Caption and subtitle obligations in 2026: what's changed in the UK, US, EU and Canada

If you publish video in more than one market, your accessibility obligations changed twice this year. Here is where each region stands as of September 2026.

UK

Broadcast quotas under the Communications Act have applied for years. The change is on-demand. Ofcom is consulting on a Tier 1 Accessibility Code for the most-watched VoD services, defined by a 50,000 average monthly user threshold, plus services used by public service broadcasters. In the first two years at least 40% of catalogue hours must be subtitled, rising to 80% in later years. Public sector bodies remain bound by the 2018 regulations, which point to WCAG 2.1 AA.

USA

Broadcast and IP-delivered TV content sit under the FCC and the CVAA. The bigger shift is Title II of the ADA. The DOJ has extended the compliance date for state and local government entities with a population of 50,000 or more to 26 April 2027, and for smaller entities to 26 April 2028. The rule covers content provided by the entity even where a vendor delivers it, so agencies and their suppliers share the exposure.

EU

The European Accessibility Act came into effect on 28 June 2025 and applies to services that provide access to TV broadcasts and on-demand audiovisual media. Subtitles and other access services must be transmitted in full, displayed accurately and kept in sync with sound and video. Existing content and platforms have until June 2030. National regulators enforce it, so the details vary by member state.

Canada

Broadcasters must caption 100% of programmes during the broadcast day. From May 2026, online streaming services must caption all new original programmes within one year and reach 80% of their catalogues within four years and 100% within five. Ontario's AODA adds WCAG 2.0 AA for public-facing web content.

Relevant laws

• UK: Media Act 2024 (Tier 1 VoD accessibility) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/15
• UK: Communications Act 2003 (broadcast access services) - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21
• UK: Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018 - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/952
• USA: ADA Title II web and mobile rule - https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/
• USA: FCC closed captioning rules and CVAA - https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/closed-captioning-television
• USA: Section 508 - https://www.section508.gov
• EU: European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj
• EU: Audiovisual Media Services Directive (2018/1808) - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/1808/oj
• Canada: Accessible Canada Act - https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/A-0.6/
• Canada: CRTC 2026-98 (streaming captioning) - https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2026/2026-98.htm
• Canada: AODA (Ontario) - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05a11

Quick reference

• UK, Tier 1 VoD: 40% of catalogue subtitled, rising to 80%. Years 1-2, then years 3+ after the code takes effect.
• UK, public sector: WCAG 2.1 AA, captions on pre-recorded video. In force.
• USA, state and local government (50,000+ population): WCAG 2.1 AA across web and apps. 26 April 2027.
• USA, smaller public entities: WCAG 2.1 AA. 26 April 2028.
• USA, TV and IP-delivered TV content: FCC caption quality rules. In force.
• EU, audiovisual media access services: full, accurate, synced subtitles. 28 June 2025, with legacy content by June 2030.
• Canada, broadcasters: 100% captioned, 6am to midnight. In force.
• Canada, streaming services: new originals captioned, then 80% and 100% of catalogue. One, four and five years from the order.
• Canada, Ontario public-facing web: WCAG 2.0 AA. In force.

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check the specifics with counsel in each market before you rely on them.