diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index 053daad1..4e1f4019 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -255,6 +255,12 @@ These may include the following optional keys:
 
     ``true`` by default.
 
+``all_bullets``
+
+    A boolean value indicating whether this fragment type should be rendered without bullets, overriding the global ``all_bullets`` configuration.
+
+    Matches the global ``all_bullets`` configuration by default.
+
 For example, if you want your custom fragment types to be ``["feat", "fix", "chore",]`` and you want all of them to use the default configuration except ``"chore"`` you can do it as follows:
 
 .. code-block:: toml
@@ -312,11 +318,16 @@ Each table within this array has the following mandatory keys:
 
     ``true`` by default.
 
+``all_bullets``
+
+    A boolean value indicating whether this fragment type should be rendered without bullets, overriding the global ``all_bullets`` configuration.
+
+    Matches the global ``all_bullets`` configuration by default.
+
 For example:
 
 .. code-block:: toml
 
-   [tool.towncrier]
    [[tool.towncrier.type]]
    name = "Deprecations"
 
@@ -330,3 +341,19 @@ For example:
    name = "Dependency Changes"
    showcontent = true
    check = false
+
+To insert the default types into your configuration, use the ``use_default_types = true`` key.
+
+In this special case, no other keys should be set for that item. For example:
+
+.. code-block:: toml
+
+   [tool.towncrier]
+   [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+   name = ""
+   directory = "highlight"
+   all_bullets = true
+   check = false
+
+   [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+   use_default_types = true
diff --git a/docs/customization/newsfile.rst b/docs/customization/newsfile.rst
index 03b97a3a..c600a172 100644
--- a/docs/customization/newsfile.rst
+++ b/docs/customization/newsfile.rst
@@ -38,3 +38,40 @@ If your news file is in Markdown (e.g. ``NEWS.md``), use the following comment i
 .. code-block:: html
 
     <!-- towncrier release notes start -->
+
+
+Adding Content at the Start of the Next Release
+-----------------------------------------------
+
+Using a custom section type, you can add content at the start of the next release.
+Here's an example configuration to add a text-only section at the start of the next release:
+
+.. code-block:: toml
+
+   [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+   name = ""
+   directory = "highlight"
+   all_bullets = false
+   check = false
+
+   [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+   use_default_types = true
+
+Any fragments with a suffix of ``.highlight`` will be added to this highlight section which will be rendered as the first section after the release title (with no title of its own).
+The section has no visible name and no bullets, so the content of the fragments will be shown directly after the release title (or in the case of a more complex configuration with multiple sections, after the relevant section title).
+
+The output of the above configuration with a ``+.highlight.rst`` fragment containing "Happy new year!" (and other ``.feature`` fragments) will look something like this:
+
+.. code-block:: rst
+
+   myproject 1.2.3 (2026-01-01)
+   ============================
+
+
+   Happy new year!
+
+
+   Features
+   --------
+
+   - Added, etc...
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_builder.py b/src/towncrier/_builder.py
index 33ebe167..4e43a491 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_builder.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_builder.py
@@ -230,9 +230,9 @@ def split_fragments(
         section: dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]] = {}
 
         for (issue, category, counter), content in section_fragments.items():
-            if all_bullets:
-                # By default all fragmetns are append by "-" automatically,
-                # and need to be indented because of that.
+            if definitions[category].get("all_bullets", all_bullets):
+                # By default all fragments are appended by "-" automatically, and need
+                # to be indented because of that.
                 # (otherwise, assume they are formatted correctly)
                 content = indent(content.strip(), "  ")[2:]
             else:
@@ -417,13 +417,10 @@ def render_fragments(
     done = []
 
     def get_indent(text: str) -> str:
-        # If bullets are not assumed and we wrap, the subsequent
-        # indentation depends on whether or not this is a bullet point.
-        # (it is probably usually best to disable wrapping in that case)
-        if all_bullets or text[:2] == "- " or text[:2] == "* ":
-            return "  "
-        elif text[:3] == "#. ":
-            return "   "
+        # Subsequent indentation depends on whether or not this is a bullet point.
+        match = re.match(r"^([-*]|(\d+|#)\.) ", text)
+        if match:
+            return " " * len(match.group(0))
         return ""
 
