How much is TV licence UK? BBC fee latest after 2026 price rise confirmed
The TV licence fee is set to increase in just a matter of weeks! 🚨🚨
- Another TV licence fee rise has been confirmed.
- The price is set to go up in April 2026.
- But how much more will it cost?
A further price rise for the TV licence fee has been announced - and it will kick-in very soon.
The government has today (February 6) confirmed that the BBC fee is set to increase again from April. The cost is set to increase in line with inflation, it has said.
Under the current royal charter, the public broadcaster’s funding is agreed through to December 2027. It has included yearly price rises - with the latest arriving for the 2026/27 financial year.
But how much more will you pay for the fee? Here’s all you need to know:
How much does a TV licence fee cost in 2026?
The cost of the licence increased last April (2025), and went up to the current price of £174.50. Once again, the price is set to go up again in just a matter of weeks.
From April 1, the cost of the TV licence fee will rise by a further £5.50 to £180. It can be paid all in one go, monthly, or quarterly.
The government said the increase in the cost of the TV licence will help keep the BBC on a stable financial footing, enabling it to continue to deliver on its Mission and Public Purposes. Future funding options are in consultation for when the current charter comes to an end on December 31, 2027.
Support for households in severe financial difficulty is available and free licences for over-75s on Pension Credit.
Does everyone need to pay a licence fee?
A TV licence is required for anyone who watches or records live TV on any channel or service, as well as if you use BBC iPlayer. Even if you don’t watch anything live on iPlayer, you still need to be covered.
It is not needed if you only watch streaming services like Netflix or Disney Plus. However, the former has started to provide live coverage of sports events - so don’t get caught out in those scenarios.
Despite being needed for watching iPlayer, the licence is not required to watch on-demand TV through services like All 4 and Amazon Prime Video.
What do you think of the licence fee’s latest price rise? Let me know your thoughts by email: [email protected].