# EU AI Act timeline: the key dates after the July 2026 changes A change in July 2026 moved the high-risk dates, so a timeline written before then may be out of date. The Assurance Desk. Published 2 October 2026. Last checked 7 October 2026. Part of the guide [What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?](https://theassurancedesk.com/guides/eu-ai-act-uk-business.md). **The short answer.** The EU AI Act applies in stages. AI literacy and the banned practices have applied since 2 February 2025, and the Act in general since 2 August 2026. The high-risk rules come later. They start on 2 December 2027 for AI listed in Annex III, such as AI used in employment. For AI under the product laws in Annex I, they start on 2 August 2028 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727) and [IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules](https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules), checked 2 October 2026). ## 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 ([IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 2026). 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). Not sure the Act reaches your firm? Start with [What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?](/guides/eu-ai-act-uk-business). **Every EU AI Act date, oldest first** - 13 June 2024, EU: The Act is signed at Brussels - 12 July 2024, EU: The Act is published in the Official Journal of the EU - 1 August 2024, EU: The Act comes into force. Its rules apply in stages - 2 February 2025, EU: AI literacy and the banned practices apply - 2 August 2025, EU: The rules for general-purpose AI models apply - November 2025, EU: The Digital Omnibus on AI is proposed - 8 July 2026, EU: The Digital Omnibus on AI, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744, is adopted - 27 July 2026, EU: The Digital Omnibus on AI comes into force - 2 August 2026, EU: The Act applies in general - 2 December 2026, EU: New bans apply. Content tools already on the market must meet the marking duty - 2 August 2027, EU: General-purpose AI models on the market before 2 August 2025 must comply. National AI sandboxes are due - 2 December 2027, EU: The high-risk rules apply to AI listed in Annex III - 2 August 2028, EU: The high-risk rules apply to AI under the product laws in Annex I Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727 (checked 2 October 2026); EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689 (checked 2 October 2026); EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32026R1744 (checked 2 October 2026); IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI, https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai (checked 2 October 2026); IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules, https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules (checked 2 October 2026); IAPP, EU AI Act: Next Steps for Implementation, https://iapp.org/resources/article/eu-ai-act-timeline (checked 2 October 2026) ## 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). The 2024 text set 2 August 2026 and 2 August 2027, and the Digital Omnibus on AI postponed both ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689) and [IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules](https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules), checked 2 October 2026). The Annex III date covers AI used in biometrics, critical infrastructure, education, employment, law enforcement and border management ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727) and [IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules](https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules), checked 2 October 2026). 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 ([IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 2026). > "(i) 2 December 2027 as regards AI systems classified as high-risk pursuant to Article 6(2) and Annex III; and (ii) 2 August 2028 as regards AI systems classified as high-risk pursuant to Article 6(1) and Annex I" > EU AI Act, Consolidated legal text > EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727 (checked 2 October 2026) ## 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 ([IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 2026). It came into force on 27 July 2026 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32026R1744) and [IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727) and [IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 2026). 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727) and [EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689), checked 2 October 2026). **The dates in the 2024 text against the dates now, after Regulation (EU) 2026/1744** | Part of the Act | In the 2024 text | Now | | --- | --- | --- | | The Act in general | 2 August 2026 | 2 August 2026 | | AI literacy and the banned practices | 2 February 2025 | 2 February 2025 | | High-risk AI under the product laws in Annex I | 2 August 2027 | 2 August 2028 | | High-risk AI listed in Annex III | 2 August 2026 | 2 December 2027 | | National AI regulatory sandboxes | 2 August 2026 | 2 August 2027 | | New bans on AI-made intimate images and child abuse material | Not in the 2024 text | 2 December 2026 | | Grace period for content tools already on the market | Not in the 2024 text | 2 December 2026 | Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727 (checked 2 October 2026); EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689 (checked 2 October 2026); EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32026R1744 (checked 2 October 2026); IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules, https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules (checked 2 October 2026) ## 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). The second covers AI that makes material defined in Directive 2011/93/EU, the EU directive on child sexual abuse ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). A ban can reach a firm that only uses AI. The second ban, for example, covers using such a system, not only selling it ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). The marking deadline is for the providers of content tools already on the market before 2 August 2026 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727) and [IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 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 ([IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 2026). 