     res = jinja_template.render(
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_settings/fragment_types.py b/src/towncrier/_settings/fragment_types.py
index 60902185..edbb848f 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_settings/fragment_types.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_settings/fragment_types.py
@@ -2,7 +2,11 @@
 
 import abc
 
-from typing import Any, Iterable, Mapping
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Iterable, Mapping
+
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from .load import CategoryType, Config
 
 
 class BaseFragmentTypesLoader:
@@ -10,12 +14,28 @@ class BaseFragmentTypesLoader:
 
     __metaclass__ = abc.ABCMeta
 
-    def __init__(self, config: Mapping[str, Any]):
+    _default_types: Mapping[str, CategoryType] = {
+        # Keep in-sync with docs/tutorial.rst.
+        "feature": {"name": "Features", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
+        "bugfix": {"name": "Bugfixes", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
+        "doc": {"name": "Improved Documentation", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
+        "removal": {
+            "name": "Deprecations and Removals",
+            "showcontent": True,
+            "check": True,
+        },
+        "misc": {"name": "Misc", "showcontent": False, "check": True},
+    }
+
+    def __init__(self, config: Mapping[str, Any], parsed_config: Config):
         """Initialize."""
         self.config = config
+        self.parsed_config = parsed_config
 
     @classmethod
-    def factory(cls, config: Mapping[str, Any]) -> BaseFragmentTypesLoader:
+    def factory(
+        cls, config: Mapping[str, Any], parsed_config: Config
+    ) -> BaseFragmentTypesLoader:
         fragment_types_class: type[BaseFragmentTypesLoader] = DefaultFragmentTypesLoader
         fragment_types = config.get("fragment", {})
         types_config = config.get("type", {})
@@ -24,31 +44,18 @@ def factory(cls, config: Mapping[str, Any]) -> BaseFragmentTypesLoader:
         elif types_config:
             fragment_types_class = ArrayFragmentTypesLoader
 
-        new = fragment_types_class(config)
+        new = fragment_types_class(config, parsed_config)
         return new
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
-    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]:
+    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, CategoryType]:
         """Load fragment types."""
 
 
 class DefaultFragmentTypesLoader(BaseFragmentTypesLoader):
     """Default towncrier's fragment types."""
 
-    _default_types = {
-        # Keep in-sync with docs/tutorial.rst.
-        "feature": {"name": "Features", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
-        "bugfix": {"name": "Bugfixes", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
-        "doc": {"name": "Improved Documentation", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
-        "removal": {
-            "name": "Deprecations and Removals",
-            "showcontent": True,
-            "check": True,
-        },
-        "misc": {"name": "Misc", "showcontent": False, "check": True},
-    }
-
-    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]:
+    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, CategoryType]:
         """Load default types."""
         return self._default_types
 
@@ -68,14 +75,24 @@ class ArrayFragmentTypesLoader(BaseFragmentTypesLoader):
         name = "Deprecations"
         showcontent = true
 
+    Use a type that only contains ``use_default_types = true`` to
+    insert the default fragment types::
+
+        ...
+        [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+        use_default_types = true
     """
 
-    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]:
+    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, CategoryType]:
         """Load types from toml array of mappings."""
 
-        types = {}
+        types: dict[str, CategoryType] = {}
         types_config = self.config["type"]
         for type_config in types_config:
+            if type_config == {"use_default_types": True}:
+                for type_name, type_options in self._default_types.items():
+                    types[type_name] = type_options
+                continue
             fragment_type_name = type_config["name"]
             directory = type_config.get("directory", fragment_type_name.lower())
             is_content_required = type_config.get("showcontent", True)
@@ -84,6 +101,9 @@ def load(self) -> Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]:
                 "name": fragment_type_name,
                 "showcontent": is_content_required,
                 "check": check,
+                "all_bullets": type_config.get(
+                    "all_bullets", self.parsed_config.all_bullets
+                ),
             }
         return types
 
