Hashtags on YouTube are one of the simplest tools for categorizing videos, yet many YouTubers either ignore them or stuff dozens of hashtags into the description and make YouTube ignore all of them. In this guide we review YouTube’s official hashtag rules, what has changed in 2026 about their role in the algorithm, and the right way to use them for long videos and Shorts.

What is a YouTube hashtag and what does it do?

A hashtag is a word or phrase that starts with the # sign. According to YouTube’s official description, hashtags connect videos and playlists that share a topic and help viewers find related content. Hashtags you put in the title or description work like clickable links and take the viewer to a results page of videos with the same hashtag.

From the hashtags in your description, YouTube shows at most three, the ones with the most engagement, above the video title. The rest still appear in the description, and the video can still show up in search results.

Official YouTube hashtag rules (current in 2026)

These points are taken from YouTube’s official help page on hashtag policies:

• No spaces: A hashtag must not contain a space. Join multi-word phrases together or write them with an underscore (_).
• Avoid over-tagging: The more hashtags you add, the less relevant each one becomes. According to the official guide, if a video or playlist has more than 60 hashtags, YouTube ignores all of its hashtags, and the video may be removed from uploads or from search.
• Misleading hashtags are banned: A hashtag unrelated to the video’s content, such as a hot event that is not in the video, may lead to the video being removed under the misleading metadata policy.
• Harassment, hate and sexual content: Hashtags aimed at humiliating, threatening or spreading hatred, or containing explicit sexual content, are banned and can lead to video removal.
• Vulgar words: Profanity in a hashtag can lead to an age restriction or removal.
• Do not disguise tags as hashtags: Putting ordinary descriptive tags or repeated sentences in the description instead of hashtags is still banned and can be penalized.

A note on the cap: The official YouTube page states the number 60, but several specialist sources in 2026 report a stricter enforcement of a 15-hashtag cap (especially for Shorts). Since both numbers appear in sources, the safest approach is never to use more than 15 hashtags. In practice, 3 to 5 hashtags give the best result.

What has changed in 2026?

In our review of official sources, we found no new announcement that changed the hashtag rules in 2026; the rules above are the current framework. What has changed is the weight of hashtags in the whole recommendation system:

• YouTube’s algorithm relies more on topic relevance, viewing behavior (retention and viewer satisfaction) and the real content of the video than on hashtags.
• 2026 analyses say hashtags play more the role of a ‘context anchor’ and categorization than a fast-growth tool.
• Piling up many hashtags backfires, and 3 precise hashtags send a clearer message than 10 scattered ones.
• YouTube has also become stricter about repetitive, low-originality content in Shorts; for more details see the article on the YouTube Shorts originality update 2026.

If you are also curious about earning money, read the new YouTube monetization requirements 2027; following the policies directly affects your channel’s health.

Hashtags or tags? An important difference

In 2026 the effect of tags is rated very small and weak. Spend your time on the title, description and thumbnail, and fill in tags only once and quickly.

How many hashtags, and where?

• Number: 3 to 5 relevant hashtags.
• Main place: The end of the video description. YouTube shows the top 3 hashtags above the title.
• In the title: At most 1 or 2 hashtags, and only if they do not hurt readability. Keep the title characters for an attractive sentence.
• Suggested mix: One broad hashtag (category), two or three hashtags specific to that video’s topic and, if needed, a brand or series hashtag.

Hashtags on YouTube Shorts

For Shorts the same rule of 3 to 5 precise hashtags works. Instead of general hashtags such as #viral or #fyp, choose hashtags specific to the video’s topic. When you type # in Shorts, YouTube shows suggested hashtags based on your earlier uploads and other signals, which you can use. Remember that hashtags do not replace a strong hook, a good title and full watch-through rate.

Tips for Persian hashtags

• Write multi-word phrases with an underscore: #YouTube_education (in Persian script).
• Use one fixed form in all your videos so your videos are gathered on one hashtag page.
• After publishing, click on the hashtag and check that the results page opens correctly.
• If you also have an international audience, put a relevant English hashtag (such as #YouTubeSEO) next to the Persian one.

A practical example for a video about YouTube SEO (Persian hashtags are written in Persian script on the Persian site): #YouTubeSEO #YouTubeEducation

Common mistakes with hashtags

1. Putting dozens of hashtags in and going past the allowed cap.
2. Using a trending, unrelated hashtag just to be seen.
3. Copying a fixed list under every video.
4. Putting plain keywords in the description instead of hashtags.
5. Believing a hashtag can make up for a weak title and thumbnail.

Checklist before publishing

• Are the hashtags 100% related to the video’s topic?
• Are there 3 to 5 of them, and no more than 15?
• Is there no space in any hashtag?
• Are the three most important hashtags first in the description or at the start of the hashtag section?
• Is the brand or series hashtag fixed?

Frequently asked questions

Do hashtags still work on YouTube in 2026?

Yes, but their effect is limited and supportive. The algorithm pays more attention to the title, thumbnail and viewing behavior.

How many hashtags are enough for one video?

3 to 5 precise hashtags. More than that reduces the relevance of each one.

What happens if I use too many hashtags?

According to the official guide, once you pass 60 hashtags, YouTube ignores all of them, and the video may also be removed from search or uploads. Some sources also mention a cap of 15.

Should I put hashtags in the title or in the description?

It is better to put most hashtags in the description and at most one or two in the title if needed.

Related articles

• New YouTube Shorts update 2026: what is content originality?
• New YouTube monetization requirements 2027

Sources

• YouTube Help: Find playlists & videos using hashtags
• UpTube: YouTube Hashtags 2026
• PostLink: YouTube Shorts Hashtags 2026
• Fluxnote: Do Hashtags Still Work on YouTube in 2026
• HashtagTools: Mid-Year Hashtag Trends 2026

Last reviewed: October 2026. YouTube’s rules may change; check the official page before acting.