Yes — YouTube announced major Partner Program changes on August 10, 2026, taking effect February 1, 2027. If you're already in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), you're grandfathered and unaffected. New applicants will need higher thresholds: 8,000 watch hours in 365 days or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days, on top of 1,000 subscribers.
This is the first full rewrite of YPP terms since 2018, so the details matter. Here's exactly what's changing, who it affects, and what it means if you're applying after February 1, 2027.
What changes on February 1, 2027?
YouTube framed the update around three main moves: expanding Premium Lite, evolving how Shorts earn, and updating the entry requirements for ads and Premium revenue. The headline for anyone chasing monetization is the higher entry bar for new applicants — the numbers roughly double.
| Requirement | Current | From February 1, 2027 (new applicants) |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 1,000 | 1,000 (unchanged) |
| Long-form path | 4,000 valid public watch hours in 365 days | 8,000 valid public watch hours in 365 days |
| Shorts path | 10,000,000 valid public Shorts views in 90 days | 20,000,000 valid public Shorts views in 90 days |
| Existing YPP members | Already monetizing | Not impacted; must accept updated terms by January 31, 2027 |
Sources: YouTube's official Changes to the YouTube Partner Program help page and the YouTube blog announcement dated August 10, 2026. Verified August 2026 — treat YouTube's own pages as the source of record, not this table.
Are existing YPP members affected?
No. YouTube was explicit that if you're already in the Partner Program, your status is not impacted by the new entry thresholds — you're grandfathered in. The one action existing members need to take is accepting the updated Partner Program terms by January 31, 2027 to keep monetizing. This is the same terms update that carries the Premium Lite and Shorts changes. So the doubled thresholds are an entry barrier for people not yet in YPP, not a re-qualification test for those already earning.
What are the new thresholds for new applicants?
Starting February 1, 2027, a creator applying to YPP will still need 1,000 subscribers, plus one of these:
- 8,000 valid public watch hours in the last 365 days (long-form path), or
- 20,000,000 valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days (Shorts path)
That's double the current 4,000 watch hours and 10 million Shorts views. You don't need both — either path clears the bar. The subscriber requirement is unchanged. Source: YouTube's YPP overview and eligibility. Verified August 2026. For the current pre-2027 numbers and the earlier 500-subscriber fan-funding tier, see YouTube monetization requirements in 2026.
What about earning from Shorts specifically?
There's a separate Shorts detail worth knowing. Beginning February 1, 2027, creators who have 10,000,000 qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days will be eligible to earn ads and subscription revenue from Shorts. So the Shorts ecosystem has two relevant view numbers: 10 million (90 days) to earn ads and subscription revenue from Shorts, and 20 million (90 days) as a full entry path into YPP for new applicants. Source: YouTube's official Partner Program change pages, verified August 2026. For how the Shorts side works on its own, see YouTube Shorts monetization requirements.
What is the Premium Lite expansion?
Part of the same update expands YouTube Premium Lite — a lower-cost, mostly ad-free tier (around $7.99/month in the US) — to all countries where Premium is available, adding dozens of new markets. YouTube's stated reasoning is that, on average, creators earn more per user from Premium subscriptions than from ads, so wider Premium Lite availability is meant to grow that revenue pool. This is why the change is bundled into a terms update creators must accept. Source: YouTube's Changes to the YouTube Partner Program help page, verified August 2026.
What if you're below the new thresholds?
Doubling the entry bar means more creators will spend longer outside YPP. But being below 1,000 subscribers — or below 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views — only locks you out of YouTube's own payout programs. It says nothing about getting paid directly by the people already watching you, which has no YouTube threshold at all.
That's the gap a link-in-bio page like FanBell fills. Fans pay for things like a paid private question, a personalized shoutout, a small creator service, a plain tip, or support toward a project — all with no subscriber minimum, because the only requirement is that someone wants to interact with you. It's free to start, with a 12% platform fee only when a fan actually pays, and payouts go through Stripe. It's built to run alongside ad revenue and memberships once those open up, not instead of them.
For the routes that work under the threshold, see making money on YouTube under 1,000 subscribers and how to monetize followers directly. For a broader look at earning without relying on YPP at all, see how to make money on YouTube without the Partner Program.
Frequently asked questions
Do the 2027 changes kick existing creators out of the Partner Program?
No. Existing YPP members are grandfathered and unaffected by the higher entry thresholds. The only requirement is accepting the updated Partner Program terms by January 31, 2027 to keep monetizing.
What are the new YouTube monetization requirements for 2027?
For new applicants starting February 1, 2027: 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 valid public watch hours in the last 365 days or 20,000,000 valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days. That's double the previous watch-hour and Shorts-view thresholds.
When were these changes announced and when do they take effect?
YouTube announced them on August 10, 2026, and they take effect February 1, 2027. Existing members must accept the updated terms by January 31, 2027.
Can I earn from fans before I hit the new thresholds?
Yes. Direct fan payments — tips, paid questions, shoutouts, small services — aren't part of YPP and require no subscriber count or watch hours. A tool like FanBell is free to start and only charges a 12% platform fee when a fan actually pays.
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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