Should You Use Hashtags on Facebook in 2026?
Many social media marketers are still trying to figure out whether you should use hashtags on Facebook in 2026.
Here’s the short answer: hashtags on Facebook are largely a thing of the past.
Slick Raven Marketing has done the research for you, and we’re going to tell it to you straight. If your marketing agency or social media manager is still hashtag-loading Facebook posts, it may be time to rethink your strategy and align it with how the platform actually works today.
In this blog, we’ll break down:
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How Facebook treats hashtags in 2026
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What top creators and brands are actually doing
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When hashtags still make sense
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What to focus on instead for better reach
Using Hashtags on Facebook in 2026
In our previous hashtag blog published in 2022, we found that Facebook’s algorithm already viewed hashtag loading as spammy and that hashtags should only be used sparingly and with intention.
That guidance still applies in 2026.
While Facebook’s mobile app now allows users to follow certain hashtags, this feature does not function as a meaningful discovery or reach tool. Hashtags remain searchable, but they play a minimal role in content distribution and are not prioritized by the algorithm.
Top brands may still use hashtags occasionally for campaigns or content categorization, such as #NFL, #SuperBowl, or #FacebookRoadTrip, but they are no longer relied on to drive reach.
To confirm this shift, I sampled several high-profile Facebook accounts to review their current hashtag usage. If you’re curious, try this yourself. Scroll through your favorite brands on Facebook and take note of how infrequently hashtags are used, where they appear, and how often they’re omitted entirely. The pattern is clear.
Facebook’s Own Pages Aren’t Using Hashtags
To understand how Facebook values hashtags in 2026, one of the clearest indicators is how the platform uses them itself.
Facebook for Creators used #FacebookRoadTrip once in mid-December 2025. The main Facebook brand page last used a hashtag shortly after, also #FacebookRoadTrip.
Since then, hashtags have been largely absent from both pages.
Even Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, does not use hashtags on his “Public Figure” Facebook account.
If hashtags were a meaningful driver of reach or discoverability, the platform itself would be modeling that behavior. Instead, Facebook’s own pages rely on strong captions, contextual language, video, and engagement rather than hashtags.
Gary Vaynerchuk: Zero Hashtags on Facebook
Gary Vaynerchuk has the data, team, and resources to test what works across every major platform.
After reviewing Gary Vee’s Facebook page, one thing became very clear: hashtags are not part of his Facebook strategy.
He does not use hashtags in standard posts, Facebook Reels, or long-form captions. I scrolled through hundreds of posts. A keyword search on his page for “hashtag” and “#” surfaces posts from years ago, not recent content.
If hashtags were providing meaningful reach or engagement on Facebook in 2026, they would be present here. They aren’t.
Mari Smith: “Stop Using Hashtags”
Mari Smith, another respected authority in social media marketing, also avoids hashtags on Facebook entirely.
Since November 2025, she has used zero hashtags on her Facebook posts. In October 2025, she even stated publicly:
“It’s official. Stop using hashtags.”
While hashtags may still exist on the platform, leading educators are no longer treating them as a best practice for Facebook growth.
Social Media Examiner’s Hashtag Strategy
Social Media Examiner remains one of the most trusted sources for up-to-date platform insights.
Reviewing SME’s Facebook posts from late 2025 into 2026, hashtags are used only in very limited cases, primarily to label their branded event #SMMW26 (Social Media Marketing World 2026).
Outside of event branding, hashtags are rarely used. Their CEO, Michael Stelzner, does not use hashtags on his Facebook page at all.
This reinforces a consistent theme: hashtags are reserved for branding, not reach.
Major Brands Using Few or No Hashtags
This approach extends far beyond individual creators.
Many large brands do not use hashtags on Facebook at all, including:
Amazon primarily limits hashtag use to #AmazonFinds, while Microsoft restricts usage to #Microsoft50.
These brands are not abandoning reach. They are adapting to how Facebook actually distributes content in 2026.
How Many Hashtags Should You Use on Facebook in 2026 (And What Should You Avoid)?
Need a new Facebook hashtag strategy for 2026? The first step is to retrain your brain.
Hashtags can still be used effectively on Facebook for:
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Campaigns
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Products
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Trending topics
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Content categorization
However, hashtags are no longer reach tools. Facebook’s algorithm now prioritizes context, topic relevance, and engagement, which means you need to start writing your content with this in mind. In some cases, you may even want to rethink your post topics entirely to better align with how the algorithm understands content.
How many hashtags should you use on Facebook?
We recommend testing this with your own content:
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Some posts with zero hashtags
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Some posts with 1–3 hashtags
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Avoid using more than three hashtags total
Using more than three hashtags on Facebook is not recommended and often works against performance.
How to Find Trending Topics and Hashtags on Facebook
Facebook makes it relatively easy to see what topics are trending if you know where to look.
You can find trending topics inside your Professional Dashboard:
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Go to your Facebook Professional Dashboard
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Click Inspirational Hub to view trending topics and hashtag ideas
On Facebook mobile:
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Follow the same route to your Professional Dashboard
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Click Content Monetization
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Then select Discover Trending Topics
You can also manually search any hashtag you’re considering to see how it’s currently being used and what type of content appears under it.
What We Don’t Recommend Doing With Hashtags
Avoid the following:
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Long hashtag blocks at the bottom of posts (also known as hashtag loading)
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Copying and pasting hashtag sets from Instagram
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Posting four or more hashtags
- Ignoring accessibility best practices in hashtags (use #CamelCase for screen readers)
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Relying on hashtags instead of strong copy
It’s extremely important to rethink your strategy. Instead of loading hashtags into posts, the focus should be on writing SEO-rich, topic-driven verbiage. If you insist on using hashtags, work them naturally into the post, not as an afterthought.
A Real Example: Why Verbiage Beats Hashtags
Here’s a great real-world example.
When searching #HashtagStrategy on Facebook and filtering by “Latest,” Bee Social appears near the top of the results. Interestingly, neither Bee Social nor the first result by Social For Brokers actually hashtagged the phrase.
Instead, they worked the topic directly into their caption verbiage, which allowed Facebook to understand the content contextually and surface it higher in results.
You’ll also notice that Bee Social used three hashtags max, reinforcing the idea that fewer, intentional hashtags paired with strong copy perform better than hashtag-heavy posts.
What Facebook Prioritizes More Than Hashtags in 2026
Facebook currently prioritizes:
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Scroll-stopping intros that hook attention immediately
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Getting your topic out before the “See More” cutoff
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Posts that invite comments, not just likes
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Discoverability through short-form video (especially Reels), which is key for reaching non-followers
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Longer Reels, which are being pushed further than ultra-short clips
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Sharing content into relevant Groups from your Page (while following group rules)
- Collaboration content with tagged people and partner pages
Need Help Updating Your Facebook Strategy?
If you’re still struggling with content creation or learning how Facebook (or any social platform) actually works today, you’re not alone.
You’re welcome to sign up for a complimentary brand digital audit and marketing consultation. You can give us a call or fill out the form below.
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