YouTube is raising the eligibility bar for creators who want to earn advertising and YouTube Premium revenue through its Partner Program, with new requirements set to take effect in 2027.
Beginning February 1, 2027, new creators applying for ad and Premium revenue sharing through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) will have to meet one of two thresholds. They must either accumulate 8,000 qualified watch hours over the previous 365 days or reach 20 million qualified Shorts views within 90 days.
The new requirements will apply only to creators entering the ad and Premium revenue-sharing programme. Those already enrolled in YPP will not be affected by the revised entry criteria.
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YouTube said the changes are aimed at rewarding active creators and creating more ways for them to earn money on the platform. The update marks the company’s first major change to YPP eligibility requirements since 2018.
The company also expects to pay creators more in 2027 than it did in 2026.
YouTube is also separately changing the eligibility requirements for Shorts revenue sharing.
Starting February 1, 2027, creators already in YPP will need to generate at least 10 million qualified Shorts views over a 90-day period to remain eligible for advertising and subscription revenue from Shorts.
Creators who fall below the 10-million-view threshold will not lose their YPP membership. They will continue to earn from eligible long-form content, while Shorts revenue sharing will resume automatically once they cross the threshold again.
YouTube said creators who already generate substantial revenue from Shorts are unlikely to be significantly affected by the change.
YouTube is also looking beyond advertising to create new earning opportunities for creators.
For creators who fall below the 10-million Shorts view threshold, the programmes are expected to offer rewards for reaching specific milestones. These could include bonuses linked to YouTube Shopping, incentives for brand partnerships and additional earnings for creators who help launch or grow trends.
The company said it will share more details about these programmes later.
YouTube YPP eligibility from February 2027
New creators seeking access to advertising and Premium revenue sharing will need to meet the following requirements:
- Subscribers: 1,000
- Watch hours: 8,000 qualified hours in the previous 365 days
- Shorts views: 20 million qualified views in the previous 90 days
The eligibility requirements for YouTube’s fan-funding and shopping features will remain unchanged. The revised thresholds specifically apply to access to advertising and Premium revenue sharing.
YouTube is also expanding Premium Lite to all countries where YouTube Premium is available.
The subscription offers ad-free viewing for most videos, along with offline downloads and background playback. Creators can receive a share of revenue from YouTube Premium and Premium Lite based on member watch time and views.
According to YouTube, creators receive 55% of allocated revenue from long-form videos and 45% from Shorts.
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The company announced in February that Premium Lite would gain background playback and download features. In India, the subscription is priced at Rs. 89 per month and offers ad-free viewing for most videos. It is available on smartphones, laptops and smart TVs.
YouTube’s move comes as other social media platforms are also changing their creator monetization programmes.
Elon Musk’s X recently revised its creator payout programme, placing greater emphasis on original content. Earlier this year, Facebook introduced a new monetization programme designed to attract established creators from platforms such as TikTok and YouTube.