National Minimum Wage 2026 Report - New Rates Effective April
Summary
The Low Pay Commission published its 2026 report on National Minimum Wage rates, effective 1 April 2026. The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over increases to £12.71 per hour, representing a £0.50 (4.1%) increase. Rates for 18-20 year olds (£10.85), 16-17 year olds (£8.00), and apprentices (£8.00) also increase. The report provides estimates of impacts on inflation, household incomes, and affected jobs.
What changed
The Low Pay Commission's 2026 report confirms new National Minimum Wage rates taking effect 1 April 2026, following recommendations made in October 2025. The National Living Wage increases to £12.71 per hour (4.1% increase), while younger worker rates see larger percentage increases: 18-20 year old rate rises 8.5% to £10.85, and 16-17 year old and apprentice rates increase 6.0% to £8.00.\n\nEmployers should ensure payroll systems are updated to reflect these new rates before 1 April 2026. Non-compliance with NMW rates can result in HMRC enforcement action including penalties and back-payment orders. The report also provides indicative estimates for 2027 rates aligned with the government's two-thirds of median earnings target.
What to do next
- Verify payroll systems reflect updated NMW rates effective 1 April 2026
- Ensure all eligible workers aged 21+ are paid at least £12.71 per hour
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Research and analysis
The National Minimum Wage in 2026
This report from the Low Pay Commission looks at the impact of new minimum wage rates in April 2026 and looks ahead at future changes for 2027.
From: Low Pay Commission Published 1 April 2026 Get emails about this page
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The National Minimum Wage in 2026
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Data tables for the National Minimum Wage in 2026
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The National Minimum Wage in 2026
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Details
From 1 April 2026, all rates of the National Minimum Wage, including the National Living Wage, increase. These increases follow recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission in October 2025.
| NMW Rate from April 2026 | Annual increase (£) | Annual increase (per cent) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21 and over) | £12.71 | £0.50 | 4.1 |
| 18-20 Year Old Rate | £10.85 | £0.85 | 8.5 |
| 16-17 Year Old Rate | £8.00 | £0.45 | 6.0 |
| Apprentice Rate | £8.00 | £0.45 | 6.0 |
| Accommodation Offset | £11.10 | £0.44 | 4.1 |
This report sets out the Low Pay Commission’s estimates of some of the immediate impacts of these increases. This includes the increase in the value of the NMW relative to inflation, the impact on household incomes for NLW workers, and the likely number of jobs affected.
Our remit from Government for this year was published on 16 March 2026. It says that two-thirds of median hourly earnings should continue to be the key reference point for future NLW rates, so here we provide indicative estimates of the increases required to achieve this for the 2027 National Living Wage uprating.
Alongside this report, we have published our consultation on minimum wage rates for 2026 and beyond. We welcome submissions from all interested parties. We are also holding regional visits across the UK and invite meetings with any and all other interested parties. If you have something to contribute, please get in touch with us via lpc@lowpay.gov.uk.
Published 1 April 2026 Get emails about this page Print this page
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