YouTube Gifts 2026 Pepero Schedule and Earnings

The Pepero Friends gift campaign runs from October 30 to November 30, 2026. Viewers send gifts using Jewels, and creators who meet the eligibility requirements earn revenue through Rubies.

Pepero Friends reaction gifts become available on October 30, 2026, with 2 limited-edition gifts added on November 10.
November 30, 2026, marks the end of the seasonal campaign, not the end of the gift feature itself.
For every 2 Jewels spent on gifts, creators receive 1 Ruby. Under the official policy, earnings are US$0.01 per Ruby.
Gifts are supported in vertical and horizontal livestreams that meet the eligibility requirements.
Korean creators must complete AdSense identity verification and age verification in addition to meeting age and channel requirements.

Pepero Friends reactions for YouTube Gifts will be available starting October 30, 2026. 2 limited-edition Gifts will be added on November 10. The campaign ends on November 30. This is not the date when the Gifts feature itself ends.

The campaign schedule and quantities are based on YouTube's announcement on October 29, 2026.

Pepero Friends availability schedule

Pepero Friends Gifts will be released in two stages. According to the announcement, the campaign covers 101 countries, including South Korea. Seasonal Gifts can be used alongside existing Gifts.

Date	What becomes available	What the date means
October 30, 2026	Pepero Friends character reaction Gifts	Seasonal Gifts become available
November 10, 2026	2 additional limited-edition Gifts	Additional Gifts are released
November 30, 2026	Campaign ends	Last day to use the seasonal Gifts

Comparing Jewels, Gifts, and Rubies

Jewels are the units viewers spend, while Rubies are the units used to measure creators' earnings. Gifts are the virtual goods displayed on the live stream between these two steps. The three terms are not interchangeable.

Item	Role	What to check
Jewels	Virtual items viewers buy and use for Gifts	Bundle prices and remaining balance
Gifts	Animated effects that appear on the live stream	Number of Jewels needed to send them
Rubies	Units representing the earnings creators receive from Gifts	Quantity earned and associated earnings

After buying Jewels in advance, viewers can send Gifts using the Jewels they have. If they do not have enough Jewels for the selected Gift, they will see a prompt to buy more. Creators earn Rubies when Gifts are sent.

Where to check Jewel prices

Check YouTube's Jewel purchase screen for the actual purchase price. The official policy explains that bundle contents and prices may change. The number of Jewels needed to send a Gift may also change. Do not work backward from the earnings per Ruby to calculate the purchase price of Jewels.

Ruby earnings calculation example

Under the official policy, 2 Jewels used for Gifts correspond to 1 Ruby. Each Ruby earns US$0.01. This rate can be found in the YouTube Help Center's “Virtual Items Program Policies for Creators.” (Verified figures: 1 Ruby per 2 Jewels, US$0.01 per Ruby · Source: support.google.com · Checked on 2026-10-30)

Calculation step	Result using the official rate
Use 2 Jewels for a Gift	Earn 1 Ruby
1 Ruby × US$0.01	Earnings of US$0.01

This example shows the relationship between the units. It does not mean that a product containing 2 Jewels is sold. Check the selection screen separately for the price of a specific seasonal Gift.

The ratio of Jewels to Rubies is not the same as the share of the payment received as earnings. The purchase price of Jewels may vary by bundle or promotion. This calculation alone therefore does not establish that earnings equal 50% of the payment.

What changed for vertical and horizontal live streams

The October 2026 announcement states that both vertical and horizontal live streams are supported. The March 2026 launch post for South Korea focused on vertical live streams. To determine current support, refer to both the latest announcement and the management help pages.

Feature	How it works
On-screen display	Animations for Gifts that have been sent appear over the live stream
Gift combos	Sending the same Gift repeatedly activates a combo
Gift goals	Viewers work together to reach a goal set by the creator
Seasonal Gifts	Gifts with a specific theme are available for a set period

Combos and goals are features for participating in live streams. The October announcement did not specify separate earnings multipliers for either feature. There is no basis for interpreting on-screen effects alone as awarding additional Rubies.

Creator eligibility and stream-specific requirements

Creators must meet channel and residency requirements as well as age requirements. The minimum age is at least 18 years old. In South Korea, creators must complete AdSense identity verification and age verification.

YouTube's “This Pepero Day, show your favorite creators you care with Gifts!” describes eligible creators as follows.

Creators who are at least 18 years old and meet the eligibility requirements

Area to check	Requirement to meet
Channel	Membership in the YouTube Partner Program, YPP
Age	Creator must be at least 18 years old
Region	Residence in a country or region where Gifts are supported
Verification in South Korea	Completion of AdSense identity verification and age verification
Terms	Agreement to the Virtual Items Addendum
Individual stream	Compliance with stream-specific requirements, including visibility and content settings

Even if the feature is available on a channel, it cannot necessarily be used on every stream. The Help Center lists the following streams as restricted. The feature also cannot be used if live chat or comments are turned off.

Age-restricted streams
Streams designated as made for kids
Unlisted or private streams
Streams using YouTube Giving Fundraiser

Purchase requirements for viewers

Viewers must also be at least 18 years old to buy Jewels. They must live in a region where Jewel purchases are supported. An active Google Account is required to buy or use Jewels.

How to activate Gifts in YouTube Studio

Eligible channels can set up the feature in the Earn menu in YouTube Studio. If verification is required, follow the relevant instructions first. On a computer, proceed in the following order.

