To apply for the Spotify Partner Program your show needs to be hosted on Spotify for Creators, have at least 3 published episodes, 2,000 consumption hours and an audience of 1,000 on Spotify in the last 30 days, and you need a legal address in an eligible market. Spotify is adding Italy, Spain, Poland, Mexico, Brazil and dozens more markets on October 20th, 2026.
Spotify's podcast monetization program got a lot easier to reach in 2026. The thresholds dropped sharply, and the list of countries is about to more than double. Here's the current picture, straight from Spotify's support page and newsroom.
The requirements
| Requirement | Spotify's rule |
|---|---|
| Hosting | Your show is hosted on Spotify for Creators |
| Location | A legal address in an eligible market |
| Episodes | At least 3 published episodes |
| Consumption | At least 2,000 consumption hours on Spotify in the last 30 days |
| Audience | An audience count of at least 1,000 on Spotify in the last 30 days |
You check all of this on the Monetize page in Spotify for Creators. Spotify asks you to confirm your location and whether you're a business or an individual first; then it shows your progress and, once you qualify, the application.
How much easier it got
Spotify's newsroom post on the change spells out the old and new bars, and the difference is big:
| Measure | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | 2,000 listeners | 1,000 engaged audience members (plays in the last 30 days) |
| Hours | 10,000 hours consumed | 2,000 hours consumed in the last 30 days |
| Episodes | 12 published | 3 published (all time) |
If you looked once and gave up because of the 10,000 hour bar, look again. Plenty of guides still quote the old numbers.
Where it's available
The program launched in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, then opened in nine more markets: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Spotify's support page now lists these markets as live:
- Europe: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
- North America: Canada, United States.
- Oceania: Australia, New Zealand.
The markets joining on October 20th, 2026
This is the news most guides haven't caught yet. Spotify's support page says the program will become available on October 20th, 2026 in:
- Europe: Andorra, Italy, Malta, Poland, San Marino, Spain.
- North America and the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
- South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay.
Spotify adds that these markets may change from time to time. If you're a podcaster in Mexico, Brazil, Spain or Italy, now is the moment to check whether your show already meets the numbers, because the application opens to you as soon as your market goes live.
Staying in once you're accepted
Getting in isn't the end of it. Spotify says your show must publish at least one episode in any given 6 month period to stay eligible, alongside an activity threshold. It also counts a stream when a listener or viewer plays an episode for 60 seconds or more, which is worth knowing when you look at your numbers.
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How to apply, step by step
- Move your show to Spotify for Creators if it's hosted elsewhere, or ask your current host whether it supports the program.
- Open the Monetize page and confirm your location and whether you're a business or an individual.
- Check your progress against the episodes, hours and audience bars.
- Once you're eligible, click Apply now and accept the program terms.
- Wait for Spotify's review against its monetization policies. If you're approved, you'll be asked to set up 2-step verification.
If you use Megaphone, Spotify's enterprise podcasting product, it says to talk to your representative instead.
My verdict
Three episodes and 2,000 hours is a reachable target for any show with a loyal audience, and the October expansion opens the door for a lot of Spanish and Portuguese speaking creators. Get your hosting on Spotify for Creators sorted first, because without it you can't apply at all. If you're still building the show, my guide to podcast recording software will help you sound good from episode one, and my Spotify marketing strategy covers growing the audience that the 1,000 bar measures.
Frequently asked questions
How many listeners do you need for the Spotify Partner Program?
An audience count of at least 1,000 on Spotify in the last 30 days, along with 2,000 consumption hours and 3 published episodes.
Is the Spotify Partner Program available in Mexico and Brazil?
Spotify's support page says it becomes available in Mexico, Brazil and a long list of other markets on October 20th, 2026.
Do I need to host my podcast on Spotify for Creators?
Yes. Hosting on Spotify for Creators is one of the eligibility criteria. Megaphone users should talk to their representative, and other hosts should be asked whether they support the program.
How does Spotify count a stream for podcasts?
Spotify counts a stream when a listener or viewer plays an episode for 60 seconds or more.
