It’s 2026 and you’re still thinking about starting a YouTube channel?
The first thought that usually pops into people’s heads is: “Am I too late?”
Has the ship sailed? Has the algorithm locked the doors and turned the lights off?
The honest answer is… yes and no. And like most things with YouTube, the truth sits somewhere in the middle — so let’s break it down.
A Quick Trip Back in Time
If we rewind to the early 2010s, we saw the explosion of YouTube gaming content. “Watch along” style videos took off, especially around games like Minecraft. Creators such as DanTDM and Stampy were building massive audiences simply by playing popular games and enjoying themselves.
That era was a bit of a gold rush. Low competition, high demand, and very little polish required. But like any market, it didn’t stay that way forever. As more creators jumped in, those broad categories became saturated — and that particular train well and truly left the station.
The Good News: Opportunity Didn’t Disappear, It Shifted
Here’s the important part: YouTube didn’t run out of opportunity — it just changed shape.
You probably can’t fire up the latest AAA game, hit record, and expect thousands of viewers to magically appear anymore. But creators are still building successful channels every single day. They’re just doing it differently.
So where do you start in 2026?
Finding a Niche (Without Overthinking It)
To find your place on YouTube, you need to think like a viewer — not a creator.
When you open YouTube, what are you actually searching for?
Let’s say you’re into fishing. You might think to type “Fishing Videos”… but that’s far too broad. YouTube has no idea what you really want from that.
Instead, think in layers:
Fishing → Freshwater Fishing → Roach Fishing
Now we’re getting somewhere.
In 2026, starting a channel called “Fishing Videos” is an uphill battle. Starting a channel focused on how to catch roach in freshwater rivers and canals? That’s specific, searchable, and useful — and that’s exactly what YouTube likes.
This logic applies to any niche. The smaller and clearer your focus, the easier it is for YouTube to understand who your content is for.
Don’t Forget the “You” Factor
This part gets overlooked a lot.
People don’t just watch topics — they watch people. Nobody wants to watch “any random person” play a game or go fishing (sorry, random people).
They want someone relatable. Someone enjoying themselves. Someone with a personality they click with.
Whether that’s your humour, your perspective, your experience level, or even the fact you’re learning as you go — you are a core part of the channel. Don’t try to sand that away. Lean into it.
Making Content (Without Waiting for Perfection)
When you’re starting out, here’s the rule that matters most:
Content quality beats camera quality every time.
You do not need a £2,000 camera, a studio mic, and a perfectly treated room to begin. If all you’ve got is a phone and a cheap USB mic — that’s more than enough.
What is important is starting.
Because the worst outcome isn’t a slightly rough first video — it’s coming back here next year and Googling “How to start a YouTube channel in 2027”.
Free tools like OBS Studio or Streamlabs are absolutely fine for recording. If you’re doing IRL content, use your phone and get moving. You can improve quality later — you can’t improve a video that doesn’t exist.
Stop perfecting.
Stop procrastinating.
Hit record.
A Quick Word on AI (Proceed Carefully)
We can’t talk about YouTube in 2026 without talking about AI.
AI tools have lowered the barrier to entry massively, especially for people who don’t want to appear on camera. That’s appealing — and YouTube does allow AI-assisted content. They even encourage certain uses, like with VEO in the mobile app.
But here’s the caution flag 🚩
In 2025, YouTube became far more aggressive about removing channels they believe provide low-value or unoriginal content — and AI-only channels were caught up in that wave.
If your content is entirely AI-generated with little to no human input, you’re taking a risk. The nightmare scenario is spending months building a channel, finally reaching monetisation… and waking up one morning to find it gone.
Our advice is simple:
Use AI as a tool, not a replacement.
If you’re adding your own voice, insight, humour, or experience — great.
If you’re just pressing “generate” and uploading — be careful.
Community Guidelines Matter More Than Ever
That brings us neatly to YouTube’s Community Guidelines — and they’re more important now than they’ve ever been.
In the last 12 months alone, it’s estimated that over 12 million channels were terminated. Some of those weren’t small throwaway channels either — they were established creators.
Many of these removals fell under “Spam or Scam” policies, often enforced by AI moderation systems rather than human review. That means mistakes happen — and appeals don’t always go your way.
The takeaway?
Know the rules.
Add genuine value.
Be cautious with shortcuts.
Final Thoughts: Just Start (Seriously)
If you’re thinking about starting YouTube in 2026, here’s the bottom line:
You’re not too late — but you do need to be intentional.
Find a clear niche.
Be yourself.
Create value.
Don’t wait for perfect conditions.
The creators who win aren’t the ones with the best gear — they’re the ones who actually get started and keep going.
If you want more help, breakdowns, and real-world advice from other creators walking the same path, head over to the Creator Compass Threads channel. It’s full of practical tips, honest discussion, and support to help you move forward — not just think about it.
Now stop reading, stop planning…
…and go make your first video. 👀🎥