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). Our guide, [What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?](/guides/eu-ai-act-uk-business), explains the AI literacy duty and who it covers. That duty has applied since 2 February 2025 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). **Read each deadline alongside your role** | If your firm… | Read the rules for… | | --- | --- | | Builds and places AI on the market | Providers | | Uses AI under its own authority | Deployers | | Does both | Both roles, for the relevant systems | Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689 (checked 2 October 2026) **Which dates reach which firm** - **Provider of a general-purpose AI model**: Rules since 2 August 2025. A model on the market before then has until 2 August 2027 (A firm that builds a large AI model and puts it on the market) - **Provider of a content tool**: A tool on the market before 2 August 2026 must meet the marking duty by 2 December 2026 (A firm that sells a tool that makes images, audio or text) - **Provider or deployer of high-risk AI**: 2 December 2027 for AI listed in Annex III, and 2 August 2028 for AI under the product laws in Annex I (AI used in employment or education) - **Firm that only uses AI tools**: The bans, since 2 February 2025, with new ones from 2 December 2026 (A firm whose staff use ChatGPT) Source: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727 (checked 2 October 2026); IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI, https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai (checked 2 October 2026); IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules, https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules (checked 2 October 2026) ## 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?](/guides/eu-ai-act-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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). 3. If you build or use AI in an area such as employment or education, note 2 December 2027 ([IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai) and [IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules](https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules), checked 2 October 2026). 4. If you provide a general-purpose AI model that was on the market before 2 August 2025, note 2 August 2027 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). 5. Check any EU AI Act timeline written before 27 July 2026. The high-risk dates have moved since then ([IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai), checked 2 October 2026). ## 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), [IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI](https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai) and [IAPP, EU AI Act: Next Steps for Implementation](https://iapp.org/resources/article/eu-ai-act-timeline), checked 2 October 2026). ### 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). ### 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727), checked 2 October 2026). ### 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 ([EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32026R1744) and [IAPP, EU AI Act: Next Steps for Implementation](https://iapp.org/resources/article/eu-ai-act-timeline), checked 2 October 2026). ## Where next - [Exposed to the EU AI Act](https://theassurancedesk.com/best/eu-ai-act-exposed.md) - [What does the EU AI Act ask of a UK business?](https://theassurancedesk.com/guides/eu-ai-act-uk-business.md) - [AI answers on the EU AI Act: 1 official source in 111](https://theassurancedesk.com/news/ai-answers-eu-ai-act-official-sources.md) ## Sources - EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (Artificial Intelligence Act), consolidated text of 27 July 2026: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1689-20260727 (checked 2 October 2026) - IAPP, EU agrees to amend AI Act, clarifies overlap with machinery rules: https://iapp.org/news/a/eu-agrees-to-amend-ai-act-clarifies-overlap-with-machinery-rules (checked 2 October 2026) - IAPP, Rewriting the rules of AI: Targeted EU AI Act amendments in the Digital Omnibus on AI: https://iapp.org/news/a/rewriting-the-rules-of-ai-targeted-eu-ai-act-amendments-in-the-digital-omnibus-on-ai (checked 2 October 2026) - EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689 (checked 2 October 2026) - EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 July 2026: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32026R1744 (checked 2 October 2026) - IAPP, EU AI Act: Next Steps for Implementation: https://iapp.org/resources/article/eu-ai-act-timeline (checked 2 October 2026) --- **Who publishes this.** The Assurance Desk is published by Add-Venture Advisory Ltd, company number 11854524, registered in England and Wales. The same owner runs Avouch, a marketing agency that sells AI visibility services to firms of the kind this site covers. That is a conflict of interest, and it is disclosed here.