Rate of record
When will minimum wage go up?
The next statutory uprate lands on 1 April 2027. The Low Pay Commission publishes its recommendation each autumn; HM Treasury usually announces acceptance at the Budget.
The cadence
Since 2017 the cadence has been: LPC remit issued in late spring, evidence gathering across the summer, recommendation in October or November, government acceptance at Budget, statutory rates effective the following 1 Aprilgov.uk.
The LPC remit
The current remit holds the NLW at two-thirds of median hourly earnings for those aged 21 and over. The 18-20 band is on a trajectory to close on the NLW, with full merger expected inside the current Parliamentgov.uk.
What to expect for 2027
Median-earnings forecasts pencil a NLW figure around the £13.20-£13.50 range for 1 April 2027, with 18-20 closing further. The precise number is set in autumn 2026 and confirmed at the Budget. Treat this paragraph as a forecast, not a published rate.