All YouTube categories in 2026: complete list + which one to choose for your niche

Your YouTube category is the first signal you send to the algorithm. Choose the wrong one, and your videos land in front of the wrong audience — and the algorithm stops pushing them.

Important: many creators leave the default category ("People & Blogs") and never change it. Result: gaming content recommended to lifestyle vlog viewers → low CTR → the algorithm reads this as a negative signal and reduces distribution.

Complete list of YouTube categories (with IDs)

YouTube identifies each category with a numeric ID used in its API. Here's the complete official list:

ID	Category (EN)	Notes
1	Film & Animation	Short films, animated content, film analysis
2	Autos & Vehicles	Car/motorbike reviews, mechanics, tuning
10	Music	Music videos, covers, instrument tutorials
15	Pets & Animals	Pets, wildlife, animal care
17	Sports	Fitness, sport, athletic content
19	Travel & Events	Travel vlogs, destination guides, events
20	Gaming	Gameplay, let's play, esport, gaming tutorials
22	People & Blogs	Vlogs, personal lifestyle, creators
23	Comedy	Sketches, parodies, funny videos
24	Entertainment	General entertainment (broad)
25	News & Politics	Journalism, political analysis, news
26	Howto & Style	Beauty, fashion, DIY, home decor
27	Education	Tutorials, online courses, explainers
28	Science & Technology	Tech reviews, programming, AI, science
29	Nonprofits & Activism	NGOs, awareness campaigns

IDs 30–44 (Movies, Anime, Documentary, Horror, etc.) are non-assignable categories — reserved for YouTube's internal content (films, series, premium content). You cannot select them as a creator.

Which category to choose for your niche?

🎮 Gaming

Category: Gaming (ID 20)

All game-related content: gameplay, let's play, gaming tutorials, reviews, speedruns, esport.

Don't use: Entertainment (ID 24) → too generic, poor targeting.

💪 Fitness & Sport

Category: Sports (ID 17)

Weightlifting, crossfit, running, yoga, sports nutrition, fitness coaching.

Don't use: Howto & Style (ID 26) → reserved for beauty/fashion tutorials.

📱 Tech & High-Tech

Category: Science & Technology (ID 28)

Smartphone reviews, software tutorials, tech unboxings, programming, AI, cybersecurity.

💄 Lifestyle, Beauty & Fashion

Category: Howto & Style (ID 26)

Makeup tutorials, fashion hauls, beauty routines, interior design, organization tips.

Also valid: People & Blogs (ID 22) for more personal lifestyle content (daily vlogs).

🎓 Education & Learning

Category: Education (ID 27)

Tutorials, online courses, scientific explainers, languages, history, mathematics.

Also valid: Science & Technology (ID 28) if the content is more hard-science oriented.

😂 Comedy & Sketches

Category: Comedy (ID 23)

Sketches, parodies, humorous videos, funny compilations.

📰 News & Politics

Category: News & Politics (ID 25)

Journalism, political analysis, current affairs breakdowns, informational documentaries.

🎬 Film & Animation

Category: Film & Animation (ID 1)

Short films, animated content, film reviews, cinema analysis.

🎵 Music

Category: Music (ID 10)

Music videos, covers, instrument tutorials, beats, music production.

🐾 Pets & Animals

Category: Pets & Animals (ID 15)

Pet videos, vet advice, wildlife, animal breeding.

🚗 Auto & Vehicles

Category: Autos & Vehicles (ID 2)

Car/motorbike reviews, tuning, mechanics, rally.

✈️ Travel

Category: Travel & Events (ID 19)

Travel vlogs, destination guides, trip tips, cultural events.

Quick reference: niche → category

Niche	Recommended category	ID
Gaming, esport, let's play	Gaming	20
Fitness, sport, weightlifting	Sports	17
Tech, smartphones, AI	Science & Technology	28
Beauty, fashion, home decor	Howto & Style	26
Vlog, personal lifestyle	People & Blogs	22
Tutorials, courses, learning	Education	27
Comedy, sketches	Comedy	23
News, politics	News & Politics	25
Music, music videos	Music	10
Film, animation	Film & Animation	1
Pets, animals	Pets & Animals	15
Cars, motorbikes	Autos & Vehicles	2
Travel, events	Travel & Events	19
YouTube, interviews, creators	People & Blogs	22

Why your category impacts the algorithm

YouTube uses the category for 3 concrete things:

1. Recommending to the right audience

The algorithm associates your video with other videos in the same category. If you're in "Gaming", your videos get suggested after other gaming content → qualified audience → higher CTR.

2. Appearing on thematic discovery pages

YouTube groups content by category on certain discovery pages. The right category = more chances of appearing in front of people already interested in your niche.

3. Segmented analytics data

In YouTube Studio → Analytics, YouTube benchmarks your performance against other creators in your category. This lets you know whether your CTR and watch time are average or above average for your niche.

Where to configure your category

For all your videos (by default)

YouTube Studio → Settings → Upload defaults → Advanced settings → Category

Set your default category once → it applies automatically to all your new videos.

Full guide: Advanced YouTube settings 2026: complete checklist

For a specific video

YouTube Studio → Content → click on the video → More options → Category

You can update a published video's category at any time.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Leaving "People & Blogs" as default

Mistake: never changing the category.

Consequence: gaming, tech or educational content shown to a general audience → low CTR → reduced distribution.

Fix: configure the category matching your niche in your default upload settings.

2. Using "Entertainment" for everything

Mistake: using Entertainment (ID 24) as a catch-all category.

Consequence: too broad → less precise targeting → massive competition with no niche advantage.

Fix: always choose the most specific category possible (Gaming rather than Entertainment, Education rather than People & Blogs).

3. Switching categories too often

Mistake: alternating between different categories from video to video.

Consequence: the algorithm struggles to build a consistent profile for your channel → inconsistent recommendations.

Fix: pick one main category and stick to it for 80-90% of your videos. Only change it if you're publishing content from a genuinely different niche.

Edge cases

YouTube channel about YouTube (like Inside Creators): People & Blogs (ID 22) or Education (ID 27) depending on whether the content is more practical (tutorials) or analytical.

Interviews: People & Blogs (ID 22), Education (ID 27) or Entertainment (ID 24) depending on the tone.

Cooking: Howto & Style (ID 26) — there's no dedicated cooking category on YouTube.

Personal finance: Education (ID 27) or Howto & Style (ID 26).

FAQ

Which YouTube category should I choose for a gaming channel? Gaming (ID 20) — it's the only dedicated gaming category. Avoid Entertainment which is too generic and poorly targets gaming audiences.

Can I change a video's category after publishing? Yes, at any time in YouTube Studio → Content → click on the video → More options → Category. The change takes effect quickly, but the algorithm needs a few days to recalibrate recommendations.

Is the YouTube category visible to viewers? No, the category is not publicly displayed on your video. It's used exclusively by the YouTube algorithm internally.

What are YouTube category IDs? Numeric identifiers used by the YouTube Data API to reference each category. Useful if you're using analytics tools or building applications with the YouTube API (e.g., ID 20 = Gaming, ID 27 = Education).

What's the difference between "People & Blogs" and "Entertainment"? People & Blogs (ID 22) targets an audience interested in personalities, vlogs and personal content. Entertainment (ID 24) is broader and less precise. For a creator with a strong personal identity, People & Blogs generally performs better.

Still unsure which category fits your niche? Drop a comment below and I'll help you find the right one. Subscribe to receive the next YouTube guides.