Most adult Britons use BBC services, the Government says
The annual cost of a TV licence will increase to £180 from April 2026, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has said.
The rise of £5.50 from the current £174.50, a 3.2% hike, for a colour licence equates to an extra 46p per month.
In line with CPI inflation
It follows the 2022 Licence Fee Settlement, which ties the fee to the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation until the end of the current BBC Charter period.
The government said the increase will help provide the BBC with a stable financial footing to deliver for audiences and support the wider creative industries.
94% of adults use BBC services each month
The BBC remains the UK’s most widely used and trusted news outlet, with 94% of adults engaging with its services monthly.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: “The government recognises the financial pressures on households and is committed to ensuring the BBC’s funding model is sustainable, fair and affordable.”
Support measures remain in place, including free licences for over-75s receiving Pension Credit, reduced fees for blind individuals and care home residents, and the Simple Payment Plan to spread costs.
Welsh channel S4C getting £100m of licence fee cash
The announcement coincides with the ongoing Charter Review consultation on the BBC’s future funding.
Welsh-language channel S4C, funded entirely through the licence fee, will receive around £100 million in 2026/27 to bolster Welsh creative industries.
