YouTube announced on August 10, 2026 that Partner Program entry thresholds double on February 1, 2027: new applicants will need 1,000 subscribers plus 8,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Creators already in YPP are not impacted.
Below is every confirmed number, each tied to YouTube's own announcement or help documentation. YouTube is not the only platform raising its bar, and writers weighing similar tradeoffs can compare Medium's Partner Program eligibility rules.
What changes on February 1, 2027?
Three things change on February 1, 2027: YPP entry thresholds for new creators double, monthly Shorts Creator Pool earnings require 10 million qualified Shorts views per 90 days, and Premium Lite expands to every country where YouTube Premium is sold. YouTube published all three in a single announcement.
| Requirement | Before February 1, 2027 | From February 1, 2027 (new applicants) |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000 | 1,000 (unchanged) |
| Long-form path | 4,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days | 8,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days |
| Shorts path | 10,000,000 qualified Shorts views in 90 days | 20,000,000 qualified Shorts views in 90 days |
| Existing YPP members | Already monetizing | Not impacted; must accept updated terms by January 31, 2027 |
YouTube's help page Changes to the YouTube Partner Program states that "starting Feb. 1, 2027, YPP entry thresholds for new creators are changing to 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20M qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, in addition to still needing 1k subscribers". The pre-2027 thresholds of 4,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days remain in force until January 31, 2027, per YouTube's YPP overview and eligibility page.
Are existing YPP members affected?
No. YouTube's August 10, 2026 announcement states that "this update won't impact creators already in YPP," so the doubled entry thresholds apply only to new applicants. The single required action for existing partners is accepting the updated Partner Program terms in YouTube Studio before the deadline.
YouTube's help page warns that channels which do not accept the updated terms "by January 31, 2027... will stop earning from the associated monetization features beginning February 1, 2027," per Changes to the YouTube Partner Program. The grandfathering language — "this update won't impact creators already in YPP" — appears in YouTube's official blog post YouTube Partner Program updates published August 10, 2026.
What are the new thresholds for new applicants?
From February 1, 2027, a new YPP applicant needs 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. Either path alone qualifies; you do not need both. The subscriber requirement is unchanged at 1,000.
The 8,000-hour long-form path is exactly double the 4,000 qualified watch hours required before February 1, 2027, and the 20 million Shorts path is exactly double the previous 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, per YouTube's Changes to the YouTube Partner Program help page. YouTube's lower fan-funding tier is unchanged by this update: 500 subscribers plus either 3,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days or 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, per the same help page. For the full pre-2027 picture, see YouTube monetization requirements in 2026.
How does the 10 million Shorts view rule differ from the 20 million entry threshold?
They govern different stages. 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days is one route into YPP for a new applicant, while 10 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days is the ongoing requirement to keep drawing from the Shorts Creator Pool once you are already a partner. The two numbers do not conflict.
YouTube's help page states that "to earn each month from the Shorts Creator Pool, creators will now need to maintain 10M qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days," per Changes to the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube's August 10, 2026 blog post frames the same figure as eligibility, stating that "beginning February 1, 2027, creators who have 10 million qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days will be eligible for ads and subscription revenue sharing,". In practice a creator can enter YPP on the 8,000-watch-hour long-form path and still need 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days before Shorts ad and subscription revenue starts. For the Shorts side on its own, see YouTube Shorts monetization requirements.
What is the Premium Lite expansion?
YouTube is expanding Premium Lite — its lower-priced, mostly ad-free membership — to all countries where YouTube Premium is offered, as part of the same February 1, 2027 terms update. Premium Lite launched in the US at $7.99 per month, and creators share a defined pool of its net subscription revenue.
YouTube's blog post states the company is "expanding Premium Lite to all countries where we offer YouTube Premium," per YouTube Partner Program updates, published August 10, 2026. Under the updated terms, "for Premium Lite, creators will share in a pool representing 60% of net subscription revenue," while Premium views draw on a pool representing 30% of net subscription revenue, per Changes to the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube introduced Premium Lite at $7.99 per month in the US in its blog post Introducing Premium Lite; the current country list is published at YouTube's Premium Lite available locations page, and local prices differ by market. YouTube's stated rationale is that "when a user signs up for Premium, partners, on average, earn more than when the user was watching ads," per the August 10, 2026 blog post.
Do channels have to stay active to keep monetizing?
Yes. From February 1, 2027, YouTube counts a channel as active if it has 1,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days, or 1 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, or uploads 2 long-form videos or 5 Shorts every 90 days. Meeting any one of the three is enough.
Channels that fall below all three activity measures get a 90-day window to meet them again before removal from the Partner Program, per YouTube's Changes to the YouTube Partner Program help page. Multi-channel network affiliate channels must individually accept the updated terms by January 31, 2027 or stop earning from the associated features on February 1, 2027, per the same help page.
What if you're below the new thresholds?
Falling short of 1,000 subscribers, 8,000 qualified watch hours, or 20 million qualified Shorts views locks you out of YouTube's own ad and subscription payouts only. Direct fan payments sit outside the Partner Program entirely and carry no subscriber or watch-hour minimum, so they are available at any channel size.
Before choosing where to focus, it is worth comparing how memberships stack up against paying fans directly, and how to make money on YouTube without the Partner Program covers the routes that work under the threshold.
FanBell is one such route: fans pay for a private question, a personalized shoutout, a small creator service, a tip, or wishlist support, with no subscriber minimum. FanBell costs $0 per month, charges a 12% platform fee per paid transaction, and pays creators through a connected Stripe Express account, per the FanBell pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 2027 changes kick existing creators out of the Partner Program?
No. YouTube's August 10, 2026 blog post states "this update won't impact creators already in YPP." The one requirement is accepting the updated Partner Program terms by January 31, 2027, or the channel stops earning from the associated monetization features on February 1, 2027, per YouTube's help page.
What are the new YouTube monetization requirements for 2027?
For new applicants from February 1, 2027: 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, per YouTube's "Changes to the YouTube Partner Program" help page. Both figures are exactly double the pre-2027 thresholds of 4,000 watch hours and 10 million Shorts views.
When were these changes announced and when do they take effect?
YouTube announced them on August 10, 2026 on the official YouTube blog, and they take effect February 1, 2027. Existing members must accept the updated terms by January 31, 2027, per YouTube's help page.
Can I earn from fans before I hit the new thresholds?
Yes. Direct fan payments — tips, paid questions, shoutouts, small services — are not part of YPP and require no subscriber count or watch hours. FanBell costs $0 per month and charges a 12% platform fee per paid transaction, per the FanBell pricing page.
Ready to get paid by viewers without waiting on the new 2027 thresholds? Create your free FanBell page and set up your first paid offer in minutes.
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