@@ -113,12 +133,12 @@ class TableFragmentTypesLoader(BaseFragmentTypesLoader):
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, config: Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]):
+    def __init__(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any):
         """Initialize."""
-        self.config = config
-        self.fragment_options = config.get("fragment", {})
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.fragment_options = self.config.get("fragment", {})
 
-    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]:
+    def load(self) -> Mapping[str, CategoryType]:
         """Load types from nested mapping."""
         fragment_types: Iterable[str] = self.fragment_options.keys()
         fragment_types = sorted(fragment_types)
@@ -129,16 +149,17 @@ def load(self) -> Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]:
         types = dict(custom_types_sequence)
         return types
 
-    def _load_options(self, fragment_type: str) -> Mapping[str, Any]:
+    def _load_options(self, fragment_type: str) -> CategoryType:
         """Load fragment options."""
         capitalized_fragment_type = fragment_type.capitalize()
         options = self.fragment_options.get(fragment_type, {})
         fragment_description = options.get("name", capitalized_fragment_type)
         show_content = options.get("showcontent", True)
         check = options.get("check", True)
-        clean_fragment_options = {
+        clean_fragment_options: CategoryType = {
             "name": fragment_description,
             "showcontent": show_content,
             "check": check,
+            "all_bullets": options.get("all_bullets", self.parsed_config.all_bullets),
         }
         return clean_fragment_options
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_settings/load.py b/src/towncrier/_settings/load.py
index 3a70a67a..2926b50e 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_settings/load.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_settings/load.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 from contextlib import ExitStack
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, Literal, Mapping, Sequence
+from typing import Any, Literal, Mapping, Sequence, TypedDict
 
 from click import ClickException
 
@@ -33,10 +33,18 @@
 re_resource_template = re.compile(r"[-\w.]+:[-\w.]+$")
 
 
+class CategoryType(TypedDict, total=False):
+    name: str
+    directory: str
+    showcontent: bool
+    check: bool
+    all_bullets: bool
+
+
 @dataclasses.dataclass
 class Config:
     sections: Mapping[str, str]
-    types: Mapping[str, Mapping[str, Any]]
+    types: Mapping[str, CategoryType]
     template: str | tuple[str, str]
     start_string: str
     package: str = ""
@@ -203,10 +211,6 @@ def parse_toml(base_path: str, config: Mapping[str, Any]) -> Config:
         sections[""] = ""
     parsed_data["sections"] = sections
 
-    # Process 'types'.
-    fragment_types_loader = ft.BaseFragmentTypesLoader.factory(config)
-    parsed_data["types"] = fragment_types_loader.load()
-
     # Process 'template'.
     markdown_file = Path(config.get("filename", "")).suffix == ".md"
     template = config.get("template", "towncrier:default")
@@ -242,6 +246,12 @@ def parse_toml(base_path: str, config: Mapping[str, Any]) -> Config:
         start_string = start_string_template.format("towncrier release notes start")
     parsed_data["start_string"] = start_string
 
+    # Process 'types'.
+    fragment_types_loader = ft.BaseFragmentTypesLoader.factory(
+        config, parsed_config=Config(types={}, **parsed_data)
+    )
+    parsed_data["types"] = fragment_types_loader.load()
+
     # Return the parsed config.
     return Config(**parsed_data)
 
diff --git a/src/towncrier/newsfragments/697.feature.2.rst b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/697.feature.2.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6a24d4b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/697.feature.2.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+Adding a type to configuration with just ``use_default_types = true`` will insert the default types rather than needing to duplicate them.
+
+For example, to add a new ``highlight`` type first, but keep all of the other default types::
+
+   [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+   name = ""
+   directory = "highlight"
+   all_bullets = false
+   check = false
+
+   [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+   use_default_types = true
diff --git a/src/towncrier/newsfragments/697.feature.rst b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/697.feature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..76583131
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/697.feature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+The default template now respects the ``all_bullets`` configuration setting.
+
+In addition, categories can be override the ``all_bullets`` setting so fragments in that specific category can override the global configuration.
diff --git a/src/towncrier/templates/default.md b/src/towncrier/templates/default.md
index 4a5a07d4..1558bfe1 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/templates/default.md
+++ b/src/towncrier/templates/default.md
@@ -13,10 +13,12 @@
 
