What are Pinterest Top of Search ads and how do they work?

Top of Search ads are a new Pinterest ad format that places brands in the first 10 slots of search results and Related Pins. Early data shows a 29% higher CTR than standard campaigns and a 32% higher likelihood of attracting new clickers.

What is Pinterest Shoppable Moments?

Shoppable Moments, launched broadly in March 2026, inserts brand catalog items into algorithmically curated, trending content clusters. It’s a contextual advertising model that has helped drive a 41% year-over-year increase in Shopping ads revenue.

What is Pinterest’s monthly active user count in 2026?

Pinterest reported 631 million monthly active users in Q1 2026, up 11% year-over-year.

How does Pinterest integrate with Shopify?

Pinterest has integrated directly with Shopify to sync catalog data into shoppable video pins. Multi-currency checkout is expected by Q3 2026.

What are Performance Plus campaigns on Pinterest?

Performance Plus campaigns are AI-driven, automated ad campaigns that optimize for lower-funnel conversions. They now account for 30% of Pinterest’s lower-funnel revenue.

Is Pinterest marketing effective for DTC brands in 2026?

Yes. With strong revenue growth, new ad formats, and high purchase intent among users, Pinterest is a full-funnel performance channel. DTC brands should prioritize shoppable video and premium search placements.

Pinterest Marketing 2026: Top of Search Ads, Shoppable Video & Growth Stats

Q: How much has Pinterest shoppable video grown in 2026?

Shoppable video impressions grew 340% year-over-year in Q2 2026, with 180 million global users engaging with shoppable videos. Checkout-intent clicks increased 61% during the same period.

Why Pinterest Marketing Is Evolving Faster Than Ever in 2026

Pinterest is no longer a vision board for future plans — it’s a performance-driven commerce engine. In 2026, the platform has rolled out three major ad innovations that are forcing DTC brands to rethink their social commerce strategies: Top of Search ads, Shoppable Video, and Shoppable Moments. Combined with strong financial momentum — Q1 2026 revenue of $1.01B, up 18% year-over-year, and 631 million monthly active users — Pinterest is proving it can compete with Meta and TikTok for high-intent shoppers. This article breaks down each change, the numbers behind them, and how brands can adapt.

Pinterest’s Top of Search Ads: Premium Placement, Higher CTR

The key change is that Pinterest is now testing a new ad format called Top of Search ads, which places brands directly in the first 10 slots of search results and Related Pins. According to early data reported by Titan Website, these ads achieve a 29% higher average click-through rate (CTR) compared to standard campaigns and a 32% higher likelihood of attracting new clickers. One tester, Wayfair, reported a 237% CTR lift in just two weeks.

This format is designed for high-intent shoppers — users who are already searching for specific products or categories. By occupying the top of the search feed, brands can intercept purchase intent at the moment it’s strongest. For marketers, this means Top of Search ads should be reserved for best-selling products, seasonal promotions, or new launches where visibility is critical.

How Top of Search Ads Compare to Other Pinterest Ad Formats

Ad Format	Placement	Typical CTR Lift	Best For
Top of Search Ads	First 10 slots in search results & Related Pins	+29% over standard campaigns	High-intent, direct-response campaigns
Standard Search Ads	Among organic search results	Baseline	General brand awareness
Shoppable Video	In-feed, autoplay, with product tags	+340% impressions YoY	Discovery and engagement
Shoppable Moments	Curated content clusters	41% shopping ad revenue growth	Contextual, trend-based discovery

Early adopters are seeing strong results. Wayfair’s 237% CTR lift in two weeks suggests that the format can dramatically improve performance for retailers with large catalogs. However, the feature is still in testing, so availability may be limited. Brands should request access through their Pinterest account manager or consider partnering with a Pinterest marketing agency.

Shoppable Video: The 340% Growth Story That’s Forcing DTC Brands to Rebuild Playbooks

Pinterest’s shoppable video is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s a core driver of social commerce. In Q2 2026, shoppable video impressions grew 340% year-over-year, with 180 million global users engaging with shoppable videos. Checkout-intent clicks increased 61% during the same period, according to an analysis by Ecommerce Times.

