No, YouTube is not shutting down in 2027. There is no announcement, no leak and no court case pointing to that. The rumor started after YouTube announced, on August 10, 2026, the biggest change to its Partner Program in years, effective February 1, 2027. Headlines like "YouTube is ending monetization for small creators" got shortened into "YouTube is ending".
What really changes is how creators get paid. Here is the short, sourced version.
What changes on February 1, 2027
| Until January 31, 2027 | From February 1, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Join the Partner Program (new applicants) | 4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10M Shorts views in 90 days | 8,000 watch hours in 12 months or 20M Shorts views in 90 days |
| Earn from the Shorts pool | Being in the Partner Program | 10M Shorts views every 90 days, for everyone |
| Existing Partner Program members | — | Stay in, but must accept the new modules by January 31, 2027 |
| 500-subscriber tier (fan funding, Shopping) | 500 subs + 3,000 hours or 3M Shorts views | Unchanged |
Also announced or tested in 2026:
- YouTube Premium and Premium Lite revenue: 30% (Premium) and 60% (Premium Lite) of net subscription revenue go to creator pools, split 55% long-form / 45% Shorts.
- A $20 payout threshold (instead of $100), only as a test for some creators in the US, India and Indonesia since October 2026.
- "Inauthentic" content: in July 2026 YouTube clarified that mass-produced, repetitive videos aren't eligible for monetization.
Every detail, with the sources and our data, is in YouTube's new monetization rules for 2027.
What it means for you
If you only watch YouTube: nothing announced changes for viewers.
If you're already monetized: you keep your Partner Program status. Accept the new modules in YouTube Studio (Earn tab) before January 31, 2027. If you post Shorts, check whether you get 10 million Shorts views every 90 days; below that, your Shorts stop earning but your long videos keep earning.
If you're not monetized yet: the bar doubles on February 1. If you're close to 4,000 watch hours, getting in before that date matters. After it, you'll need 8,000 hours, which favors long, binge-worthy videos. Our guide to the Partner Program requirements has a plan.
If you run a Shorts-only channel: you're the most affected. In our data, only about 1 in 5 Shorts channels with 10K–100K subscribers clears 10M Shorts views per 90 days today. Shorts already pay only $0.03 to $0.10 per 1,000 views (why, and how much), so many Shorts creators will need long videos, sponsors or products.
Find long-form formats that work in your niche
Returbe shows the videos getting 3× to 100× their channel's usual views, by niche and channel size, so you can pick formats that build watch hours.
Why the rumor spread
- "Ending" was in the headlines. Changes like "YouTube ends monetization for channels under 10M Shorts views" are true for the Shorts pool and easily misread as YouTube ending.
- Shorts creators were hit hardest, and they are the biggest group of creators posting about it.
- Fake "YouTube is closing" videos are an old genre: they appear every few years and get views precisely because they're alarming.
When you see a claim like this, check the YouTube Official Blog and the YouTube Help Center. If it isn't there, it isn't official.
Key takeaways
- YouTube is not shutting down in 2027.
- On February 1, 2027, joining the Partner Program needs 8,000 watch hours or 20M Shorts views.
- Earning from Shorts needs 10M Shorts views every 90 days, for every channel.
- Already monetized? You stay in. Accept the new modules by January 31, 2027.
Sources
- YouTube Official Blog: YouTube Partner Program updates for 2027 (August 10, 2026)
- Tubefilter: YouTube clarifies inauthentic content monetization policy (July 13, 2026)
- Tubefilter: YouTube tests reduced payout thresholds (October 28, 2026)
- Returbe database (October 2026) for the Shorts channels figure.
Find your next video ideas
Returbe spots the videos doing 3x, 10x, 50x their channel's average, every day.
Start for freeFAQ
Is YouTube shutting down in 2027?
No. YouTube has announced nothing of the sort. The rumor comes from the Partner Program changes announced on August 10, 2026, which take effect on February 1, 2027 and only change how creators qualify for and earn money.
What will happen to YouTube in 2027?
For viewers, nothing announced changes. For creators, from February 1, 2027: new Partner Program applicants need 8,000 watch hours in 12 months or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days, and every channel needs 10 million Shorts views per 90 days to earn from the Shorts pool. Existing members must accept new monetization modules by January 31, 2027.
Will I lose my YouTube monetization in 2027?
Not if you're already in the Partner Program: YouTube says the new entry thresholds don't affect existing members. But you must accept the updated modules in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027, and if your channel gets fewer than 10 million Shorts views in 90 days, you stop earning from Shorts (long-form earnings continue).
Is YouTube deleting channels in 2027?
There's no announced mass deletion. YouTube keeps removing channels that break its rules as it always has, and in July 2026 it clarified that mass-produced, repetitive 'inauthentic' content is not eligible for monetization. That affects payment, not whether the channel exists.