 {% if sections[section] %}
 {% for category, val in definitions.items() if category in sections[section] %}
+{% if definitions[category]['name'] %}
 ##{% if section %}#{% endif %} {{ definitions[category]['name'] }}
 
+{% endif %}
 {% for text, values in sections[section][category].items() %}
-- {{ text }}
+{% if "all_bullets" not in definitions[category] or definitions[category].all_bullets %}- {% endif %}{{ text }}
 {%- if values %}
 {% if "\n  - " in text or '\n  * ' in text %}
 
diff --git a/src/towncrier/templates/default.rst b/src/towncrier/templates/default.rst
index bee15720..17592e42 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/templates/default.rst
+++ b/src/towncrier/templates/default.rst
@@ -15,11 +15,13 @@
 
 {% if sections[section] %}
 {% for category, val in definitions.items() if category in sections[section]%}
+{% if definitions[category]['name'] %}
 {{ definitions[category]['name'] }}
 {{ underline * definitions[category]['name']|length }}
+{% endif %}
 
 {% for text, values in sections[section][category].items() %}
-- {% if text %}{{ text }}{% if values %} ({{ values|join(', ') }}){% endif %}{% else %}{{ values|join(', ') }}{% endif  %}
+{% if "all_bullets" not in definitions[category] or definitions[category].all_bullets %}- {% endif %}{% if text %}{{ text }}{% if values %} ({{ values|join(', ') }}){% endif %}{% else %}{{ values|join(', ') }}{% endif  %}
 