What’s driving this explosive growth? Pinterest has deepened its integration with Shopify, allowing brands to sync their entire product catalog directly into shoppable video pins. By Q3 2026, the platform plans to launch multi-currency checkout, which will make it easier for international customers to purchase without conversion friction. For DTC brands, this means Pinterest is becoming a full-funnel performance channel — not just a discovery tool.

The Practical Implications for Marketers

Prioritize video content: Static pins are losing ground to shoppable video. Brands should invest in short-form product demos, tutorials, and styling videos.
Tag products directly: Use Shopify integration to automatically tag products in videos. This reduces friction and increases checkout-intent clicks.
Plan for international growth: With multi-currency checkout coming, brands should prepare product pages for global audiences.
Measure checkout-intent clicks: This metric is more actionable than impressions or saves. The 61% increase indicates that video is driving actual purchase behavior.

Shoppable Moments: Contextual Discovery That Drives Shopping Ad Revenue

Launched broadly in March 2026, Shoppable Moments inserts brand catalog items into algorithmically curated, trending content clusters. Instead of relying on individual pins, this feature groups products with related content — such as a “summer travel” moment featuring luggage, sunscreen, and travel accessories. Pinterest’s Shopping ads revenue grew 41% year-over-year in Q2 2026, outpacing overall revenue growth, as reported by Ecommerce Times.

This contextual advertising model is particularly effective for discovery because it presents products to users who are already in a browsing mindset. The same article notes that 85% of weekly Pinterest users have purchased a product they discovered on the platform in the past year. For brands, Shoppable Moments offer a way to appear in trending content without having to create viral pins — the algorithm handles the curation.

How to Optimize for Shoppable Moments

Ensure your catalog is complete and up-to-date: Pinterest pulls product data from your catalog feed. Incomplete or inaccurate listings will be excluded.
Use high-quality, lifestyle images: The algorithm favors visually appealing pins that fit naturally into content clusters.
Leverage trending topics: Monitor Pinterest Trends and align your products with seasonal or cultural moments. For example, a home decor brand could target the “cozy fall” moment.
Combine with Performance Plus campaigns: Performance Plus campaigns now account for 30% of lower-funnel revenue, according to a TickerSpark analysis. Using both formats can create a full-funnel strategy.

Pinterest’s Financial Health: A Signal of Marketing Maturity

Pinterest’s Q1 2026 revenue of $1.01B (up 18% YoY) and 631 million monthly active users (up 11% YoY) indicate that the platform is gaining both users and advertiser dollars. Trailing twelve-month free cash flow reached $1.21B, giving Pinterest the resources to continue innovating its ad products. The Performance Plus campaigns are a key driver: they now represent 30% of lower-funnel revenue, demonstrating that Pinterest’s AI-driven optimization is effective for conversion-focused advertisers.

For marketers, this financial stability is a positive sign. It means Pinterest is likely to continue investing in shoppable commerce, video, and AI-powered ad targeting. Brands that adopt these features early will have a competitive advantage as the platform’s ad inventory grows in value.

What This Means for DTC Brands: A Strategic Roadmap

The convergence of Top of Search ads, Shoppable Video, and Shoppable Moments creates a new playbook for DTC brands on Pinterest. Here’s how to prioritize:

Test Top of Search ads for your top 20 SKUs. Expect higher CTR and new customer acquisition.
Scale shoppable video production. Aim for at least 5-10 shoppable video pins per week, focusing on product benefits and use cases.
Optimize your catalog for Shoppable Moments. Ensure product data is accurate and images are visually compelling.
Use Performance Plus campaigns to retarget users who engaged with video or saved pins.
Monitor checkout-intent clicks as your primary success metric — it correlates with actual revenue.

With 85% of weekly users buying from Pinterest, the platform is no longer a top-of-funnel experiment. It’s a full-funnel revenue channel that deserves dedicated budget and creative resources. The brands that treat Pinterest as a performance engine — not just a brand-awareness tool — will capture the most value in 2026.