diff --git a/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md b/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md
index b535b35ba0..5fa70e4aad 100644
--- a/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/activerecord/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+*   Add option to update specified timestamp columns when incrementing,
+    decrementing, resetting, or updating counter caches.
+
+    Fixes #26724.
+
+    *Jarred Trost*
+
 *   Remove deprecated `#uniq`, `#uniq!`, and `#uniq_value`.
 
     *Ryuta Kamizono*
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
index e2da512813..af29b4c5bb 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/counter_cache.rb
@@ -12,13 +12,21 @@ module ActiveRecord
       #
       # * +id+ - The id of the object you wish to reset a counter on.
       # * +counters+ - One or more association counters to reset. Association name or counter name can be given.
+      # * <tt>:touch</tt> - Touch timestamp columns when updating.
+      #   Pass +true+ to touch +updated_at+ and/or +updated_on+. Pass a symbol to
+      #   touch that column or an array of symbols to touch just those ones.
       #
       # ==== Examples
       #
       #   # For Post with id #1 records reset the comments_count
       #   Post.reset_counters(1, :comments)
-      def reset_counters(id, *counters)
+      #
+      #   # For Post with id #1 records reset the comments_count
+      #   # and updates the +updated_at+ and/or +updated_on+ attributes.
+      #   Post.reset_counters(1, :comments, touch: true)
+      def reset_counters(id, *counters, touch: nil)
         object = find(id)
+
         counters.each do |counter_association|
           has_many_association = _reflect_on_association(counter_association)
           unless has_many_association
@@ -37,9 +45,14 @@ module ActiveRecord
           reflection   = child_class._reflections.values.find { |e| e.belongs_to? && e.foreign_key.to_s == foreign_key && e.options[:counter_cache].present? }
           counter_name = reflection.counter_cache_column
 
-          unscoped.where(primary_key => object.id).update_all(
-            counter_name => object.send(counter_association).count(:all)
-          )
+          updates = { counter_name.to_sym => object.send(counter_association).count(:all) }
+
+          touch_time = object.send(:current_time_from_proper_timezone)
+          resolve_timestamp_columns(object, touch).each do |column|
+            updates[column] = touch_time
+          end
+
+          unscoped.where(primary_key => object.id).update_all(updates)
         end
         return true
       end
@@ -55,6 +68,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
       # * +id+ - The id of the object you wish to update a counter on or an array of ids.
       # * +counters+ - A Hash containing the names of the fields
       #   to update as keys and the amount to update the field by as values.
+      # * <tt>:touch</tt> option - Touch timestamp columns when updating.
+      #   Pass +true+ to touch +updated_at+ and/or +updated_on+. Pass a symbol to
+      #   touch that column or an array of symbols to touch just those ones.
       #
       # ==== Examples
       #
@@ -73,13 +89,34 @@ module ActiveRecord
       #   # UPDATE posts
       #   #    SET comment_count = COALESCE(comment_count, 0) + 1
       #   #  WHERE id IN (10, 15)
+      #
+      #   # For the Posts with id of 10 and 15, increment the comment_count by 1
+      #   # and update the updated_at value for each counter.
+      #   Post.update_counters [10, 15], comment_count: 1, touch: true
+      #   # Executes the following SQL:
+      #   # UPDATE posts
+      #   #    SET comment_count = COALESCE(comment_count, 0) + 1,
+      #   #    `updated_at` = '2016-10-13T09:59:23-05:00'
+      #   #  WHERE id IN (10, 15)
       def update_counters(id, counters)
+        touch = counters.delete(:touch)
+
         updates = counters.map do |counter_name, value|
           operator = value < 0 ? "-" : "+"
           quoted_column = connection.quote_column_name(counter_name)
           "#{quoted_column} = COALESCE(#{quoted_column}, 0) #{operator} #{value.abs}"
         end
 
+        if touch
+          object = find(id)
+          touch_time = object.send(:current_time_from_proper_timezone)
+          timestamps = resolve_timestamp_columns(object, touch)
+
+          timestamps.map do |column|
+            updates << "#{connection.quote_column_name(column.to_s)} = #{connection.quote(touch_time)}"
+          end
+        end
+
         unscoped.where(primary_key => id).update_all updates.join(", ")
       end
 
@@ -94,13 +131,20 @@ module ActiveRecord
       #
       # * +counter_name+ - The name of the field that should be incremented.
       # * +id+ - The id of the object that should be incremented or an array of ids.
+      # * <tt>:touch</tt> - Touch timestamp columns when updating.
+      #   Pass +true+ to touch +updated_at+ and/or +updated_on+. Pass a symbol to
+      #   touch that column or an array of symbols to touch just those ones.
       #
       # ==== Examples
       #
       #   # Increment the posts_count column for the record with an id of 5
       #   DiscussionBoard.increment_counter(:posts_count, 5)
-      def increment_counter(counter_name, id)
-        update_counters(id, counter_name => 1)
+      #
+      #   # Increment the posts_count column for the record with an id of 5
+      #   # and update the updated_at value.
+      #   DiscussionBoard.increment_counter(:posts_count, 5, touch: true)
+      def increment_counter(counter_name, id, touch: nil)
+        update_counters(id, { counter_name => 1 }.merge(touch: touch))
       end
 
