There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s what we’ve seen work consistently: the best time to go Live on YouTube is when your audience is already active — not when it’s convenient for you.
That usually means weekday evenings or weekend late mornings, depending on your niche and time zone. If your audience is business-focused or international, Tuesdays through Thursdays between 12pm–3pm (your time or theirs) tend to perform well. If you’re targeting creators, solopreneurs, or general viewers, Sundays around 10–11am often hit a sweet spot.
But the gold is in your own analytics. Head to YouTube Studio → Analytics → Audience, and look at “When your viewers are on YouTube.” That heat map is pure data gold. Build around it.
Also: give your Lives a runway. Promote them 2–3 days in advance, use the “Premiere” or “Scheduled Live” feature so YouTube sends reminders, and don’t worry if only a few people show up live. Most of the engagement will come from replays — if the content is valuable and your thumbnail/title are strong.
Test. Watch the numbers. And remember: consistency > perfection. The more you show up, the better your audience will know when to tune in — and the better YouTube will get at showing your Lives to the right people.
.
.