Google Algorithm Updates in 2026
Every confirmed Google Search update this year, with what each means for business websites.
As of October 6, 2026, Google's September 2026 spam update is still rolling out. It began on September 24 and Google said it may take up to two weeks. Avoid making changes based on ranking movement until Google marks it complete, then compare Search Console data from before September 24 with the period after completion.
On This Page
Google has confirmed seven Search updates so far in 2026: one Discover core update, two broad core updates and four spam updates. The two core updates, in March and May, are the ones most likely to have moved rankings for legitimate business sites, and the May update was the larger of the two. If your traffic changed this year, start by lining up your Search Console data against the dates below.
2026 Timeline
| Update | Dates | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 spam update | Started Sep 24, in progress | Spam | Google said up to two weeks, longer than earlier 2026 spam updates |
| August 2026 spam update | Aug 18 to 21 | Spam | Completed in under three days |
| June 2026 spam update | Jun 24 to 26 | Spam | Completed in about two days |
| May 2026 core update | May 21 to Jun 2 | Core | Larger than March, with heavy volatility on May 23 and May 30 |
| March 2026 core update | Mar 27 to Apr 8 | Core | First broad core update of the year |
| March 2026 spam update | Mar 24 to 25 | Spam | Finished in under a day, two days before the March core update began |
| February 2026 Discover core update | Feb 5 to 27 | Discover core | The first core update Google labeled as Discover-only |
September 2026 Spam Update
Google began rolling out the September 2026 spam update on September 24 and said it could take up to two weeks, a longer window than any of the year's earlier spam updates (Search Engine Journal). Google described it as a normal spam update for all languages and did not name a specific policy or tactic. Search Engine Roundtable reported that it does not target link spam (Search Engine Roundtable).
What to check. Sites that publish large numbers of near-identical pages, such as town pages that only swap the place name, should review those pages against Google's spam policies. Ranking swings on September 23 and 24 were reported before the rollout began, so not all late-September movement belongs to this update.
August 2026 Spam Update
The August spam update ran from August 18 to 21. It was the third spam update of the year and completed quickly. Sites affected by spam updates usually see sharp drops on specific pages or sections rather than gradual declines.
June 2026 Spam Update
The June spam update ran from June 24 to 26. Like the August update, it finished in about two days.
May 2026 Core Update
The May 2026 core update began on May 21 and completed on June 2, a rollout of about 12 days (Search Engine Land). It was larger than the March update, with significant ranking movement on May 23 and May 30 and again in the final day before completion.
What it appeared to affect. Core updates reassess quality across the web and do not target specific tactics. Practitioner analyses after the March and May updates repeatedly pointed to sites with thin or scaled content losing ground and sites with clear first-hand expertise and tightly linked topic coverage gaining. Treat those as observations, since Google does not publish what each core update rewards.
March 2026 Core Update
The March 2026 core update ran from March 27 to April 8, 12 days and 4 hours, and was the first broad core update of 2026 (Search Engine Land). Because the March spam update finished on March 25, ranking changes between March 24 and 27 could come from either update (Search Engine Journal).
March 2026 Spam Update
The March spam update rolled out on March 24 and 25, finishing in under a day.
February 2026 Discover Core Update
Google released a core update that applied only to Discover, the feed of articles in the Google app. It ran from February 5 to 27 and, according to Google, favors locally relevant content and reduces sensational and clickbait content. Most local service businesses get little Discover traffic, so this update rarely matters for them.
Checking Whether an Update Affected Your Site
- Wait for completion. Rankings move throughout a rollout. Compare data only after Google marks the update complete on the Search Status Dashboard.
- Compare equal periods. In Search Console's Performance report, compare the two weeks after completion with the two weeks before the start date, using the same days of the week.
- Separate branded and non-branded. Use the branded queries filter. A drop in non-branded clicks with stable branded clicks points to a ranking change.
- Find the pages that moved. Sort the Pages tab by click change. Losses concentrated in one section, such as location pages or blog posts, tell you where to look.
- Rule out other causes. Check for site changes, tracking breaks, seasonality and AI Overviews appearing on your main queries. Our guide to diagnosing a traffic drop covers each.
- Improve, then wait. Recovery from a core update usually comes from improving content quality and usefulness over months, often becoming visible during a later core update.
What Not to Do During an Update
Avoid deleting pages, rewriting titles across the site or disavowing links in reaction to day-to-day movement during a rollout. Changes made mid-rollout make it harder to tell what caused what.
Changelog
- October 6, 2026: Added September 2026 spam update (in progress), August and June spam updates.
- June 2, 2026: Added May 2026 core update.
- April 8, 2026: Added March 2026 core and spam updates.
- February 27, 2026: Added February 2026 Discover core update.
Find Out How Google's Updates Affected You
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