FE fundinfo launches Global Regulatory Outlook to equip asset managers for regulatory complexity in 2026

In a year of major regulatory change, the latest report unpacks why intelligent, AI-driven approaches to compliance will be key to success for investment managers this year

FE fundinfo, a leading financial data company connecting the investment industry across the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific through its Nexus platform, today published its Global Regulatory Outlook 2026, a comprehensive yearly report previewing the 2026 regulatory calendar. It identifies the five regulatory shifts that will define compliance strategy for asset managers this year - and the AI-driven approaches separating leaders from the rest.

2026 will be a pivotal year for sustainable finance and retail investment disclosures. The report highlights the key regulations that financial services professionals need to have on their radar to manage the cost of compliance while managing risk, and why this year demands a step-change to more intelligent regulatory readiness, in particular:

CCI overhauls UK consumer-facing disclosures: From 6 April 2026, firms marketing to UK retail investors begin a 14-month transitional period to migrate from UK and EU PRIIPs KIDs and UK UCITS KIIDs to the new CCI Product Summary, with a hard compliance deadline of 8 June 2027.
PRIIPs revision in the EU to create further compliance burden for retail investment disclosures: Expected in the first half of 2026, the revision is anticipated to introduce digital-first disclosures, at-a-glance dashboards and revised calculation methodologies.
SFDR II - New categorisation rules but uncertainty remains: Published in November 2025, the draft proposals replace Article 8 and 9 classifications with a new three-tier categorisation system. Challenges, however, remain: notably on naming conventions and whether the system is voluntary or compulsory.
Asia-Pacific - ISSB operationalised: Australia's Sustainability Reporting Standards (ASRS) enter a new phase in 2026, expanding scope to mid-sized entities and asset owners managing A$5 billion or more. In Singapore, Scope 3 emissions reporting comes into force this year for listed issuers - together cementing ISSB standards as the emerging global baseline for sustainable disclosure.
AIFMD II priority for asset managers: The 16 April 2026 implementation deadline for AIFMD II in the EU introduces enhanced requirements for Alternative Investment Fund Managers, including new loan origination rules, liquidity risk management provisions and ESG disclosure obligations.

Five trends defining the regulatory agenda

Forward-looking firms are embracing this period of regulatory change, seizing opportunities created by AI and digitisation to turn reactive compliance into intelligent planning for strategic advantage. The report identifies five trends that will dominate regulatory compliance in 2026:

Intelligent data validation unlocks proactive compliance: Strong forecasting is only possible with the right infrastructure, supported by clean, accurate and well-managed data. Leading firms embed validation at source, using AI to flag inconsistencies at ingestion. Consequently, errors are flagged and addressed early in the process, cutting down on costly downstream remediation.
AI goes mainstream: The technology is accelerating compliance processes and freeing experts’ time to support stronger client outcomes. Thoughtful integration is key: the EU AI Act's full applicability in 2026 makes explainability and human oversight a competitive necessity. Firms that embrace AI across their data and infrastructure are finding huge efficiencies, streamlining compliance reviews and discovering insights in seconds.
Digital-first becomes the new normal: Whether delivered as accessible PDFs, interactive dashboards or machine-readable data feeds, tomorrow's disclosures must be designed for usability and inclusion. The EAA makes this a regulatory requirement, not optional.
The regulatory landscape continues to diverge: Cross-border managers face a growing patchwork of overlapping and incompatible requirements, as regional divergence continues. Failures in compliance can lead to significant fines, disrupt business continuity, and result in reputational damage. Winners will take a nuanced approach, prioritising consistency and efficiency where possible - whilst integrating adaptations and exceptions.
Operational resilience and governance drive compliance: Resilience is a strategic imperative. In 2025, the Digital Operational Resilience Act embedded operational continuity into regulation; real-time monitoring and recoverability are now mandatory. For firms that stay agile and adapt, compliance becomes a competitive advantage.

Liam Healy, CEO at FE fundinfo, said:

"Something shifted in 2025. The firms pulling ahead weren't necessarily the largest. They were the ones who invested in smarter, more integrated approaches, underpinned by critical end-to-end data infrastructure that connected every part of their operations. They stopped treating each reporting cycle as a standalone event and started embedding regulatory awareness, driven by reliable, high-quality data, into their daily workflows. AI is already significantly increasing productivity across reporting, compliance monitoring and document production. But the real differentiator is the foundation beneath it. Our message to the market is clear: you don't need to rebuild to be ready. You need trusted partners who've invested in the infrastructure and data for tomorrow's outcomes."

The Global Regulatory Outlook 2026 is available now.