Active ETFs gather $4.2bn in January to add to their record $1.9trn in 2025
Actively managed exchange-traded funds have got off to a strong start in 2026 after their record-breaking 2025, attracting $4.24bn (£3.13bn) in net inflows in January, according to data from ETFGI.
The global increase, nearly three times the $1.6bn invested in active ETFs in January 2025, saw the fledgling sector push on after a year of accelerating fund flows in 2025.
Previously released figures from the ETF research firm showed active ETFs assets hit $1.92trn at 31 December after a 64.5% surge with total inflows of $637.47bn surpassing the previous two years’ highs of $373.54bn in 2024 and $183.4bn in 2023.
Over $56bn flowed into active ETFs in December alone, the 69th month of net inflows.
Actively managed equity ETFs and similar exchange traded products (ETPs) attracted $33.31bn in December.
Active fixed income ETFs also saw strong demand, bringing in $18.56bn during December and reaching $237.93bn in total 2025 inflows, nearly double the $139.69bn recorded in 2024.
ETFGI managing partner Deborah Fuhr said: “Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 active ETFs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $15.89bn during December. JPMorgan Active Bond ETF (JBND US) gathered $1.19bn, the largest individual net inflow.”
Globally the active ETFs industry had 4,636 ETFs, with 6,152 listings from 665 providers listed on 46 exchanges in 36 countries at the end of 2025.
The ascent of active ETFs comes amid a broader advance by mostly passive, index-tracking exchange-traded funds in Europe. ETFGI’s latest data shows that assets in European ETFs rose 5.5% in January to reach a record $3.4trn, up from $3.22trn in December.
January, the 40th consecutive month of net inflows, saw a record $58.67bn pour into Europe’s ETFs, exceeding the previous January record of $32.93bn.
Our view
David Batchelor, senior analyst at QuotedData, said: “There is no sign of the European active ETF bandwagon slowing down in the early weeks of 2026. We already knew about many of the impressive statistics from 2025, but they certainly bear repeating – for any asset to almost double inflows year-on-year is quite the feat. And for January this year to see three times the net inflows of a year ago is really striking. Most assets are going to the established names, but certainly not all – see the plethora of new launches that we cover every week. It is worth remembering that this isn’t just an active story, however, with European passive assets now standing at a staggering $3.4trn.”