Sign in to YouTube Studio.
Select “Earn” from the left menu.
Open the “Supers & Gifts” tab.
Select “Get started” under “Turn on Gifts on live streams.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to agree to the Virtual Items Addendum.

Once setup is complete, the feature applies to eligible vertical and horizontal live streams. On mobile, go to “Earn” and select “Turn on” under “Gifts.” Then follow the on-screen steps to agree to the terms.

You can check your verification status on the Gifts card in Studio. “Verification in progress” does not mean verification is complete. Once verification is complete, you can activate the feature in the Earn menu.

The difference between the campaign ending and Jewels expiring

The campaign end date must be distinguished from account balances and earnings payment dates. The availability period for seasonal Gifts follows the campaign schedule. Bonus Jewels may have separate expiration dates.

Item	Basis for determining the date	What not to confuse it with
Seasonal Gifts	Availability period in the campaign announcement	Not the end date for the entire Gifts feature
Bonus Jewels	Expiration conditions shown for the specific bonus	Cannot be assumed to match the campaign dates
Ruby earnings	YouTube's earnings payment process	The season's end date is not necessarily the payment date

The viewer policy explains that Jewels closest to their expiration date are used first. Once all Jewels with expiration dates have been used, Jewels without expiration dates are used. There is no basis for assuming that all remaining balances disappear simply because the campaign ends.

Comparing gift cards and live Gifts

Live Gifts and YouTube gift cards are different features. Gift cards add to a Google Play balance when a code is redeemed. Live Gifts are virtual goods sent to a stream using Jewels.

Item	Live Gifts	YouTube gift cards or codes
Main purpose	Express reactions and support during live streams	Add balance to pay for supported digital products
How to use	Send Gifts using Jewels	Redeem a code, then use the Google Play balance
Related units	Jewels and Rubies	Google Play balance
Conditions to check	Account, region, and stream eligibility requirements	Whether the card and Google Account countries or regions match

Redeeming a card does not replace sending live Gifts. For Premium renewal issues, check the subscription's payment status separately. The seasonal Gift schedule cannot be used to assess subscription payment problems.

Common mistakes

Treating Gifts as cash transfers leads to misunderstandings about how they work. Viewers use Jewels to send virtual goods. Creator earnings are calculated under the terms agreed to with YouTube.

Treating the amount spent on Jewels as equal to Ruby earnings
Assuming the feature works on every live stream as long as the screen orientation is supported
Assuming verification and agreement to the terms are unnecessary if the age requirement is met
Assuming Gifts are sent anonymously

According to the viewer policy, the sender's ID may be made public. Their profile picture may also appear on the live stream. When considering what may be public, distinguish payment information from information displayed on-screen.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Gift icon not visible?

The creator may not have activated Gifts. The stream may also be subject to restrictions. Check the channel settings and the individual stream's requirements separately.

Where can creators check the Rubies and earnings they have received?

Gift earnings can be viewed in YouTube Analytics. Under “Revenue,” select “Gifts” on the “How you make money” card. Earnings from Rubies are paid together with other YPP earnings.

Are unused Jewels refundable?

The viewer policy states that Jewels are nonrefundable. Contact support for payment errors or Gift-related issues. You can also contact support if changes to the feature significantly affect its use.

Can creators still view past earnings after turning off Gifts?

Past earnings remain available in YouTube Analytics even after the feature is turned off. Turning it off disables Gifts on supported live streams. This is separate from the ability to view past earnings.

FAQ

When are Pepero Friends gifts available?

Reaction gifts will be available starting October 30, 2026. 2 limited-edition gifts will be added on November 10, and the campaign will end on November 30.

Will the gift feature also end when the campaign ends?

The end date in the announcement applies to the Pepero Friends seasonal campaign. It should not be interpreted as an end date for the gift feature itself.

What is the difference between Jewels and Rubies?

Jewels are virtual items that viewers use to send gifts. Rubies are units that represent creators' earnings from the gifts they receive.

How much in earnings does 1 Ruby represent?

The official virtual goods policy states that 1 Ruby is worth US$0.01. Every 2 Jewels used for gifts generate 1 Ruby.

Can gifts also be sent in landscape live streams?

The October 2026 announcement and management help documentation state that both portrait and landscape live streams are supported. However, both the channel and the individual stream must meet the eligibility requirements.

Does a gift combo also multiply earnings?

The official announcement explains that a combo is triggered when the same gift is sent in succession. It does not specify a separate earnings multiplier, so additional earnings cannot be assumed.

What verification is required for Korean creators?

Korean creators must complete AdSense identity verification and age verification. You can check whether verification is complete in the AdSense account linked to YouTube Studio.

Which streams cannot receive gifts?

Age-restricted, made-for-kids, unlisted, and private streams are subject to restrictions. Gifts are also unavailable when YouTube Giving Fundraiser is used or live chat or comments are turned off.

Do all remaining Jewels also expire when the season ends?

The end of the seasonal campaign and the expiration of Jewels are subject to different conditions. Bonus Jewels may have separate expiration dates, so you should check the terms for those Jewels.

Does redeeming a YouTube gift card send a live gift?

Redeeming a gift card adds funds to your Google Play balance. Sending live gifts is a separate feature that uses Jewels in supported streams.

Does sending a gift make your account information visible to other viewers?

According to the viewer policy, your user ID and profile picture may be displayed publicly in the live stream. You should not assume that you are participating anonymously when sending gifts.

Sources

Images

A smiling man holds an acoustic guitar facing a camera, with a virtual gift displayed on a nearby tablet.

A woman in a blue sweater watches a livestream with gift effects on a tablet resting on a coffee table.