In effect
AI Act entered into force
Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 entered into force, starting the staged application calendar.
EU AI Act timeline and deadlines
Every key date from the staged application calendar, with Omnibus changes marked and original dates shown where they moved.
Legal status caveat. The Digital Omnibus on AI reached political agreement on May 7, 2026; the European Parliament formally endorsed it June 16, 2026 and the Council gave final approval June 29, 2026. The deferred dates take legal effect only upon publication in the Official Journal, with entry into force on the third day after publication, which is expected imminently / before Aug 2, 2026.
Status last verified:
Status last verified:
In effect
Article 5 prohibited practices and Article 4 AI literacy obligations apply
Core banned AI practices apply, and providers and deployers must take measures to ensure a sufficient level of AI literacy among staff and other persons dealing with AI systems on their behalf.
In effect
GPAI model provider obligations apply
Obligations for providers of general-purpose AI models apply, including technical documentation, information to downstream providers, copyright-policy duties, and additional duties for systemic-risk models.
Upcoming
Article 50 transparency obligations apply
Users must be informed when interacting with an AI system; AI-generated or manipulated content, including deepfakes, must be disclosed; disclosure duties apply for emotion-recognition and biometric-categorization systems. Article 49 EU database registration framework and governance/enforcement provisions also apply. This date was not deferred.
Changed by Omnibus Original: August 2, 2026
Machine-readable marking grace period ends for older generative systems
The machine-readable marking/watermarking duty under Article 50(2) applies to generative systems placed on the market before Aug 2, 2026 after a four-month grace period. Systems placed on the market on or after Aug 2, 2026 must comply from placement.
Changed by the Digital Omnibus on AI, pending Official Journal publication for legal effect.
Added by Omnibus
New prohibition on AI systems for generating NCII and CSAM takes effect
The Digital Omnibus on AI adds a new Article 5 prohibition on AI systems for generating non-consensual intimate imagery and child sexual abuse material.
Added by the Digital Omnibus on AI, pending Official Journal publication for legal effect.
Changed by Omnibus Original: August 2, 2026
National AI regulatory sandboxes must be established
Member States must establish national AI regulatory sandboxes. The Digital Omnibus on AI moved this from its original date.
Changed by the Digital Omnibus on AI, pending Official Journal publication for legal effect.
Changed by Omnibus Original: August 2, 2026
Standalone high-risk AI obligations under Annex III apply
Obligations for standalone high-risk AI systems under Annex III, such as recruitment, credit scoring, education, essential services, law enforcement, migration, justice, critical infrastructure, and biometric identification, are moved from the original date by the Digital Omnibus on AI.
Changed by the Digital Omnibus on AI, pending Official Journal publication for legal effect.
Changed by Omnibus Original: August 2, 2027
High-risk AI obligations for Annex I regulated products apply
Obligations for high-risk AI embedded in Annex I regulated products, including medical devices, machinery, vehicles, toys, lifts, and radio equipment, are moved from the original date by the Digital Omnibus on AI.
Changed by the Digital Omnibus on AI, pending Official Journal publication for legal effect.