EU AI Act Enforcement Timeline 2026

The EU AI Act Rollout: Key Dates

The EU AI Act didn't happen overnight. It's been rolling out in phases since early 2025. Here's what's already happened — and what's coming next.

Already in Force

Date

Milestone

Status

2 Feb 2025	Articles 1-4 (scope, definitions, AI literacy) + Article 5 (prohibited practices)	✅ In force
2 Aug 2025	Chapter V (general-purpose AI obligations, Articles 51-56)	✅ In force
10 Jun 2026	Code of Practice on Transparency published	✅ Published
16 Jun 2026	AI Omnibus approved by European Parliament (423-57-174)	✅ Approved

Key takeaway: the AI Omnibus vote on 16 June 2026 explicitly did NOT delay Article 50. The transparency deadline is firm.

What's Coming Next

Date

Milestone

Who's Affected

2 Aug 2026	Article 50 enforcement for NEW AI systems	Anyone launching or updating AI features after this date
2 Aug 2026	High-risk AI obligations (Articles 6-49) + Articles 57-70 + 95-101	High-risk AI providers and deployers
2 Dec 2026	Extended deadline for machine-readable marking of EXISTING systems (Article 50(2))	Companies with AI systems already on the market before 2 Aug 2026
2027-2028	Delegated acts and implementing regulations finalized	All AI system operators

What 2 August 2026 Means for You

If you're launching an AI feature AFTER 2 August 2026:

• Article 50 compliance is mandatory from day one
• No grace period for new systems
• The penalty framework (€15M / 3% turnover) is active

If you have AI features already live BEFORE 2 August 2026:

• Article 50(1) interaction disclosure and 50(4) deepfake labeling apply immediately
• Article 50(2) machine-readable content marking has an extended deadline: 2 December 2026
• You have a grace period — use it to implement disclosure properly

The 2 December 2026 Extension

The AI Omnibus package included a 4-month extension for one specific obligation: machine-readable marking of AI-generated content (Article 50(2)). This ONLY applies to systems already on the market before 2 August 2026.

This means:

• Your existing AI content generator needs machine-readable metadata by December
• But interaction disclosure (article 50(1)) is still required by August
• The extension doesn't apply to chatbots, voice agents, or other interactive systems

Why You Shouldn't Wait

Even with the December extension, waiting is risky:

• Competitors who comply early gain trust and differentiation
• Complaints to authorities can come at any time
• The December deadline is for one specific obligation — others are due in August
• Implementing disclosure takes 30 minutes with our [generator](/generate)

CTA: Beat the Deadline

Generate your Article 50 disclosure now. Our [free generator](/generate) produces compliant text, widget, and PDF report in 30 seconds. The August deadline is 5 days away.

[Generate My Disclosure Now →](/generate)

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified legal professional for your specific compliance needs.*