EU trademarks push IP filings to a record high in the first half of 2026

Published July 7, 2026

Intellectual property (IP) filings at the EUIPO reached record levels in the first half of 2026, with total EU trademark and EU design applications reaching 166,214, up 4.7% on the same period last year. The increase was driven by strong demand for EU trademarks, while EU design applications remained broadly stable.

Steady growth in EU trademark applications

With 104,263 applications received between January and June 2026 – an 8.4% increase on the same period in 2025 – EU trademark filings continued its upward trend, surpassing the previous record set in 2021.

Growth was mainly driven by demand from within the EU Single Market, as filings from EU Member States rose by 14.6%. France recorded the highest growth (17.4%), followed by Germany (15.2%), Poland (13.3%), Italy (11.8%), and Spain (11.5%). As a result, the share of applications coming from the EU increased from 57.4% in 2025 to 60.7% in 2026.

In terms of total amount of applications, China remains the largest filer, despite a 12.4% decline in filings in the first half of 2026. Within the EU, Germany is on top, followed by Italy, Spain, and France.

EU designs: a mixed picture

Applications for EU designs (EUDs) totaled 61,951 in the first half of 2026, marking a slight decline of 1% compared with the same period in 2025.

This decrease was reflected in eight of the top 10 filing countries, including China (down 3.3%), the United States (down 6.8%), and the United Kingdom (down 13.3%). However, filings from EU Member States helped offset the overall decline, increasing by 1.6%. Spain recorded particularly strong growth of 28%, while Germany, the leading EU filer, grew by 2.9%.

In terms of overall EU design applications, China continues to retain the top spot, accounting for 28.5% of all filings, followed by Germany (14.3%), Italy (9.1%), the USA (8.3%), and France (4.3%).

First applications under the new CIGI system

The first half of 2026 marked the first applications for EU Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications (CIGIs), following the launch of the new EU protection system for craft and industrial products on December 1, 2025.

A total of 81 applications have been received so far, with Portugal accounting for the largest share, at 42 applications, followed by France with 25 and Slovakia with 10.

These figures confirm the continued strong demand for the EU intellectual property system and show that businesses across the EU and beyond continue to rely on it to protect their innovation, creativity, and product identity.

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