Google has introduced several updates to Performance Max campaigns, giving advertisers more visibility and control over targeting and performance insights. These changes aim to reduce the black box effect and improve decision making.
Key updates include:
- Excluding first party audience lists for more precise targeting
- Network level placement reporting for better visibility
- Budget reporting to project monthly spend and impact of changes
- Enhanced audience insights including demographics like age and gender
These improvements build on recent reporting upgrades such as PMax channel performance data and signal a continued push toward transparency.
For advertisers, this means better understanding of what drives results and more control over campaign optimization.
Read the official announcement here: New Performance Max steering and reporting updates coming in 2026 & the LinkedIn post outlining the new features.
