Did you know there’s a TV licence price jump coming on 1st April?
Like many other household bills, the price you pay for your TV licence will be increasing at the start of the new financial year. The price increase is only small, but it’s yet another sign of the rising cost of living in the UK.
How much will the TV licence price jump be?
From 1st April 2026, the price of a colour TV licence in the UK will be £180 a year, a £5.50 increase on the current price or a rise of around 3.2%.
The cost of a black-and-white TV licence will rise by £2 to £60.50 a year. Those who are registered blind or severely sight impaired will still receive a 50% discount on the licence fee, paying £90 a year for a colour licence and £30.25 for a black-and-white licence.
Other bills that are going up on 1st April
While the TV licence price jump is relatively small, it’s not the only bill increase UK households should expect in April.
- Council Tax bills are set to rise by 5% across the UK, and by more in six local authorities
- Water bills will rise by an average of 5.4%, and by 8.7% in Scotland. Find out how much you’ll be paying from April with our water bill calculator.
- Monthly broadband prices will increase for millions as providers enact their annual price rise
- The 2026 budget included other new household costs, including additional Council Tax payments for top band properties and a new mileage-based tax for electric vehicles
Will I have to pay the higher price for my TV licence?
The new annual price only applies to customers whose licence renews after April 1st. If your licence is set to renew on or before 31st March, you’ll pay the previous, lower price for the next year.
This is even true if you pay in monthly instalments. Your monthly payments will remain the same until your current licence expires, at which point your direct debit or recurring payment will be adjusted to match the new annual total.
Do I need a TV licence?
With the TV licence price jump approaching, it’s a good time to check in on whether you actually need a licence at home. We’ve published a full guide to who needs a licence in the UK (and how to claim discounts or register exemption) here.
However, the question of whether you need a TV licence really boils down to one question: are you watching live broadcast TV?
You do need a TV licence to:
- Watch live broadcast TV through a set-top box
- Watch Freeview TV
- Watch livestreamed sports events on any device
- Watch live broadcast TV you’re streaming over the internet on your phone, tablet or mobile
- Use BBC iPlayer on any device
You don’t need a TV licence to:
- Stream pre-recorded TV on demand through a service like Netflix or Disney+
- Watch DVDs on your home TV
- Use your TV for gaming, watching rented films or any activity other than watching live TV
- Using catch-up services other than BBC iPlayer, such as Channel 4 or ITVX
