Since Google’s August 2026 Spam Update wrapped up on August 21, search rankings have kept shifting rather than settling down. Third-party tracking tools and SEO community reports are showing a fresh round of unconfirmed volatility running through at least August 26, with no official update named or acknowledged by Google.

Google confirmed and completed the August 2026 spam update between 18 and 21 August, its third spam-focused ranking adjustment of the year. Unlike a broad core update, this type of update specifically targets content that breaches Google’s spam policies rather than reassessing overall site quality, so most legitimate sites should see little to no change.

Third-party ranking trackers picked up another spike in Google Search volatility on August 12-13, 2026, the sixth unconfirmed spike since the June 2026 spam update finished rolling out. Google has not logged anything on its official Search Status Dashboard, so this remains unconfirmed, and early signs suggest it’s milder than the spike earlier in the month.

Local SEO helps businesses show up in Google’s local search results and Maps by focusing on three ranking pillars: relevance, distance, and prominence. An optimised Google Business Profile, consistent NAP details, positive reviews, local keywords, and citations all work together to build visibility and trust with Google and customers. As AI-driven search grows, businesses also need to build entity authority and a strong digital footprint so they get recommended by tools like Google AI Overviews, not just ranked in traditional results.

Over the weekend of July 18-19, 2026, multiple independent SERP tracking tools picked up a fresh wave of ranking volatility on Google Search. Google has not confirmed any update, and this follows an earlier unconfirmed volatility period from July 4-12. Here is what we know so far and what we are watching.

Google Search rankings experienced a significant period of volatility around July 11-12, 2026, with tracking tools recording scores of 9 to 10+ on a scale of 0 to 10. Google has not officially confirmed any update, but data from over 15 independent tools points to a real and meaningful movement in search results. Here is what we know so far and what it means for your site.