After two years with record-high estimated net inflows into ETFs in Europe, no one should be surprised when European ETF promoters are launching a higher number of new products than usual. In addition to this, there is a second trend—actively managed ETFs, which are attracting not only existing ETF promoters to launch respective products but also attracting new ETF promoters to the European ETF industry.
That said, 2025 was not only a year with record high estimated net inflows into ETFs; we also witnessed the highest number of ETF launches (702 overall) in history, as the European ETF industry launched 309 new primary share classes (This equals the number of new ETFs) and 393 new convenience share classes for investors in Europe.
When it comes to this, it can be said that the European ETF industry as a whole is currently launching ETFs roughly on the same pace as last year. We witnessed 227 ETF launches until the end of April 2026—115 of these launches were new ETFs (primary share classes), while 112 were convenience share classes for newly launched or already existing ETFs.
Graph 1: Number of ETF Launches in Europe by Share Class Type (January 1, 2000 – April 30, 2025)
Source: LSEG Lipper
With regard to the above, it is not wrong to assume that the European ETF is, in general, not in a massive launching spree. It looks rather like the industry is trying to capture as much customer interest as possible by delivering the products that are demanded by the investors in Europe.
But wait—there was a second trend which might have a larger impact on these numbers than the overall success of the European ETF industry with regard to the estimated net inflows over the course of the last two years.
Are Active ETFs Driving the Overall Launching Activity in the European ETF Industry?
As graph 2 shows, the launching activity in the segment of actively managed ETFs is also roughly on the same pace it was for the year 2025. ETF promoters in Europe have launched 137 actively managed ETFs (primary share classes) over the course of 2025, and 43 between January 1 and April 30, 2026.
When it comes to this, it can’t be said that there is a launching spree of actively managed ETFs in the European ETF industry. Nevertheless, it is right to say there is an elevated level of ETF launches driven by the high estimated net inflows into ETFs as well as the fast-growing segment of actively managed ETFs in Europe.
Graph 2: Number of Launches of Active ETFs in Europe – Primary Share Classes (January 1, 2021 – April 30, 2026)
Source: LSEG Lipper
That said, given the high number of asset managers who have signalled that they would like to enter the European ETF industry with an active ETF offering of one or more ETFs, it is to be expected that the number of newly launched active ETFs in 2026 will be much higher than in 2025. But even with this in mind, it might be too early to speak about a general ETF launching spree for 2026 in Europe. This is because we don’t know how many passive ETFs will be launched over the course of the year, even as the current numbers show that we may continue to see launches of passive ETFs on an elevated pace over the course of 2026.
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The views expressed are the views of the author, not necessarily those of LSEG.
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute any investment advice.