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TikTok Ads 2026 Update: Smart+ Automation, Collage Carousel and New Features for Businesses

TikTok keeps rolling out new features across automation, ad formats and connections to external AI

July 17, 2026 7 min read

TikTok has been rolling out new features throughout 2026, covering automation, new ad formats and allowing external AI to connect directly with its ad system.

Smart+ is now built directly into Traffic campaign settings

Smart+ used to be a separate campaign type. Now TikTok has built its automation directly into Traffic campaign settings, with toggles that let marketers choose which parts the system handles automatically and which parts they want to keep controlling themselves.

Collage Carousel: a new product ad format

A new ad format that shows one main image plus three additional product images in the first frame. Each image is clickable and links directly to that product's detail page, ideal for businesses with multiple products to showcase in a single ad.

TikTok Ads Update 2026

View+: a new feature for TikTok Pulse

This feature lets marketers optimise campaigns for viewers who watch at least 6 seconds continuously, adding a new measurement layer that helps campaigns reach people who genuinely watch rather than those who just scroll past.

TikTok Ads can now connect to external AI agents

TikTok has launched the TikTok Ads Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, which lets external AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT connect to and manage TikTok ad campaigns directly, making it much easier for businesses to use AI to help run their campaigns.

Auto-select and Consideration Signals change how creatives are chosen

Auto-select scans your existing ads and authorised creator content, then automatically recommends assets likely to perform well. It works alongside Consideration Signals, which refine targeting further than before.

  • Try enabling Smart+ in Traffic campaigns instead of fully manual settings
  • Test the Collage Carousel format if your business has multiple products
  • Use View+ if you want to target viewers likely to watch longer and with genuine attention
  • Keep an eye on the potential to use AI agents to manage campaigns via the MCP Server in future

Summary

TikTok remains the most influential platform in the eyes of Thai ad agencies in 2026. The Markettung team keeps up with TikTok's new features so clients can take advantage of new tools before their competitors.

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