Quick answer
Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 is in force and amends the AI Act timetable. Article 6(2) / Annex III high-risk obligations apply from 2 December 2027, while Article 6(1) / Annex I product-integrated routes apply from 2 August 2028. Other duties retain their route-specific dates.
Digital Omnibus update, reviewed 2 September 2026
Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 sets 2 December 2027 for Article 6(2)/Annex III high-risk AI systems and 2 August 2028 for Article 6(1)/Annex I product-integrated high-risk AI systems. The Council's 29 June 2026 record is legislative history.
The three-track timeline view
| Date | Current legal position | Application date | Planning status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 February 2025 | Article 4 and the original Article 5 prohibitions applied. | Already applicable. | Keep AI-literacy evidence and prohibited-practices screening. |
| 2 August 2025 | GPAI and specified governance provisions applied for relevant operators. | Already applicable. | Keep GPAI and vendor due-diligence records where relevant. |
| 2 August 2026 | Many other provisions, including Article 50 transparency duties, applied. | Article 6(2)/Annex III and Article 6(1)/Annex I high-risk routes have later dates. | Use the consolidated law and the date for the relevant provision. |
| 2 December 2027 | Chapter III Sections 1 to 3 (except Article 6(5)) apply to Article 6(2)/Annex III systems. | Current statutory application date under Regulation (EU) 2026/1744. | Continue classification and evidence preparation before this date. |
| 2 August 2028 | Article 6(1)/Annex I product-integrated high-risk requirements apply. | Current statutory application date under Regulation (EU) 2026/1744. | Map the applicable product-safety regime and keep evidence work active. |
How deployers should use this page
Use the consolidated AI Act and the provision-specific route. Record whether a date relates to Article 50, Article 6(2) / Annex III, Article 6(1) / Annex I, Article 57 sandboxes or another provision.
The practical move is boring but useful: put a status field in every AI inventory and evidence file. Label it binding consolidated law, future statutory application date, draft guidance, or final guidance.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not replace legal review with a press-release summary.
- Do not delete August 2026 planning tasks from project plans without counsel review.
- Do not tell procurement or product teams that deployer evidence can wait until 2027.
- Do not mix Article 50, Annex III high-risk, and product-safety timelines as if they changed in the same way.
Read the Digital Omnibus hub
Understand what Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 changes.
Open the master timeline
See the consolidated law and route-specific application dates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current EU AI Act timeline?
The AI Act applies progressively. Article 4 and the original Article 5 prohibitions applied from 2 February 2025, relevant GPAI provisions applied from 2 August 2025, Article 50 generally applied from 2 August 2026, Article 6(2) / Annex III requirements apply from 2 December 2027, and Article 6(1) / Annex I routes apply from 2 August 2028.
What does Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 change?
Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 changes parts of the implementation timeline. Article 6(2) / Annex III requirements apply from 2 December 2027, and Article 6(1) / Annex I product-integrated routes apply from 2 August 2028.
Is 2 August 2026 still relevant?
Yes. Article 50 and most remaining provisions generally applied from 2 August 2026, subject to provision-specific exceptions. It is not the application date for Article 6(2) / Annex III or Article 6(1) / Annex I high-risk routes after Regulation (EU) 2026/1744.
What happens on 2 December 2027?
Article 6(2) / Annex III high-risk requirements apply from 2 December 2027 under Regulation (EU) 2026/1744. Continue classification and evidence work before that date.
Why keep provision-specific application routes and source statuses separate?
EU AI Compass keeps the tracks separate because teams need a clean audit trail. Mixing current law, draft guidance and different application routes creates bad records. A dated planning note helps legal, compliance, product, and procurement teams explain why a decision was made.
Last evidence review date: 2 September 2026
Source basis: Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 is the current legal baseline. The consolidated text is current from 27 July 2026. This page is for operational planning and is not legal advice.
Consolidated Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 · Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 · Council adoption history · Council 7 May 2026 agreement press release
Keep the evidence work moving
Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 changed the timeline, but it does not remove the need to know which AI systems exist, who owns them, which vendor records support them, and what evidence a deployer can show.