Current Year Hub
UK SRS in 2026: the year it became real
2026 is the year UK Sustainability Reporting Standards moved from proposal to reality. The Department for Business and Trade published the final UK SRS S1 and S2 for voluntary use on 25 February 2026, the FCA's consultation on making them mandatory for listed companies closed on 20 March 2026, and final rules are expected in autumn 2026.
What's already happened in 2026
The year opened with the regulator: the FCA published Consultation Paper CP26/5 on 30 January 2026, proposing to replace its TCFD-aligned listing rules with mandatory UK SRS S2 reporting 522. On 25 February 2026, DBT published the final UK SRS S1 and S2 — the UK's endorsed versions of the ISSB's IFRS S1 and S2, with six UK-specific amendments — available for voluntary use immediately 12.
The CP26/5 consultation then closed on 20 March 2026 5. The FCA received submissions from listed companies, asset managers, and professional bodies on the proposed scope, timing, and comply-or-explain reliefs for Scope 3 emissions and wider sustainability reporting 5.
What's still ahead in 2026
Several milestones remain. The FRC is expected to launch its interim sustainability-assurance practitioner register around mid-2026 21. The next tier of the FCA's SDR entity-level disclosures applies to firms above £5bn AUM from 2 December 2026 48. The ESOS Phase 4 qualification date falls on 31 December 2026 44.
Most importantly for UK SRS — the FCA aims to publish its Policy Statement with the final listed-company rules in autumn 2026, with those rules coming into force for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027 56. Nature reporting also advances: the ISSB is targeting a nature-related exposure draft for October 2026 14.
What it means for companies in 2026
Large private companies are watching the Modernising Corporate Reporting programme, expected to consult on extending requirements to them later in 2026 24. Professional services firms are building assurance capabilities ahead of expected demand from 2027 21.
The investment industry is navigating both regimes: the FCA's SDR rules for investment products 48 and the incoming UK SRS corporate reporting requirements, which apply to different entities for different purposes but both build on TCFD/ISSB foundations 4.
The 2026 timeline at a glance
Key milestones span the full year: 30 Jan — FCA CP26/5 published 5; 25 Feb — DBT publishes final UK SRS S1 & S2 1; 20 Mar — CP26/5 consultation closes 5; mid-2026 — FRC interim assurance register 21; Oct 2026 — ISSB nature exposure draft 14; autumn 2026 — FCA Policy Statement 5; 2 Dec — SDR entity-level tier (>£5bn AUM) 48; 31 Dec — ESOS Phase 4 qualification date 44.
For the complete regulatory picture, see our full regulation timeline showing how these 2026 milestones connect to the broader multi-year rollout.
Is UK SRS mandatory in 2026?
When were the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards published?
What happened with the FCA consultation in 2026?
When do mandatory UK SRS rules start?
What should companies do in 2026?
Related guides & references
UK Sustainability Reporting: Complete Guide
Complete overview of the UK sustainability reporting landscape and how 2026 fits
UK SRS Compliance: What's Required and How to Prepare
Who must comply with UK SRS from 2027 and what compliance involves
FCA SDR and Anti-Greenwashing Rules
How the FCA's investment product rules differ from UK SRS corporate reporting
UK Sustainability Regulation Timeline
Master roadmap showing where 2026 milestones fit in the bigger picture
UK SRS Compliance Implementation Guide (srsreport.co.uk)
Step-by-step implementation guidance and compliance checklists