AliExpress and YouTube have announced a global strategic affiliate partnership designed to connect online shopping with creator-led video content. The agreement will allow eligible YouTube creators to discover and promote products from AliExpress through the platform’s shopping affiliate programme, opening additional opportunities to earn commissions from qualifying sales. The collaboration brings the international e-commerce marketplace’s product catalogue into YouTube’s creator ecosystem, enabling viewers to move from product discovery to purchasing through links featured in videos and livestreams. The partnership was announced on October 20, 2026, as both companies look to expand the role of creator content in online retail. Rather than relying solely on conventional product searches or marketplace listings, shoppers will be able to encounter products through demonstrations, reviews, unboxing videos and other creator-produced material.
The collaboration initially launched in South Korea in March 2026 and is now set to expand into the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Germany. Further expansion is planned in phases as YouTube makes its Shopping Affiliate Program available to creators in additional markets. Eligible participants will be able to find and select AliExpress products directly through YouTube Studio, where creators manage their channels and content. They can then tag eligible items across long-form videos, YouTube Shorts and livestreams, giving audiences opportunities to explore products while watching content. For example, a creator reviewing consumer electronics could tag a featured device in an unboxing video, while a livestream host could link products discussed during a live session. Viewers can follow those product links to AliExpress to complete purchases, while creators may earn commissions when sales meet the programme’s qualifying conditions.
The product selection available through the partnership is expected to cover categories including consumer electronics, sports and outdoor equipment, home and living products, and lifestyle items. A particular focus will be Brand+, AliExpress’s dedicated selection of products from international and local brands. Creators will be able to choose products that align with their audiences and content formats, using information about bestselling and trending items to guide their selections. This arrangement could give sellers on AliExpress another channel for reaching potential customers, especially where product demonstrations and personal recommendations help explain an item’s features and practical use. For consumers, creator-led product discovery can provide additional context before a purchase, although viewers will still need to assess product quality, seller information, delivery terms and return policies before ordering. The companies have not publicly detailed the commission rates or payment terms specific to this partnership.
The agreement reflects a wider shift towards social commerce, in which entertainment, recommendations and purchasing increasingly intersect. Video creators can introduce products to audiences through practical demonstrations and reviews, while e-commerce marketplaces gain access to communities built around particular interests. YouTube’s affiliate programme provides a framework for linking that content to product listings, and AliExpress contributes a broad catalogue spanning multiple consumer categories. According to AliExpress Vice President Eric Zhang, the partnership connects the company’s affiliate ecosystem with YouTube’s creator network and provides a more direct path from product discovery to purchase. For YouTube, the arrangement adds another marketplace partner as it develops shopping features across its video formats. The initial expansion remains limited to eligible creators in participating markets, and access depends on meeting YouTube’s channel and Shopping affiliate requirements. Pakistan was not included among the four newly announced markets, and the companies have not confirmed a launch date for local creators. Any wider availability will depend on subsequent programme expansion and official announcements.
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