ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs ecosystem, announced today that the global ETF industry has achieved a historic milestone, with 2,141 new ETFs and ETPs launched worldwide year-to-date through July 2026, the highest number ever recorded for this period. ETFGI, is a 14 year old leading independent research and consultancy firm renowned for its expertise in subscription research, consulting services, 6 annual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summits, and ETF TV on global ETF industry trends.
After accounting for 353 product closures, the industry recorded a net increase of 1,788 products, surpassing the previous record of 1,587 new launches through July 2025.
The record pace of launches highlights the ETF industry's continued transformation into the world's preferred investment vehicle for investors seeking access to active management, artificial intelligence themes, income strategies, fixed income exposures, and cost-efficient portfolio building tools.
"The ETF industry continues to redefine the future of investing," said Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner, Founder and Owner of ETFGI. "Crossing more than 2,100 launches in the first seven months of the year demonstrates unprecedented innovation, intensifying competition among issuers, and growing investor demand for ETFs across every region and asset class."
ETF Industry Reaches Unprecedented Scale
At the end of July 2026:
- 17,654 ETFs and ETPs were listed globally
- 34,072 listings traded across exchanges worldwide
- US$23.11 trillion in assets were invested globally
- The industry gathered US$383.6 billion in net inflows during July alone
- Products were offered by 1,025 providers
- ETFs and ETPs were listed on 85 exchanges across 66 countries
United States Leads, Asia-Pacific Surges
The United States led globally with 889 new launches, followed by:
- Asia Pacific (excluding Japan): 540
- Europe: 379
- Canada: 189
- Japan: 52
- Latin America: 50
- Middle East & Africa: 42
Notably, every major region recorded its highest-ever number of ETF launches in 2026.
The industry's rapid expansion has been driven by 400 providers launching products across 37 exchanges globally.
Active ETFs Dominate New Product Development
Among the 2,141 newly launched products:
- 1,212 were Active ETFs
- 607 were Equity ETFs
- 130 were Fixed Income ETFs
The dominance of active ETFs underscores one of the most important structural shifts underway in asset management, as investors increasingly embrace the ETF wrapper for actively managed strategies.
New Entrants and Challenger Brands Drive Competition
While established asset managers remain active, challenger firms have emerged as major innovators.
The leading issuers by number of launches through July 2026 were:
- Corgi Funds – 187 launches
- Leverage Shares – 135 launches
- iShares – 61 launches
The breadth of innovation demonstrates how barriers to entry continue to fall as ETF ecosystems mature around the world.
Five-Year Growth Explosion
The growth trajectory has been remarkable.
New ETF launches globally year-to-date through July increased from:
- 905 in 2022
- 1,060 in 2023
- 1,256 in 2024
- 1,587 in 2025
- 2,141 in 2026
This represents a growth increase of more than 136% over the past five years.
Closures Remain Healthy Despite Record Launches
Although product innovation reached record levels, industry rationalization remained controlled.
Global ETF closures totaled 353 products through July 2026, driven primarily by:
- United States: 186 closures
- Asia Pacific (excluding Japan): 100 closures
- Europe: 27 closures
Importantly, closures declined in most regions compared with the same period in 2025, indicating healthy overall market expansion and improving product sustainability.
Investors Continue to Reward Successful New Launches
Several newly launched ETFs have attracted exceptional asset growth in 2026.
The largest new ETF launches by assets gathered through July include:
|
ETF |
Assets |
|
Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM US) |
US$24.55 billion |
|
ProShares GENIUS Money Market ETF (IQMM US) |
US$17.39 billion |
|
KGI Taiwan TOP 50 ETF (009816 TT) |
US$5.53 billion |
|
UPAMC Taiwan Elite 50 Active ETF (00403A TT) |
US$5.31 billion |
|
Shinhan SOL AI Semiconductor TOP2 Plus ETF (0167A0 KS) |
US$3.63 billion |
Source: ETFGI, ETF issuers and exchanges.
The top asset gatherers span a diverse range of categories, including artificial intelligence, money market, equity, active management, dividend, and climate-related strategies.
Innovation Becomes the Industry's New Standard
The record-breaking launch activity demonstrates that the ETF industry is entering a new phase characterized by:
- Accelerating active ETF adoption
- AI and technology-driven investment themes
- Continued migration from mutual funds into ETFs
- Rapid product innovation across global markets
- Increased competition among issuers
- Growing investor demand for precision investment tools
With global ETF assets exceeding US$23 trillion and new product creation at record levels, 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative years in the history of the ETF industry.
