Google has been quietly expanding its ad placements this year, and the latest test in its Images tab is worth paying attention to. Google is apparently running a test of a card-style sponsored carousel in the Images section of the Google Search. This new test feature comes with a couple of extra add-ons that make it interesting.
The test was first spotted by Hana Kobzová and reported by PPC News Feed on June 11, 2026.
What Google Is Testing
The new format places a sponsored card carousel directly inside the Images tab of Google Search. What makes this particular test a little different from earlier image tab ad formats is that the sponsored cards are not just showing a product image and a link. They also display Promotion assets and Store ratings right on the card itself, giving users more context about a deal or a business before they even click.
That is a meaningful shift. Showing store ratings and active promotions upfront means users get to compare more than just visuals. They can see if a store has strong reviews or if there is a discount running, all while they are still browsing the image results.
How This Fits Into a Broader Pattern
This test does not come out of nowhere. Google has been steadily expanding where sponsored placements show up throughout 2026, and the Images tab has been part of that push for a while now.
Back in April 2026, Google started placing sponsored ad units directly inside the Images tab on mobile search. Those units showed a full image creative alongside text, clearly labeled “Sponsored,” and eligible campaigns could pick them up without making any changes to their existing keyword targeting or campaign structure. Search and Performance Max campaigns with qualifying image assets were automatically eligible at existing CPC rates.
Before that, in November 2025, Google had already rolled out an AI-powered ad carousel in the Images tab on mobile, appearing across all categories, not just shopping. That format featured horizontally scrollable cards combining images, headlines, and links, and used AI-driven matching to serve visuals relevant to what a user was searching for, even in non-commercial categories like law or insurance.
The June 2026 test with Promotion assets and Store ratings appears to be the next evolution of that format, layering more advertiser-controlled information onto what is already a visual and scrollable experience.
Why the Addition of Promotion Assets and Store Ratings Matters
The inclusion of these two elements is not just a cosmetic upgrade to the format. It reflects a real change in what a user can do with the information before deciding to click.
Promotion assets let advertisers highlight a specific deal, like a percentage off or free shipping, directly on the ad card. Store ratings pull from Google’s verified review data to show a star rating right alongside the product image. Together, they turn what used to be a purely visual browsing experience into something closer to a comparison tool.
For advertisers, this is an opportunity to stand out in a crowded carousel. If your store has strong ratings and a live promotion, both of those signals can now work in your favor in a placement where competitors may only be showing images.
For users, it reduces the need to click into multiple sites just to figure out which option is worth their time. More information upfront generally means faster decisions, which tends to benefit advertisers who have the stronger offer.
What Advertisers Should Know
This is still a test. Google has not confirmed a wider rollout or a timeline, and the format may change before it becomes broadly available. That said, the pattern Google has followed with earlier Images tab expansions gives some useful context.
Previous rollouts in this space required no opt-in from advertisers. Eligible campaigns, specifically Search and Performance Max campaigns with solid image assets, were automatically picked up for the new placement. If this test follows the same path, advertisers who already have image assets, active Promotion assets, and a healthy number of Google reviews are likely to be best positioned when it rolls out more widely.
The quality of your image assets matters here too. In a scrollable visual carousel, the image is the first thing a user sees. A strong, clear product image that communicates what you are selling at a glance is going to perform better than a generic or low-resolution visual.
The Bigger Picture for Google’s Ad Strategy
Zooming out, this test is part of a clear and ongoing strategy from Google to expand sponsored inventory beyond the traditional search results page. In 2026 alone, the Images tab is at least the third distinct non-search-results surface to receive sponsored placements, following AI Mode results and Discover feeds.
Each of these expansions has given advertisers more touchpoints across the user journey, and most of them have required no additional setup on the advertiser side. The placements draw from existing campaigns and assets, which lowers the barrier to entry and makes it easier for Google to scale these formats without heavy friction for the advertiser.
The sponsored card carousel in the Images tab, especially with Promotion assets and Store ratings included, fits neatly into that strategy. Google is clearly trying to make its image search experience more useful for both shoppers and advertisers at the same time, and this test appears to be a step toward doing exactly that.
What to Watch For
For now, advertisers need not take any action. You just need to ensure that your Google Ads campaigns have strong image assets uploaded, that you are collecting Google reviews consistently and that your Promotion assets are active and up to date. These three things are the key factors that determine how well your ads perform if an when this format rolls out more broadly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q 1: What is the Google sponsored card carousel in the Images tab?
It is a new ad format Google is currently testing that places a scrollable, card-style sponsored carousel directly inside the Images tab of Google Search. Each card displays a product image along with Promotion assets and Store ratings, giving users more information before they click.
Q 2: What are Promotion assets in Google Ads?
Promotion assets are advertiser-added details that highlight a specific deal, such as a discount percentage, sale event, or free shipping offer. When shown on an ad card, they let users know about an active promotion before clicking through to the site.
Q 3: Why does showing Store ratings on the card matter?
Store ratings give users a quick sense of a business’s credibility before they visit the site. Displaying them directly on a sponsored image card means users can factor in review scores while still browsing, which can influence which ad they choose to click.
Q 4: Do advertisers need to opt in to appear in this format?
Based on how earlier Images tab ad expansions have worked, no opt-in has been required. Search and Performance Max campaigns with qualifying image assets have been automatically eligible for Images tab placements.
Q 5: What kind of campaigns are eligible for Google Images tab ads?
Search and Performance Max campaigns that have image assets uploaded are generally eligible. Ads in these placements run at existing CPC rates without requiring changes to campaign structure or keyword targeting.
Q 6: Is this format available to all advertisers right now?
Not yet. This is currently being tested, and Google has not confirmed a wider rollout timeline. Advertisers should monitor their campaign placements and keep assets updated in preparation for a potential broader release.
Q 7: How is this different from earlier image tab ad formats?
Earlier formats showed image creatives and headlines in the Images tab but did not include Promotion assets or Store ratings. This new test adds both, giving each sponsored card more information and making it easier for users to compare options before clicking.
Q 8: What should advertisers do to prepare for this format?
Make sure your Google Ads campaigns have strong, clear image assets, that your Promotion assets reflect current deals, and that you are actively collecting Google reviews. These three elements are likely to be the main factors driving performance in this format.
Q 9: Has Google confirmed this test will become a permanent feature?
No. Google has not made any official confirmation about the format, its availability, or a rollout timeline. The test was identified through external observation, which is how many Google ad format changes are first reported before any official announcement.
