New Creators Face Tougher Entry Requirements for YouTube Partner Program

YouTube is making it significantly harder for new creators to earn ad and Premium revenue by doubling two of the core requirements for joining the YouTube Partner Program. Starting next year, creators will still need 1,000 subscribers, but must now achieve either 8,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days, doubling the current thresholds. Fan funding and Shopping features remain unchanged, meaning creators can still earn money without meeting the new ad‑revenue requirements. Existing creators face new rules too: beginning February 1, 2026, they must maintain 10 million Shorts views over 90 days to keep receiving Shorts ad and subscription revenue, though falling below this won’t remove them from YPP. Channels must also stay active, as six months without uploads could lead to removal. YouTube is pairing these tougher requirements with expansions like Premium Lite availability and new incentives around Shopping and brand deals, expecting overall creator payouts to increase in 2027.

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