YouTube’s advertising business kept its growth streak alive. Alphabet also delivered another blockbuster financial quarter.
What We Know: YouTube generated $11.1 billion in advertising revenue during the second quarter of 2026. That marked a 13% increase from the same period last year and represented another strong performance for Google‘s video platform. Meanwhile, Alphabet reported $120 billion in total quarterly revenue, up 24% year-over-year. Google Search remained the company’s largest advertising business at $63.3 billion, while total advertising revenue reached $81.6 billion. Additionally, subscriptions contributed $12.9 billion, and Google Cloud added nearly $25 billion as Alphabet easily exceeded Wall Street expectations.
What the Numbers Show:
| 2026 2nd Quarter | 2026 1st Quarter | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Advertising Revenue | $11.1 billion | $9.9 billion | 🟢 ↑ 12.1% |
| 2026 2nd Quarter | 2025 2nd Quarter | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube Advertising Revenue | $11.1 billion | $9.8 billion | 🟢 ↑ 13.3% |
What They Said: “Our AI investments are redefining what’s possible across every part of our business. Q2 was an amazing quarter, with Alphabet revenues growing 24% year-over-year and Google Cloud revenues accelerating to 82% growth, driven by demand for AI infrastructure and AI solutions. It’s great to see wide adoption of Gemini Enterprise, with nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 using it. We have exciting momentum across the board. Our popular AI features are driving Search query growth. Gemini models now process 22 billion API tokens per minute and the Gemini App has 950 million monthly active users. We are seeing strong demand for our security solutions, and our new Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber delivers highly cost-efficient performance at the frontier.” -Google CEO Sundar Pichai
What It Means: Although YouTube posted another record advertising quarter, Alphabet’s earnings underscored how diversified the company has become. AI, cloud computing, search, and subscriptions all fueled growth alongside YouTube. However, the video platform remains one of digital media’s most important advertising businesses. Its continued double-digit gains should encourage publishers, creators, and advertisers that premium video demand remains healthy even as AI dominates the industry’s conversation.
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.