Binding law • 27 July 2026
The AI Omnibus is now law: what Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 changes
The May 2026 political agreement is no longer the relevant status. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 entered into force on 27 July 2026 and formally amended the EU AI Act.
Published: 27 July 2026 · Updated / legally reviewed: 26 September 2026
The most important practical change: high-risk timing
The amended Article 113 applies the main Chapter III Sections 1–3 requirements to Article 6(2)/Annex III high-risk systems from 2 December 2027 and to Article 6(1)/Annex I product-linked high-risk systems from 2 August 2028.
Article 4 was rewritten
Providers and deployers still must take measures supporting AI literacy, but the amended Article 4 clarifies that they do not have to guarantee a specified literacy level for an individual.
Article 50 still matters now
The Omnibus did not turn 2026 into a general compliance pause. Article 50 transparency obligations apply from 2 August 2026, with a limited transition to 2 December 2026 for Article 50(2) marking/detection for certain systems already on the market.
What U.S. companies should do
- Replace pre-Omnibus calendars and board materials.
- Implement active 2026 duties: Article 50, AI literacy, GPAI and prohibited-practice controls where applicable.
- Use the extra high-risk runway for classification, documentation and governance—not inactivity.
- Re-check product-linked AI because the Omnibus also amended interactions with harmonisation legislation.