Google Algorithm Updates in 2026

On This Page

1. 2026 Timeline
2. Helpful Content and AI Content Guidance (October)
3. September 2026 Spam Update
4. August 2026 Spam Update
5. June 2026 Spam Update
6. May 2026 Core Update
7. March 2026 Core Update
8. March 2026 Spam Update
9. February 2026 Discover Core Update
10. Checking Whether an Update Affected Your Site
11. What Not to Do During an Update
12. Changelog
13. Sources

2026 Timeline

1. Oct 1 and Oct 5
   Helpful content and AI content guidanceDocumentationMain content section added and hand fact-checking of AI content called critical
2. Sep 24 to Oct 8
   September 2026 spam updateSpamThe longest spam update of the year at 13 days and 16 hours, close to the two weeks Google said it might take
3. Aug 18 to 21
   August 2026 spam updateSpamCompleted in under three days
4. Jun 24 to 26
   June 2026 spam updateSpamCompleted in about two days
5. May 21 to Jun 2
   May 2026 core updateCoreLarger than March, with heavy volatility on May 23 and May 30
6. Mar 27 to Apr 8
   March 2026 core updateCoreFirst broad core update of the year
7. Mar 24 to 25
   March 2026 spam updateSpamFinished in under a day, two days before the March core update began
8. Feb 5 to 27
   February 2026 Discover core updateDiscover coreThe first core update Google labeled as Discover-only

Helpful Content and AI Content Guidance (October)

Google updated 2 pages in its Search documentation. On October 5 its guide to creating helpful content gained a section on main content, which it calls one of the most critical factors in assessing page quality, judged on effort, originality, talent or skill and accuracy. On October 1 its guidance on generative AI content began saying it's critical to manually fact-check and review all AI-generated content before publishing, including titles, meta descriptions, structured data and image alt text. Neither is a ranking update, but both describe what Google's systems try to reward, so use them as the standard for your service pages and articles.

September 2026 Spam Update

Google rolled out the September 2026 spam update from September 24 to October 8, a rollout of 13 days and 16 hours according to the Google Search Status Dashboard. That makes it the longest spam update of the year, and it used most of the two-week window Google gave at the start. Google described it as a normal spam update for all languages and didn't name a specific policy or tactic.

What to check. Now that the rollout is complete, compare the two weeks after October 8 with the two weeks before September 24. If you publish large numbers of near-identical pages, such as town pages that only swap the place name, 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. One complication this time: Search Console's Performance report has been running more than two days behind since the rollout ended, so wait for the data to catch up before you draw conclusions. Our note on Search Console data delays explains how to tell a reporting gap from a real drop.

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. If a spam update hits your site, you usually see sharp drops on specific pages or sections rather than a gradual decline.

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. It was larger than the March update, with heavy ranking movement on May 23 and May 30 and again on the final day before completion.

Core updates reassess quality across the web and don't target specific tactics, and Google doesn't publish what each one rewards. Its own guidance points the same way every time, toward pages written from real experience with original detail and accurate facts. Google's October 2026 changes to its helpful content guide spell out those qualities for main content, which makes them the best checklist for a site that lost ground in March or May.

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. Because the March spam update finished on March 25, ranking changes between March 24 and 27 could come from either update.

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 if that's you, this update rarely matters.

Checking Whether an Update Affected Your Site

1. Wait for completion. Rankings move throughout a rollout. Compare data only after Google marks the update complete on the Search Status Dashboard.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Improve, then wait. Recovery from a core update usually comes from making your content better and more useful over months, and it often only shows up during a later core update.

What Not to Do During an Update

Don't delete pages, rewrite titles across the site or disavow 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 15, 2026: Added Google's October updates to its helpful content and generative AI guidance.
• October 10, 2026: Marked the September 2026 spam update complete as of October 8 and updated the timeline.
• 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.

Sources

1. Ranking updates history, Google Search Status Dashboard status.search.google.com
2. Google Search Status Dashboard status.search.google.com
3. September 2026 spam update incident, Google Search Status Dashboard status.search.google.com
4. Google spam policies developers.google.com
5. large numbers of near-identical pages niemanlab.org
6. Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content, Google Search Central developers.google.com
7. Google Search's guidance on generative AI content on your website, Google Search Central developers.google.com