations for foodies, VIP concert packages and on-site cardholder lounges for music fans, and VIP experiences, discounts and on-site perks for sports fans.
This entertainment benefit is available for the following Capital One credit cards:
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Chase Experiences
If you have a Chase credit or debit card, you can take advantage of Chase cardmember preferred seating at certain events, food and beverage discounts on concessions at events, exclusive dining experiences and the ability to purchase movie tickets and preorder concessions.
If you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can redeem points to attend exclusive culinary experiences, including uniquely curated private dining events by world-renowned chefs through Chase Sapphire® Dining.
Cardholders can redeem their rewards on the Chase Ultimate Rewards® website for the experience of their choice.
Eligible cards include:
- Chase Freedom Flex℠
- Chase Freedom® (note, this card is no longer open to new applicants)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
- Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
Citi Entertainment®
Citi Entertainment, formerly Citi Private Pass, allows cardmember access to unique events and experiences, including concerts, theatrical performances, sporting events, festivals and family events. There is no sign-up or login required to take advantage of Citi Entertainment, but you can sign up to receive weekly emails.
All Citi credit cards displaying the Visa, Mastercard or American Express logo, as well as Citibank debit cards with the Mastercard logo, are eligible for the program, including:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
- American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
- Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- Citi Prestige® Credit Card
- Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever
- Citi Premier® Card
Credit card network benefits
Depending on the type of Visa or Mastercard you’re carrying may also grant you the ability to tap numerous entertainment benefits.
For example, any credit card with the Visa Signature logo offers discounts and special offers on travel, sporting events and entertainment, along with access to preferred seats for sporting events, concerts, shows, dining experiences and more. Visa Infinite® cardholders enjoy all of the above along with the chance to attend celebrity chefs and winemaker experiences.
World Mastercard comes with the Dining Program, which gives cardholders access to certain restaurants, along with free amenities, such as a glass of champagne or dessert, or a welcome visit from the chef or a tour of the kitchen or wine cellar at select restaurants. There’s also access to Priceless Cities, which offers special experiences, such as dinner at The Russian Tea Room paired with a concert at Carnegie Hall.
World Elite Mastercard offers the benefits above, but also gives cardholders exclusive access to more than 200 top nightclubs and lounges around the world, along with exclusive golf offers and experiences with the PGA Tour and the use of Golf Concierge Services for golf benefits exclusive to Mastercard.
The information related to Citi Prestige® Credit Card, Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever has been independently collected by CompareCards and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.