 {% endfor %}
 
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_bullets.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_bullets.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f820d62d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_bullets.py
@@ -0,0 +1,462 @@
+import os
+
+from textwrap import dedent
+
+from twisted.trial.unittest import TestCase
+
+from .._builder import render_fragments, split_fragments
+from .._settings import load_config
+from .helpers import read_pkg_resource, write
+
+
+class BulletsTests(TestCase):
+    maxDiff = None
+
+    def mktemp_project(
+        self, *, pyproject_toml: str = "", towncrier_toml: str = ""
+    ) -> str:
+        """
+        Create a temporary directory with config files.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp()
+        os.makedirs(project_dir)
+
+        if pyproject_toml:
+            write(
+                os.path.join(project_dir, "pyproject.toml"),
+                pyproject_toml,
+                dedent=True,
+            )
+
+        if towncrier_toml:
+            write(
+                os.path.join(project_dir, "towncrier.toml"),
+                towncrier_toml,
+                dedent=True,
+            )
+
+        return project_dir
+
+    def test_render_rst_all_bullets_true_default(self):
+        """
+        Default behavior: all_bullets is True, RST renders with bullets.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.rst"
+                # all_bullets defaults to true
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None  # Assure type checker
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+            render_title=False,  # Don't render title in fragment tests
+        )
+        expected = """
+Features
+--------
+
+- Feature 1. (#1)
+
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+- Fix 2. (#2)
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
+
+    def test_render_rst_all_bullets_false_global(self):
+        """
+        Global all_bullets=false, RST renders without bullets.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.rst"
+                all_bullets = false
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None  # Assure type checker
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+            render_title=False,  # Don't render title in fragment tests
+        )
+        expected = """
+Features
+--------
+
+Feature 1. (#1)
+
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+Fix 2. (#2)
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
+
+    def test_render_rst_all_bullets_override(self):
+        """
+        Per-category all_bullets overrides global setting in RST.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.rst"
+                all_bullets = false # Global false
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                all_bullets = true # Override to true
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+                # Inherits global false
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fish]
+                name = "Docs"
+                all_bullets = false # Explicit false
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None  # Assure type checker
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+                ("3", "fish", 0): "Doc 3.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "2026-01-01"},
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+        )
+        # Note: Order is sorted based on alphabetical fragment names
+        expected = """
+MyProject 1.0 (2026-01-01)
+==========================
+
+Features
+--------
+
+- Feature 1. (#1)
+
+
+Docs
+----
+
+Doc 3. (#3)
+
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+Fix 2. (#2)
+
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
+
+    def test_render_md_all_bullets_true_default(self):
+        """
+        Default behavior: all_bullets is True, Markdown renders with bullets.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.md" # Triggers markdown template
+                # all_bullets defaults to true
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None  # Assure type checker
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+            render_title=False,  # Don't render title in fragment tests
+        )
+        expected = """
+## Features
+
+- Feature 1. (#1)
+
+## Bugfixes
+
+- Fix 2. (#2)
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
+
+    def test_render_md_all_bullets_false_global(self):
+        """
+        Global all_bullets=false, Markdown renders without bullets.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.md"
+                all_bullets = false
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None  # Assure type checker
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={},
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+            render_title=False,  # Don't render title in fragment tests
+        )
+        expected = """
+## Features
+
+Feature 1. (#1)
+
+## Bugfixes
+
+Fix 2. (#2)
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
+
+    def test_render_md_all_bullets_override(self):
+        """
+        Per-category all_bullets overrides global setting in Markdown.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.md"
+                all_bullets = true # Global true
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                # Inherits global true
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+                all_bullets = false # Override to false
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fish]
+                name = "Docs"
+                all_bullets = true # Explicit true
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None  # Assure type checker
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+                ("3", "fish", 0): "Doc 3.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={},  # MD template might not need versiondata for title
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+            render_title=False,  # Don't render title in fragment tests
+        )
+        # Note: Order is sorted based on alphabetical fragment names
+        expected = """
+## Features
+
+- Feature 1. (#1)
+
+## Docs
+
+- Doc 3. (#3)
+
+## Bugfixes
+
+Fix 2. (#2)
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
+
+    def test_render_rst_all_bullets_array_format(self):
+        """
+        Per-category all_bullets overrides global setting using the array format.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                filename = "NEWS.rst"
+                all_bullets = false # Global false
+
+                [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+                directory = "feat"
+                name = "Features"
+                all_bullets = true # Override to true
+
+                [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+                directory = "fix"
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+                # Inherits global false
+
+                [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+                directory = "docs"
+                name = "Documentation"
+                all_bullets = false # Explicit false
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None
+        template_resource_path = f"templates/{config.template[1]}"
+        template_content = read_pkg_resource(template_resource_path)
+        raw_fragments = {
+            "": {
+                ("1", "feat", 0): "Feature 1.",
+                ("2", "fix", 0): "Fix 2.",
+                ("3", "docs", 0): "Doc 3.",
+            },
+        }
+        processed_fragments = split_fragments(
+            raw_fragments, config.types, config.all_bullets
+        )
+        rendered = render_fragments(
+            template=template_content,
+            issue_format=config.issue_format,
+            fragments=processed_fragments,
+            definitions=config.types,
+            underlines=config.underlines[1:],
+            wrap=config.wrap,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "2026-01-01"},
+            all_bullets=config.all_bullets,
+        )
+        # Order is sorted based on the order of the array
+        expected = """
+MyProject 1.0 (2026-01-01)
+==========================
+
+Features
+--------
+
+- Feature 1. (#1)
+
+
+Bugfixes
+--------
+
+Fix 2. (#2)
+
+
+Documentation
+-------------
+
+Doc 3. (#3)
+
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(), rendered.strip())
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_settings.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_settings.py
index f46db2b2..81d4392c 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/test/test_settings.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_settings.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 
 class TomlSettingsTests(TestCase):
+    maxDiff = None
+
     def mktemp_project(
         self, *, pyproject_toml: str = "", towncrier_toml: str = ""
     ) -> str:
@@ -370,6 +372,7 @@ def test_custom_types_as_tables_array_deprecated(self):
             """
         )
         config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config
         expected = [
             (
                 "foo",
@@ -377,6 +380,7 @@ def test_custom_types_as_tables_array_deprecated(self):
                     "name": "Foo",
                     "showcontent": False,
                     "check": True,
+                    "all_bullets": True,
                 },
             ),
             (
@@ -385,6 +389,7 @@ def test_custom_types_as_tables_array_deprecated(self):
                     "name": "Spam",
                     "showcontent": True,
                     "check": True,
+                    "all_bullets": True,
                 },
             ),
             (
@@ -393,6 +398,7 @@ def test_custom_types_as_tables_array_deprecated(self):
                     "name": "Automatic",
                     "showcontent": True,
                     "check": False,
+                    "all_bullets": True,
                 },
             ),
         ]
@@ -400,6 +406,108 @@ def test_custom_types_as_tables_array_deprecated(self):
         actual = config.types
         self.assertDictEqual(expected, actual)
 
