NEW: Updates to the YouTube Partner Programme
Starting on 1 February 2027, we are introducing updates to the YouTube Partner Programme (YPP). To reflect how viewers watch today and ensure that YouTube remains a sustainable, long-term growth engine for your business, we are making three main updates to the programme:
- Expanding Premium Lite
- Evolving YouTube Shorts earnings and opportunities
- Updating YPP ads and Premium entry thresholds
To continue fully monetising your content, review and accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027.
Expanding Premium Lite
We are expanding Premium Lite to all countries where Premium is available. On average, creators earn more per user from Premium than from ads (based on 2026 performance).
For Premium Lite, creators will share in a pool representing 60% of net subscription revenue. For Premium views, creators will share in a pool representing 30% of net subscription revenue. In YouTube Analytics, Premium Lite earnings are included in your standard YouTube Premium metrics.
Evolving YouTube Shorts earnings and opportunities
We're introducing new options to reward consistent viewership and help creators to build a more diverse business.
Shorts earnings and minimum performance
To earn each month from the Shorts Creator Pool, creators will now need to maintain 10 million qualified Shorts views over the past 90 days. If you miss this threshold, you will not be removed from the YPP and this will not impact other YPP earnings, including long-form video.
New Shorts incentive programmes
We are introducing programmes that may offer bonuses for YouTube Shopping, production credits for brand deals and earning boosts for cultural trend activations. Eligible creators will get direct notifications on how to opt in as these programmes launch.
Targeted Shorts ads
If an advertiser targets an ad to a group of 5 or fewer channels, eligible creators can earn a direct 45% revenue share from those placements. This is paid on top of your standard earnings from the general Shorts Creator Pool.
Updating YPP ads and Premium entry thresholds
Starting on 1 February 2027, the YPP entry thresholds for new creators are changing to 8,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days, in addition to still needing 1,000 subscribers. If you are already in the YPP, your status will not be impacted by this update.
There are no changes to the eligibility requirements for fan funding, YouTube Creator Partnerships or YouTube Shopping. These products will continue to help creators start their earning journeys even earlier when they reach 500 subscribers and either 3,000 qualified watch hours in the past year or 3 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days.
Updated channel activity requirements
To better recognise creators' consistent effort and reflect the realities of different formats, we are updating how we consider channels active in the YPP.
Starting on 1 February 2027, your channel will be considered active if you meet any of the following requirements:
- 1,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days or
- 1 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days or
- 2 long-form videos or 5 Shorts uploaded every 90 days
Restore active status
Most creators in the YPP already meet YPP activity thresholds, but those that drop below will now have an extended 90-day window to meet either of these requirements to stay in the programme:
- 1,000 qualified watch hours in the past 365 days or
- 1 million qualified Shorts views in the past 90 days
Updated fan funding terms
For creators who enabled fan funding features (like channel memberships or Super Chat) before 2023, you may still be on an older version of the terms – the Commerce Product Addendum. To keep our legal terms consistent, we are moving everyone to the current Commerce Product Module. There are no changes to eligibility thresholds, how the products work or revenue share.
You'll need to accept the Commerce Product Module in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027. Starting on 1 February 2027, if you haven't accepted the terms, you'll stop earning from the associated monetisation features and need to accept the updated terms to regain access.
Accept the new YPP terms
To accept the new YouTube Partner Programme terms:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio on a desktop or mobile device.
- Find the terms notification in your YouTube Studio dashboard or on the Earn tab.
- Select Review for each updated module.
- Tick the box to accept and select Next.
- Select Submit once you've reviewed all updated modules.
Frequently asked questions
Am I going to get kicked out of the YouTube Partner Programme if I don't sign the updated contracts?
No. If you don't accept the updated terms by 31 January 2027, you'll stop earning from the associated monetisation features beginning on 1 February 2027. To regain access to these monetisation features, you will need to accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio. Your decision to accept these terms does not impact your channel's status in the YouTube Partner Programme.
Do I need to accept all the contract modules?
You can accept some or all of the updated monetisation modules, but we encourage you to accept them all to reach your full earning potential. This includes the Watch Page Monetisation Module, the Shorts Monetisation Module and, where applicable, the Commerce Product Module. If you don't accept the updated terms by 31 January 2027, you'll stop earning from the associated monetisation features beginning on 1 February 2027. To regain access to these monetisation features, you will need to accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio.
There are no changes to other monetisation features at this time and your decision to sign these terms does not impact your channel's status in the YPP.
How does this work for channels in a Multi-Channel Network (MCN)?
This depends on how the channels are managed within the MCN. For owned and operated (O&O) channels, the managing MCN will need to accept the updated terms by 31 January 2027 to ensure that those channels continue to monetise.
For affiliate channels, the managing MCN does not need to accept the new terms. Instead, the affiliate channels themselves must accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio – including the Watch page monetisation, Shorts monetisation and (if applicable) the Commerce Product Modules – to continue earning from these features. Affiliate channels must accept these terms by 31 January 2027 or they will stop earning from the associated monetisation features beginning on 1 February 2027. If an affiliate channel misses this deadline, they can regain access to these features at any time by accepting the terms later.