YouTube Partner Program requirements in 2026 (and what changes in February 2027)
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) decides who can earn from ads and other monetization tools. It is an application and approval system, so reaching a number does not guarantee acceptance. Here is how the requirements look in 2026.
Tier 1: early access
- 500 subscribers.
- 3 public uploads in the last 90 days.
- 3,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months, or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Tier 1 unlocks fan-funding features such as channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks, Super Stickers and YouTube Shopping.
Tier 2: full monetization
- 1,000 subscribers.
- 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Tier 2 adds ad revenue and YouTube Premium revenue sharing on top of the Tier 1 features.
Requirements people forget
- No active Community Guidelines strikes.
- 2-Step Verification turned on for the Google account.
- A linked AdSense account.
- YPP must be available in your country.
What changes on February 1, 2027
YouTube announced on August 10, 2026 that, from February 1, 2027, new applicants for ad and Premium revenue sharing will need 8,000 public watch hours (up from 4,000) or 20 million public Shorts views (up from 10 million). The 1,000 subscriber requirement stays the same. Existing members are not affected by this specific threshold change.
One change does reach existing members too: from the same date, a channel will need 10 million qualified Shorts views in the previous 90 days to keep earning ad and subscription revenue from Shorts.
Planning tips
- Decide early whether you are going for the watch-hours path or the Shorts path.
- Keep the channel clear of strikes.
- Turn on 2-Step Verification from day one.