YouTube is introducing major changes to its YouTube Partner Program (YPP) from February 1, 2027, raising the entry requirements for advertising and Premium revenue sharing while introducing new activity requirements and changes to Shorts monetization.

YouTube has announced its first major YPP changes since 2018, saying the updates are intended to better reward active creators and create new earning opportunities across the platform. The company says the Partner Program now includes more than 3 million creators.

The biggest change will affect new creators applying for advertising and YouTube Premium revenue sharing.

From February 1, 2027, new applicants will need:

Previously, the main thresholds were 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views. The subscriber requirement remains at 1,000.

YouTube has clarified that these higher thresholds will not affect creators who are already in the YPP.

YouTube is also changing how Shorts revenue sharing works.

Starting February 1, 2027, creators who want to earn monthly revenue from the Shorts Creator Pool will need to maintain 10 million qualified Shorts views during the previous 90 days.

Creators who fall below that threshold will not be removed from the YouTube Partner Program. Instead, their Shorts revenue sharing will pause. It will automatically resume when they once again reach the 10-million-view threshold.

YouTube says it is also planning additional opportunities for Shorts creators, including potential bonuses connected to YouTube Shopping, incentives for brand deals and earnings boosts related to trends.

The platform is also placing greater emphasis on consistent creator activity.

From February 1, 2027, a channel in YPP will be considered active if it meets at least one of these conditions:

Creators who fall below the activity requirements will receive an extended 90-day window to restore their active status through qualifying watch hours or Shorts views.

Not every monetization requirement is increasing.

YouTube says eligibility for fan funding, Creator Partnerships and YouTube Shopping will remain available at the lower threshold of 500 subscribers, along with either 3,000 qualified watch hours in the previous year or 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days.

This means smaller channels can still access some monetization features before reaching the higher advertising-revenue threshold.

Creators already participating in YPP should also pay attention to the updated terms.

YouTube says creators need to review and accept the relevant updated monetization terms in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027. Creators who do not accept the applicable terms will stop earning from those associated monetization features from February 1, although their YPP status itself will not be removed.

The updated terms can be reviewed through the Earn section or the terms notification inside YouTube Studio.

The 2027 update puts greater emphasis on consistent activity, sustained audience engagement and qualified views.

For people planning to start a YouTube channel, reaching 1,000 subscribers alone will no longer be enough for advertising and Premium revenue sharing. New creators will need to build substantially more watch time or Shorts reach.

At the same time, YouTube says it is expanding opportunities beyond traditional advertising revenue, including Premium Lite revenue sharing, shopping incentives and potential programs supporting brand collaborations.

With the changes taking effect on February 1, 2027, creators—especially those planning to start a new channel—will need to understand the updated thresholds and build a consistent publishing strategy around them.

For the latest official requirements, creators should check YouTube Studio and the YouTube Help Center before making monetization decisions.