TV Licence Increase 2027: What You Need to Know
The TV Licence is going up again in 2027.
If you already pay for a TV Licence, the change is straightforward: you will pay more from April 2027. The part that is not known yet is the new price. The Government has confirmed another inflation-linked increase, but it has not announced the 2027/28 fee yet.
Change takes effect: April 2027, exact date and new fee not yet confirmed
Where: UK-wide
Who is affected: People and organisations that need a TV Licence
What is changing: The annual TV Licence fee will increase again in April 2027.
How much will the TV Licence cost in 2027?
We do not know yet.
The current rules provide for the licence fee to rise each year in line with inflation through to the end of the current BBC Charter period. The Government has confirmed that the fee will rise again in April 2027, which is the final year of the current Charter.
That means you may see websites or social media posts giving a specific figure for 2027. Unless that figure has been confirmed by the Government or TV Licensing, it is not the official price.
What does a TV Licence cost now?
For the current 2026/27 licence year, a standard colour TV Licence costs £180 a year. A black and white licence costs £60.50. These prices came into effect on 1 April 2026.
The £180 figure is useful as a starting point when thinking about the 2027 increase, but it is not the 2027 price.
Do you actually need a TV Licence?
This is worth checking before you worry about the increase.
You need a TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they are being broadcast. That includes live television through a television, computer, phone, tablet or other device. You also need a licence to use BBC iPlayer, including for programmes you watch on demand.
You do not need a TV Licence just because you own a television. You also do not need one simply because you have broadband or a streaming subscription.
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What if you only watch Netflix, Disney+ or other streaming services?
If you only watch on-demand programmes and films through services such as Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video, you do not normally need a TV Licence.
What matters is whether you are watching something live. If a streaming service is showing a programme or event live, you need a TV Licence to watch it.
You also need a licence for BBC iPlayer, even when you are watching a programme after it was originally broadcast.
What about YouTube?
Watching ordinary YouTube videos does not require a TV Licence.
If you use YouTube to watch something that is being shown live, however, the rules are different. Live television broadcasts still require a licence.
Can you pay less than the standard price?
Yes, some people can.
If you are 75 or over and receive Pension Credit, you can qualify for a free TV Licence. There is also a 50% discount for people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired. People living in certain types of residential care, sheltered accommodation or supported housing may also qualify for a reduced licence fee.
These arrangements are separate from the general price increase, so if you qualify for one of them it is worth checking that you are actually receiving the concession available to you.
What if paying for the licence is difficult?
If £180 is already a difficult expense to manage, another increase is understandably not welcome.
There is a Simple Payment Plan which allows eligible households to spread the cost into smaller payments rather than paying the full annual amount at once. The Government has said this support will continue through the current Charter period.
It is worth checking what payment options are available rather than simply leaving the licence unpaid. Watching or recording live television without a licence can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
What does the 2027 increase mean for your household?
For most households, there are really two questions to answer.
First, do you need a licence? If you only watch on-demand services and do not use BBC iPlayer, you may not need one at all.
Second, if you do need one, are you paying the right amount? Check whether you qualify for a free or discounted licence before the new fee comes into effect.
If you already pay for a standard colour licence and need to keep doing so, the only thing you need to plan for is that the annual cost will be higher from April 2027. The exact amount can be added to your budget once the new fee is officially announced.
What about businesses and other organisations?
The TV Licence rules are not just for households. Businesses and other organisations can also need a licence when they provide access to live television or BBC iPlayer.
For example, this can apply to workplaces, hotels and other accommodation providers. The current standard licence fee for businesses is also £180 for a colour licence.
If you run a small business, community organisation or other service where people can watch television, it is worth checking the rules for your particular setup rather than assuming a household licence covers it.
Is the TV Licence itself changing?
The change announced for April 2027 is a change to the price. The basic rules about when you need a licence are not being replaced by a new system as part of this particular increase.
The current BBC Charter runs until 31 December 2027. The Government is reviewing the BBC’s future funding arrangements, so there may be further changes after the current Charter period. Those future arrangements are separate from the confirmed April 2027 fee increase.
What should you do now?
You do not need to do anything simply because the 2027 increase has been announced.
If you already have a TV Licence, keep paying it as normal for now. The current colour licence is £180 until the next annual increase takes effect.
It is worth checking your position if you have changed the way you watch television. If you have stopped watching live TV, no longer use BBC iPlayer, or have moved entirely to on-demand services, you may no longer need a licence.
And if you are eligible for a concession, check that you have applied for it.
Once the 2027 price is officially announced, we will update this article with the new figure.
What we know, and what we do not know yet
| What we know | What is still to be confirmed |
|---|---|
| The TV Licence fee will rise again in April 2027. | The exact 2027/28 price. |
| The increase is due to follow the current inflation-linked arrangements. | The exact amount of the increase. |
| The current colour licence costs £180. | The exact date in April when the new fee will take effect. |
| The current BBC Charter ends on 31 December 2027. | What the longer-term BBC funding system will look like after the current Charter. |
Information checked
We checked the latest information from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and TV Licensing when this article was updated on 29 September 2026.
- GOV.UK: Cost of TV licence fee set for 2026/27
- GOV.UK: TV Licence
- GOV.UK: Free or discounted TV licence
- legislation.gov.uk: Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
- TV Licensing: How much does a TV Licence cost?
This article is intended as general information and was correct when checked on 29 September 2026. Rules and prices can change, so check the official TV Licensing or GOV.UK information if you need to make a decision about your own licence.
