The Verge
YouTube is making it harder to earn money on YouTube
Monday, August 10, 2026
YouTube announced new eligibility thresholds for its Partner Program beginning February 1, 2027. Creators must have at least 1,000 subscribers and either 8,000 qualified watch hours within the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views within the past 90 days. The previous requirement was 1,000 subscribers without the additional watch hour or view threshold.