       # Decrement a numeric field by one, via a direct SQL update.
@@ -112,14 +156,30 @@ module ActiveRecord
       #
       # * +counter_name+ - The name of the field that should be decremented.
       # * +id+ - The id of the object that should be decremented or an array of ids.
+      # * <tt>:touch</tt> - Touch timestamp columns when updating.
+      #   Pass +true+ to touch +updated_at+ and/or +updated_on+. Pass a symbol to
+      #   touch that column or an array of symbols to touch just those ones.
       #
       # ==== Examples
       #
       #   # Decrement the posts_count column for the record with an id of 5
       #   DiscussionBoard.decrement_counter(:posts_count, 5)
-      def decrement_counter(counter_name, id)
-        update_counters(id, counter_name => -1)
+      #
+      #   # Decrement the posts_count column for the record with an id of 5
+      #   # and update the updated_at value.
+      #   DiscussionBoard.decrement_counter(:posts_count, 5, touch: true)
+      def decrement_counter(counter_name, id, touch: nil)
+        update_counters(id, { counter_name => -1 }.merge(touch: touch))
       end
+
+      private
+        def resolve_timestamp_columns(object, touch)
+          if touch == true
+            object.send(:timestamp_attributes_for_update_in_model)
+          else
+            Array(touch)
+          end
+        end
     end
 
     private
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/counter_cache_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/counter_cache_test.rb
index 84f2c3a465..478b44008d 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/counter_cache_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/counter_cache_test.rb
@@ -211,4 +211,145 @@ class CounterCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
       aircraft.wheels.first.destroy
     end
   end
+
+  test "does not update counters with touch: false" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: -1, touch: false)
+    assert_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "update counters with touch: true" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: -1, touch: true)
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "update multiple counters with touch: true" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: 2, unique_replies_count: 2, touch: true)
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "reset counters with touch: true" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.reset_counters(@topic.id, :replies, touch: true)
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "reset multiple counters with touch: true" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: 1, unique_replies_count: 1)
+    Topic.reset_counters(@topic.id, :replies, :unique_replies, touch: true)
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "increment counters with touch: true" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.increment_counter(:replies_count, @topic.id, touch: true)
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "decrement counters with touch: true" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    Topic.decrement_counter(:replies_count, @topic.id, touch: true)
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+  end
+
+  test "update counters with touch: :written_on" do
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: -1, touch: :written_on)
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "update multiple counters with touch: :written_on" do
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: 2, unique_replies_count: 2, touch: :written_on)
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "reset counters with touch: :written_on" do
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+    Topic.reset_counters(@topic.id, :replies, touch: :written_on)
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "reset multiple counters with touch: :written_on" do
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: 1, unique_replies_count: 1)
+    Topic.reset_counters(@topic.id, :replies, :unique_replies, touch: :written_on)
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "increment counters with touch: :written_on" do
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+    Topic.increment_counter(:replies_count, @topic.id, touch: :written_on)
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "decrement counters with touch: :written_on" do
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+    Topic.decrement_counter(:replies_count, @topic.id, touch: :written_on)
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "update counters with touch: %i( updated_at written_on )" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: -1, touch: %i( updated_at written_on ))
+
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "update multiple counters with touch: %i( updated_at written_on )" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: 2, unique_replies_count: 2, touch: %i( updated_at written_on ))
+
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "reset counters with touch: %i( updated_at written_on )" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+
+    Topic.reset_counters(@topic.id, :replies, touch: %i( updated_at written_on ))
+
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "reset multiple counters with touch: %i( updated_at written_on )" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+
+    Topic.update_counters(@topic.id, replies_count: 1, unique_replies_count: 1)
+    Topic.reset_counters(@topic.id, :replies, :unique_replies, touch: %i( updated_at written_on ))
+
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "increment counters with touch: %i( updated_at written_on )" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+
+    Topic.increment_counter(:replies_count, @topic.id, touch: %i( updated_at written_on ))
+
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
+
+  test "decrement counters with touch: %i( updated_at written_on )" do
+    previous_updated_at = @topic.updated_at
+    previous_written_on = @topic.written_on
+
+    Topic.decrement_counter(:replies_count, @topic.id, touch: %i( updated_at written_on ))
+
+    assert_not_equal previous_updated_at, @topic.reload.updated_at
+    assert_not_equal previous_written_on, @topic.reload.written_on
+  end
 end