YouTube is tightening access to its main creator monetisation programme from 2027, requiring newcomers to generate substantially more watch time or Shorts views, while introducing new conditions for Shorts revenue sharing.
YouTube is raising the performance requirements for creators seeking to join its YouTube Partner Programme (YPP), making it significantly harder for newer channels to qualify for advertising and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.
The revised rules will take effect from February 1, 2027, and represent the first major overhaul of the programme’s eligibility requirements since 2018. YouTube currently has more than three million creators participating in YPP, as the platform continues to expand its audience across both long-form videos and Shorts.
Under the new system, creators applying for the programme will need to accumulate either 8,000 qualified public watch hours during the preceding 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views within the previous 90 days. The earlier requirements were 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views, respectively.
The 1,000-subscriber requirement will remain unchanged. Existing YPP members will not be required to meet the higher entry thresholds.
New requirements for Shorts earnings
YouTube is also introducing a separate eligibility condition for Shorts monetisation that will apply to creators already participating in YPP as well as new creators.
From February 1, creators will need to record at least 10 million qualified Shorts views during a rolling 90-day period to continue receiving advertising and subscription-based revenue from Shorts. Channels that fall below the benchmark will remain part of YPP and can continue monetising eligible long-form content, but Shorts-related earnings will be suspended until the required view count is reached again.
YouTube said creators already generating substantial revenue through Shorts are unlikely to experience significant disruption from the new rule. Creators will be able to review and accept the updated terms through YouTube Studio before the changes become effective.
For channels struggling to maintain the new Shorts threshold, YouTube plans to introduce additional earning opportunities. These include bonuses linked to YouTube Shopping, incentives associated with brand partnerships and other rewards designed to encourage creators to initiate and grow trends.
The lower-tier YPP entry route for fan-funding and shopping features will remain unchanged. Creators can access those tools with 500 subscribers, three public uploads within 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified watch hours or three million qualified Shorts views.
Premium Lite expands globally
Alongside the monetisation changes, YouTube is expanding its Premium Lite subscription to every market where the standard YouTube Premium service is available. The lower-cost plan provides ad-free viewing for most content, along with offline and background playback.
In India, Premium Lite has been available since November 2025 at Rs 89 per month, compared with Rs 149 for the regular Premium subscription.
YouTube also plans to distribute subscription revenue through separate creator pools. After applicable operating, promotional and music-related costs, 30% of net Premium subscription revenue and 60% of Premium Lite revenue will enter the respective pools. Creator payouts will then be determined by member viewing activity, with 55% allocated for long-form content and 45% for Shorts.
YouTube expects the changes to increase creator earnings over time, particularly as Premium subscribers can generate greater revenue for partners than advertising-supported viewers. The company has also indicated that its total creator payouts are expected to rise in 2027 compared with 2026.
The changes come as competing social platforms also adjust their approaches to creator monetisation, increasingly placing greater emphasis on original content, audience engagement and sustainable creator revenue.
