Last week the attention of the edTech world was in London, England for the 2026 BETT conference. This event is the European equivalent of ISTE which Google uses as a platform to announce a list of new features and updates you can expect this spring.

Google’s official launch guide is a 20 page densely packed list of updates. I read it carefully so you don’t have to! Here are the big 2026 Google updates that will impact your district. 

Gemini for Workspace moves to EDU Plus

The ability to use Gemini directly in Gmail, Docs, Slides, Forms, etc has been limited to users with a Google AI pro subscription ($20/user/month). At the BETT conference Google announced that it is moving these capabilities “downstream” to EDU Plus and Teaching & Learning customers. This is a significant change that adds a lot of value to the EDU Plus license at no additional cost. 

Users over the age of 18 will see these features appear starting in February. Google is also adding admin controls to manage Gemini Workspace products like Docs and Gmail. Users under the age of 18 will not receive access to Gemini in Workspace until March, after these new admin controls become available. 

If you are using the free (fundamentals) version of workspace, I have good news for you too! Gemini for Gmail will be available for all users, regardless of license. 

A sign of things to come?

The Gemini for Workspace update is noteworthy for another reason – Google has indicated that as it is able to optimize and stabilize its AI models, it plans to move premium features downstream to lower tiers. New features and tools will initially require a premium license (Google AI Pro), but there is an excellent chance that many of these features slowly move downstream to all education users. A perfect example of this is Google Vids which launched as a premium feature, but is now available for everyone. 

New features for teachers

The availability of Gemini for Workspace is definitely the top 2026 Google update announced at BETT, but certainly not the only one. Here’s a quick round up of the teaching-focused updates from BETT: 

• Google Classroom home page refresh
• Built in audio and video recording for Google Classroom*
• Wirelessly mirror students screens with Class Tools*
• Screen annotation with Class Tools*
• Gemini in Chrome now available on Chromebook Plus devices
• Full length SAT Practice Tests now available in Gemini
• Gemini can now answer questions about course work in Google Classroom
• Teachers can create audio lessons with Gemini, directly in Google Classroom
• Reference NotebookLM in Gemini conversations
• New study tools for students in Google Classroom (targeted at higher education)
• Classroom LTI now supports Moodle

*requires EDU Plus licenses

Stay on top of the latest updates with the Google Admin Weekly!

I covered these teacher-focused updates in more detail on my classroom blog which you can read here. To keep on top of the latest updates and changes to Google Workspace and the admin console, I’d invite you to sign up for the Google Admin Weekly, my free email newsletter for IT administrators.