Apple Maps to Feature Ads by Summer 2026, Boosting Revenue Amid Regulatory Pressures

Apple may start showing ads in the Maps app in the near future. According to Bloomberg, an announcement of the innovation is expected by the end of March, and the ads themselves could appear on iPhones in the summer of 2026.

What is known

This refers to the integration of advertising into the service's search results. Similar to Google Maps and Yelp, businesses will be able to promote their establishments by paying for higher positions in results for certain user queries. Thus, when searching for cafes, stores, or services, part of the results may be advertisements.

The new format could strengthen Apple's services direction, which already brings the company about $100 billion annually and forms approximately a quarter of its revenue. At the same time, this segment faces regulatory pressure in various countries, particularly due to App Store policies.

Apple officially does not comment on the information. Rumors about possible ads in Maps appeared as early as 2022. Currently, the company already uses advertising tools in the App Store and News app, and Maps could become the next platform for monetization.

Source: Bloomberg