ESMA Publishes Its Annual Work Programme 2026

RegCORE Client Alert | SIU/CMU

QuickTake

Typically, in the fourth quarter annually, EU-level authorities publish their Annual Work Programmes (AWPs). The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is among these authorities. AWPs delineate priorities and resource allocation for the forthcoming calendar year. Certain authorities, including ESMA, additionally issue a multi-year priority plan, known as a Single Programming Document (SPD). Both AWPs and SPDs are relevant to National Competent Authorities (NCAs) and entities subject to ESMA's and NCAs' regulatory and supervisory mandates.

On 3 October 2025, ESMA published its AWP for 2026 outlining its focus on key strategic priorities and implementation of new mandates. The AWP 2026 should be read in conjunction with its SPD 2026-2028. Its earlier SPD for 2024-2026 was previously published on 31 January 2024. Both SPDs build upon the longer-term "ESMA Strategy 2023-2028", which was published in October 2022.