ETF Launches Hit 733 as Closures Reach 145

Issuers rolled out 733 ETFs and closed 145 in the first half of 2026, according to a Cerulli Associates report.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Investing

ETF Launches Hit 733 as Closures Reach 145

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ETF issuers launched 733 funds and closed 145 during the first half of 2026. Many of the new products are leveraged, inverse, or single-stock ETFs.

Why it matters

The figures show issuers becoming more selective about which products to develop, support, and keep alive. A lack of assets is one of the most common reasons a fund is shut down.

Cerulli polled more than 2,000 advisors and 25 issuers representing 90% of total ETF assets, with 69% of issuers citing insufficient demand from distribution partners as a closure reason. The report does not address performance or returns of the closed funds.

The players

Cerulli Associates

Cerulli Associates is a global research and consulting firm that tracks asset management and distribution trends, including ETF market data.

The details

Issuers are increasingly deciding which products are worth developing, supporting, and keeping alive. Cerulli reports that advisors widely use US core equity ETFs, with 83% using US core fixed income and 78% using international funds.

First half of 2026: issuers launched 733 ETFs and closed 145.
2020: issuers rolled out more than 300 ETF products.
2025: issuers launched more than 1,000 funds, mostly actively managed.

Market Landscape

Cerulli's 2020 count of more than 300 new ETF products sits far below the 733 launched in the first half of 2026, showing how quickly the product pipeline has expanded. The current closures suggest issuers are now pruning products that lack assets or advisor adoption.

Investors holding ETFs that get closed will need to sell or move to a replacement fund. Advisors are focusing on core equity, fixed income, and international holdings rather than niche products.