EU AI Act timeline: the key dates after the July 2026 changes

Part of the guide What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?

EU AI Act timeline: when do the rules really start?

The EU AI Act's rules start in stages, not on one day. The Act came into force on 1 August 2024. AI literacy and the banned practices applied first, from 2 February 2025, and the rules for general-purpose AI models followed on 2 August 2025. The Act in general has applied since 2 August 2026.

More dates are still to come. On 2 December 2026, some new bans start, and older content tools must mark what they make. On 2 August 2027, older general-purpose AI models must comply. The high-risk rules follow on 2 December 2027 and 2 August 2028.

Not sure the Act reaches your firm? Start with What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?.

Did the high-risk rules start in August 2026?

No, the EU AI Act's high-risk rules did not start in August 2026. They now start on 2 December 2027 for AI listed in Annex III, and on 2 August 2028 for AI under the product laws in Annex I. The 2024 text set 2 August 2026 and 2 August 2027, and the Digital Omnibus on AI postponed both.

The Annex III date covers AI used in biometrics, critical infrastructure, education, employment, law enforcement and border management.

If your firm builds or uses AI in one of these areas, these are the dates to note. The changes affect providers and deployers alike.

Was the EU AI Act delayed?

The EU AI Act was delayed in part. The Digital Omnibus on AI, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, delayed the dates for the high-risk rules and for marking AI-generated content, but kept the Act's structure and its risk-based approach. It came into force on 27 July 2026.

Originally, all of the Act's rules were planned to apply by 2 August 2027. The last of them now apply from 2 August 2028.

Some dates did not move. The 2024 text set 2 February 2025 for AI literacy and the banned practices, and 2 August 2026 for the Act in general. Both still stand.

What happens on 2 December 2026?

On 2 December 2026, new bans under the EU AI Act start, and older content tools must start marking what they make. The first new ban covers AI that makes realistic intimate or sexually explicit images, video or audio of an identifiable person without consent.

The second covers AI that makes material defined in Directive 2011/93/EU, the EU directive on child sexual abuse.

A ban can reach a firm that only uses AI. The second ban, for example, covers using such a system, not only selling it.

The marking deadline is for the providers of content tools already on the market before 2 August 2026.

Which EU AI Act dates matter to your firm?

The EU AI Act dates that matter to your firm depend on your role. The July 2026 changes affect both providers, which build or sell AI, and deployers, which use it. If your firm only uses AI tools, such as ChatGPT, the model rules and the marking duty fall on their providers, but a ban can still reach you.

Our guide, What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?, explains the AI literacy duty and who it covers. That duty has applied since 2 February 2025.

What to do

1. Work out your role for each AI tool you build or use. Our guide What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business? explains provider and deployer.
2. If you provide a content tool that was on the market before 2 August 2026, note 2 December 2026.
3. If you build or use AI in an area such as employment or education, note 2 December 2027.
4. If you provide a general-purpose AI model that was on the market before 2 August 2025, note 2 August 2027.
5. Check any EU AI Act timeline written before 27 July 2026. The high-risk dates have moved since then.

Common questions

When did the EU AI Act come into force?

On 1 August 2024, the twentieth day after it was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 12 July 2024. Its rules apply in stages.

Does the EU AI Act apply yet?

Yes. It has applied in general since 2 August 2026. Some parts started earlier, and the high-risk rules start on 2 December 2027 and 2 August 2028.

When do the rules for general-purpose AI models apply?

They have applied since 2 August 2025. Providers of models placed on the market before that date must comply by 2 August 2027.

What is the Digital Omnibus on AI?

It is Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of 8 July 2026, which amended the EU AI Act. It was proposed in November 2025 and came into force on 27 July 2026.

Where next

• Exposed to the EU AI Act
• What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?
• AI answers on the EU AI Act: 1 official source in 111

This is an independent editorial guide, not legal advice.