TV Licence Cost 2026: £180/Year
£180 from 1 April 2026, up from £169.50. A 6.2% rise based on the CPI uplift formula. Full year-anchored breakdown of fees, payment methods, exemptions, and 2026 policy context.
Colour 2026-27
£180
from 1 April 2026
vs 2025-26
+£10.50
+6.2% CPI uplift
Monthly DD
£15.00
per month
2026 fee schedule at a glance
| Tier or payment method | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colour TV licence (annual) | £180.00 | Standard residential |
| Black and white licence (annual) | £60.50 | Monochrome equipment only |
| Monthly Direct Debit (steady state) | £15.00/mo | £180/year total |
| Monthly DD (first year typical) | £25-35/mo | 6-instalment catch-up |
| Quarterly Direct Debit | £45.00 + £1.25 | £185/year total (surcharge) |
| Weekly Savings Card | £3.46/wk | PayPoint, ~£180/year |
| Over 75 + Pension Credit | FREE | Means-tested since 2020 |
| Blind concession (50%) | £90.00 | Severely sight-impaired |
| Care home (ARC) | £7.50/room | Provider-administered |
| Hotel (HARC) first 15 rooms | £180 | £7.50/room beyond 15 |
Why the 2026 fee is £180
The April 2026 increase implements the CPI uplift formula in the 2024 DCMS funding settlement. The September 2025 CPI inflation figure (published by ONS in October 2025) is the basis for the uplift. When applied to the £169.50 starting fee and rounded to the nearest 50 pence, the formula produced £180.
The mechanics are straightforward in principle. Each September the ONS publishes the 12-month CPI inflation rate. The October-published settlement letter from DCMS to the BBC confirms the percentage uplift to apply to the existing fee. The Statutory Instrument changing the fee is laid before Parliament in time for the new fee to take effect on 1 April. The fee is rounded to the nearest 50 pence to keep the figure manageable.
The £180 figure ends the run of small uplifts of recent years. The April 2024 uplift was £10.50 (from £159 to £169.50, restoring CPI after the 2022-24 freeze), and the April 2025 uplift was zero (the September 2024 CPI figure was very low). April 2026 is the second sizeable uplift in three years. See our how the fee is set guide for the underlying mechanics.
What is genuinely new in 2026
Beyond the £180 fee itself, 2026 is a year of policy continuity rather than change. The principal substantive developments are around the upcoming Charter renewal rather than around day-to-day licence administration:
- • DCMS Green Paper published early 2026. Initial consultation on options for the post-2027 funding model.
- • White Paper expected late 2026 or early 2027. Will set out government's preferred direction for the new Charter.
- • No changes to who needs a licence. The rules for live TV, iPlayer, streaming services, and device-level requirements are unchanged from 2025.
- • No changes to exemptions. Over-75 Pension Credit, blind discount, ARC, HARC, and B&W licence all continue on the same basis.
- • No changes to payment methods. The same options remain: annual, monthly DD, quarterly DD, weekly Savings Card, Simple Payment Plan.
- • Continued enforcement structure. TV Licensing (operated by Capita) continues to administer the licence; enforcement procedure unchanged.
2026 in the longer trajectory
The April 2026 fee sits within the broader CPI-linked trajectory established in the 2024 settlement. If the formula continues, the April 2027 fee will be uplifted again based on the September 2026 CPI figure. The likely range for 2027 (based on Bank of England inflation forecasts as of early 2026) is roughly £185 to £190, though the exact figure will depend on inflation outcomes.
From 1 January 2028 the new Charter takes effect, and the fee structure could change significantly. The options publicly under discussion include continuation of the current licence with various reforms, a household-based fee similar to Germany's Rundfunkbeitrag (described in our UK vs Germany guide), partial general-taxation funding (the route taken by France, Sweden, and Finland in recent years), subscription tiers for some BBC services (most likely iPlayer and BBC Sounds), or hybrid models combining elements.
No model has been confirmed as of May 2026. The DCMS White Paper expected later in 2026 will be the next major signal of government direction. Whichever model is chosen, the practical impact on UK households could be significant. For the present, the £180 fee continues under the existing settlement.
Not legal advice
Prices verified May 2026 against the TV Licensing fee schedule. For your specific situation, check tvlicensing.co.uk or seek free advice from Citizens Advice.