The global active exchange-traded fund industry reached an all-time high of $2.59 trillion in assets under management at the end of July 2026, surpassing the prior record of $2.56 trillion set just a month earlier, according to data published Monday by London-based research firm ETFGI LLP.
The milestone caps a remarkable first seven months of the year for active ETFs with net inflows for the year through July totaling $590.46 billion, nearly double the $322.69 billion recorded over the same period in 2025, per ETFGI. Assets have grown 35.6% since the start of the year, up from $1.91 trillion at year-end 2025.
July alone brought $89.58 billion in net new assets into active ETFs globally, extending a streak that now spans 76 consecutive months of positive inflows; more than six years without a single month of net redemptions.
Equity-focused active ETFs led the charge, pulling in $355.77 billion year-to-date through July, almost double the $183.36 billion gathered over the same stretch of 2025. Fixed income active ETFs attracted $178.75 billion in year-to-date inflows, outpacing the $123.80 billion recorded a year earlier.
The explosive growth of active ETFs over recent years has frequently exceeded industry forecasts. The structure has drawn assets away from both traditional mutual funds and passive ETF products as advisors seek tax efficiency, intraday liquidity, and active management in a single wrapper.
Among individual providers, Dimensional Fund Advisors and JPMorgan Asset Management each managed approximately $309 billion in active ETF assets as of July 31, 2026, each holding an 11.9% share of the market, according to ETFGI.
JPMorgan led all providers in year-to-date net inflows, gathering $52.5 billion in new assets. iShares, the BlackRock-owned ETF platform, ranked third with $176.7 billion in total assets and $51.8 billion in year-to-date inflows.
The competitive landscape has intensified significantly as asset managers of all sizes race to launch active products. ETFGI data show 1,212 new active ETFs launched globally in the year through July, brought to market by 269 providers, while 173 funds were closed. The global active ETF universe now comprises 5,678 funds with 7,807 listings across 724 providers on 49 exchanges in 39 countries.
The record inflows also reflect broader investor appetite for strategies that can respond to market conditions — a preference that has grown as equity volatility and interest rate uncertainty have remained elevated through 2026.
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