In February 5, 2026, Google officially began rolling out the February 2026 Discover Core Update. This is a significant milestone as it marks the first time Google has released a “Core Update” exclusively targeting the Google Discover feed rather than traditional search results.
The rollout is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete.
🚀 Key Changes in the Update
Google’s stated goal with this update is to make the Discover feed “more useful and worthwhile.” Here are the three primary pillars of the change:
- Hyper-Local Relevance: Google is now placing a much heavier weight on content from publishers based in the user’s own country. For example, U.S. users will see more content from U.S.-based sites, which may negatively impact international publishers who previously dominated certain niches in the U.S. feed.
- Crackdown on Clickbait: The update specifically targets “sensationalist” journalism and “curiosity gaps.” Headlines that withhold crucial information or use “morbid curiosity” to bait clicks are being deprioritized or penalized.
- Topic-Specific Expertise: Google is moving away from overall “domain authority” in favor of topic-by-topic expertise. A local gardening blog can now outrank a massive national news site for gardening content if the blog demonstrates deeper, more original expertise in that specific niche.
📈 Impact on Publishers
Because this is a Discover-specific update, the impact may feel different than a standard Search update:
- Traffic Volatility: Many sites are reporting significant swings in Discover traffic while their traditional organic search rankings remain stable.
- English-First Rollout: The update currently affects English-language users in the United States, with a global rollout to all languages and regions planned for the coming months.
- High-Quality Images: Google has reiterated that using large, high-quality images (at least 1200px wide) is critical for maintaining visibility in the new feed.
💡 Pro-Tip for Creators
Check your Google Search Console and look specifically at the Discover report. If you see a drop there but your “Search Results” report is steady, you are likely being affected by this specific algorithm shift.