+    def test_custom_types_array_with_defaults(self):
+        """
+        Custom fragment types defined using an array of tables can include
+        the default types by specifying `use_default_types = true`.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+
+                [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+                directory="custom"
+                name="Custom Type"
+                showcontent=false
+
+                [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+                use_default_types = true
+
+                [[tool.towncrier.type]]
+                directory="another"
+                name="Another Type"
+                showcontent=true
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config
+        expected = {
+            "custom": {
+                "all_bullets": True,
+                "name": "Custom Type",
+                "showcontent": False,
+                "check": True,
+            },
+            # Default types inserted here
+            "feature": {"name": "Features", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
+            "bugfix": {"name": "Bugfixes", "showcontent": True, "check": True},
+            "doc": {
+                "name": "Improved Documentation",
+                "showcontent": True,
+                "check": True,
+            },
+            "removal": {
+                "name": "Deprecations and Removals",
+                "showcontent": True,
+                "check": True,
+            },
+            "misc": {"name": "Misc", "showcontent": False, "check": True},
+            # Another custom type after defaults
+            "another": {
+                "all_bullets": True,
+                "name": "Another Type",
+                "showcontent": True,
+                "check": True,
+            },
+        }
+
+        actual = config.types
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected, actual)
+
+        # Check key ordering
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ["custom", "feature", "bugfix", "doc", "removal", "misc", "another"],
+            list(actual.keys()),
+        )
+
+    def test_custom_types_all_bullets_inheritance(self):
+        """
+        Test that fragment types inherit the global all_bullets setting
+        when not explicitly set.
+        """
+        project_dir = self.mktemp_project(
+            pyproject_toml="""
+                [tool.towncrier]
+                package = "foobar"
+                all_bullets = false # Global setting
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.feat]
+                name = "Features"
+                # No all_bullets here - should inherit false
+                [tool.towncrier.fragment.fix]
+                name = "Bugfixes"
+                all_bullets = true # Explicit override
+            """
+        )
+        config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config is not None
+        expected = {
+            "feat": {
+                "name": "Features",
+                "showcontent": True,
+                "check": True,
+                "all_bullets": False,  # Inherited
+            },
+            "fix": {
+                "name": "Bugfixes",
+                "showcontent": True,
+                "check": True,
+                "all_bullets": True,  # Overridden
+            },
+        }
+        actual = config.types
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected, actual)
+
     def test_custom_types_as_tables(self):
         """
         Custom fragment categories can be defined inside
@@ -421,26 +529,31 @@ def test_custom_types_as_tables(self):
             """
         )
         config = load_config(project_dir)
+        assert config
         expected = {
             "chore": {
                 "name": "Other Tasks",
                 "showcontent": False,
                 "check": True,
+                "all_bullets": True,
             },
             "feat": {
                 "name": "Feat",
                 "showcontent": True,
                 "check": True,
+                "all_bullets": True,
             },
             "fix": {
                 "name": "Fix",
                 "showcontent": True,
                 "check": True,
+                "all_bullets": True,
             },
             "auto": {
                 "name": "Automatic",
                 "showcontent": True,
                 "check": False,
+                "all_bullets": True,
             },
         }
         actual = config.types