The draft regulations apply only to subscription contracts entered into on or after the day the rules start. A subscription you signed up to in 2026 or earlier stays under the existing rules, including when it renews in 2027 or later.
The existing rules are mainly the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. They give you 14 days to cancel most contracts made online, by phone or away from business premises, and they require clear information before you buy, but they do not require renewal reminders or an online cancel button.
If you already pay for something you do not want, do not wait for January. Cancel it now under the contract's own terms. If the business makes that hard, you can complain to the business, then to Citizens Advice or a dispute scheme.
Whether changing your plan with the same company in 2027 counts as a new contract is not yet clear from the draft guidance. We will update this page when the final guidance is published.