Dates for your Diary

To help you plan your goals over the remaining months of 2026, we have pulled together an overview of the key regulatory updates expected over this year and 2027, the key dates for your diary.

Date	Regulator	Initiative	Action
Autumn 2026	ICO	Data (Use and Access) Act 2025	Final versions of updated guidance including guidance on the Right to Rectification and the Right to Restrict Processing. New tools to support firms in deciding which special category data condition for processing is most appropriate are due to be published. The final version of personal data breaches guidance also to be published.
30 September 2026 – 28 February 2027	FCA	Cryptoassets Regime	Firms that carry out regulated cryptoasset activities and wish to rely on the savings provisions should apply as early as possible to maximise the period during which they can operate under the savings provision while their application is assessed. Once authorised, firms must continue to satisfy the Threshold Conditions and comply with all applicable regulatory requirements.
October 2026	PSR	Market Review of Card Scheme and Processing Fees	The Final Decision on the Regulatory Financial Reporting Remedy is due, initially stated as October but exact date TBC.
Q3/4 2026	FCA	SM&CR Reforms	The FCA is due to consult on Phase 2 of the SM&CR reforms.
H2 2026	FCA	Review of the Investment Firm Prudential Regime	The review will ensure that the IFPR remains fit for purpose and provides an opportunity to consider how it can be better aligned with COREPRU. Call for input to be published in H2 2026.
H2 2026	FCA	Complaints Reporting – Vulnerable Customers	The FCA is including new categories in complaints reporting to identify the number of complainants who are vulnerable, and identify the number of complaints that were caused by the firm’s inability to respond to customer vulnerability. This will first apply to complaints arising from 1 Jan 27 to 30 June 27 reporting period. Firms should start to prepare systems to capture the new data points, and train staff to ensure the new requirements are captured in complaints logging.
H2 2026	FCA	Financial Crime Guide Updates	The FCA is developing revisions to include new guidance and refresh existing content within the FCG. A Consultation will be launched in Q3/Q4 2026.
H2 2026	FCA	CONC 3 Review	The review of the rules for advertising consumer credit will aim to reduce the level of prescription currently required and to be more outcomes focused in line with the Consumer Understanding Outcome of the Consumer Duty. A Policy Statement is due in H2.
Q4 2026	FCA	Simplifying the insurance rules	The FCA intends to implement the rule changes shortly after they are made, given that the proposals simplify the existing requirements although exact date TBC.
Q4 2026	FCA	Credit Information Market Study Remedies	Consultation on a new regulatory framework for data sharing was closed on 1 May 2026. The FCA is due to engage stakeholders.
December 2026	FCA	Motor Finance Redress Scheme	The Upper Tribunal is due to hear legal challenges to the scheme either in Dec 26 or Feb 27. Compensation does not need to be calculated or paid during the pause. Lenders must still process complaints as far as possible to ensure that they are able to deal with complaints as soon as a decision is made. The scheme may go ahead, or, if the challenges are successful, it may not. It is likely that lenders will then need to progress complaints as usual under DISP.
Winter 26/27	ICO	Data (Use and Access) Act 2025	The final version of detailed guidance will be published.
Winter 26/27	FCA	DEPP updates	Updates to DEPP to raise thresholds in line with inflation and living costs, if agreed, would be implemented after August 2026.
Q1 2027	FCA	Consumer Duty: scope and proportionality	Final changes to the rules and non-Handbook guidance to clarify when the Duty applies and when it doesn’t, due to be published.
Q1 2027	FCA	HCSTC Price Cap Review	This review is to assess whether the market remains viable, accessible and appropriate for its target customer base. Engagement with industry and consumer stakeholders took place in Q2 2026, with final findings due to be published in Q1 2027.
January 2027	FCA	Improving Complaints Reporting	Policy will come into force from January 2027 with go live for firms reporting from July 2027. This includes vulnerable customer complaints reporting.
18 March 2027	FCA/PRA	Incident and Outsourcing and Third Party Reporting	The new rules set out in PS26/2 will come into force.
Q4 2027	FCA	Changes to Safeguarding Requirements for Payments and e-money Institutions	End of the first audit period after the Supplementary Regime (strengthened requirements for safeguarding of customer funds by payment and e-money firms) came into force. Once the full audit period has been completed, the FCA will review the implementation and consult on further proposals if changes are necessary.
Ongoing / Long term	FCA / HMT	Modernising the Redress Framework	The proposed reforms will require primary legislation. The FCA will consult on rule changes once the legislative timetable is confirmed.
Ongoing / Long term	FCA	Evaluation of the persistent debt intervention	An impact evaluation of the effect of the persistent debt intervention continues and the FCA will confirm timings in due course.
Ongoing / Long term	FCA / HMT	Improving the Appointed Representatives Regime	HMT’s proposed reforms will require primary legislation. The FCA will consult on rule changes once the legislative timetable is confirmed.
Ongoing / Long term	FCA	Access to Cash Regime	The FCA is due to publish a review of the effectiveness of the Access to Cash regime in 2027.
Ongoing / Long term	FCA	Reform of the Consumer Credit Act 1974	The reform will modernise regulation of non-mortgage consumer lending through moving much of the Act to the FCA Handbook.
Ongoing / Long term	BoE / HMT	Digital Pound	The design phase of the digital pound workplan runs throughout 2026, with a decision on the future of the digital pound expected to set out future steps.
Ongoing / Long Term	FCA / HMT / PSR	Modernising Payments Assimilated Law	FCA consultations and policy statements will be published in 2027/28.

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