Google Ads API to stop supporting new Smart Campaign creation

Google Ads announced that developers will no longer be able to create new Smart Campaigns through the Google Ads API starting August 3rd, 2026. This change signifies Google's continued effort to steer advertisers towards newer, AI-driven campaign types like Performance Max, while phasing out legacy automation products. Existing Smart Campaigns will continue to function and can be managed or updated via the API, but the creation of new ones will be restricted. Advertisers and platform partners utilizing the API for campaign creation must adapt their workflows before the August deadline to avoid disruptions. Google recommends Performance Max as the primary alternative, citing its ability to run across Google's entire advertising inventory and leverage AI for optimization. Other suggested alternatives include Search campaigns and Demand Gen campaigns, depending on specific advertiser goals. This move aligns with Google's broader strategy of consolidating its advertising offerings around more advanced, automated campaign formats that utilize artificial intelligence for bidding, targeting, and creative optimization across multiple channels.