YouTube raises subscriber and view thresholds for monetization starting February 2027
From February 1 2027 YouTube will require higher subscriber counts and watch-time or Shorts-view numbers for creators to join its Partner Program.
YouTube announced that, beginning Feb 1 2027, the entry criteria for its Partner Program will be tightened. Creators will need a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours over the previous year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the past three months, a sharp rise from today’s 4,000 hours or 10 million Shorts views. To remain eligible for the Shorts Creators Pool, channels must sustain 10 million Shorts views every 90-day period, though falling short will not automatically eject them.
The platform says the higher subscriber base should boost earnings because Premium subscription revenue is split, with 55 % allocated to long-form videos and 45 % to Shorts. YouTube frames the changes as part of its shift toward a premium-TV model, citing recent deals with major shows and new features like video seasons. Current partners must agree to the revised terms by Jan 31 2027 or lose monetization rights.
Why it matters
The stricter thresholds could force many small creators off YouTube’s revenue stream, altering the platform’s creator ecosystem.
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