The 5 best ETFs of 2026 so far
Updated:
5 JUN, 2026
The European ETF landscape has entered a new phase of maturity in 2026. With a peer group of 2,801 European-domiciled ETFs representing EUR 3.1 trillion in assets under management, the market now offers investors unparalleled breadth — from cutting-edge AI and quantum technology to the industrial buildout of clean hydrogen infrastructure.
This ranking was compiled from an analysis of that full universe, with performance figures expressed in EUR and calculated through the end of May 2026. The top performers this year cluster around three dominant themes: hydrogen energy, semiconductors and AI, and South Korean equities — the latter buoyed by Samsung Electronics' extraordinary +180% rally.
ETF fund flow — monthly (Mio USD)
Mutual fund flow — monthly (Mio USD)
How were these ETFs selected?
These funds stand out not only for their recent results, but also for their ability to offer stability and sustained growth in a complex economic context. The data has been provided by Arandis.
Global X Hydrogen UCITS ETF
The clean energy transition has found one of its most compelling investment expressions in the hydrogen economy. This fund offers exposure to the full hydrogen value chain — from green hydrogen production and electrolysis technology to storage, fuel cells and distribution infrastructure. As governments in Europe, Japan and South Korea accelerate hydrogen investment roadmaps in 2026, companies across this supply chain have benefited from both policy tailwinds and rising industrial demand.
Franklin FTSE Korea UCITS ETF
South Korea has been the standout emerging market story of 2026. Samsung Electronics' remarkable +180% rally — driven by surging global demand for advanced memory chips used in AI infrastructure — has provided significant uplift to this broad Korean equity fund. Beyond Samsung, the Korean market benefits from a concentration of world-class companies in semiconductors, batteries, shipbuilding and robotics. Investors seeking diversified exposure to the Korean industrial renaissance will find this fund a cost-efficient route in.
VanEck Space Innovators UCITS ETF
The commercialisation of low-earth orbit has shifted from speculative narrative to revenue-generating reality. Companies in satellite communications, space logistics, launch services and defence-adjacent applications have seen institutional investor interest accelerate throughout 2025 and into 2026. This fund captures that theme across a diversified basket of global space economy innovators, spanning established aerospace groups and pure-play new-space companies alike.
iShares MSCI Global Semiconductors UCITS ETF
Semiconductors remain the defining industrial commodity of the AI era. This fund, tracking the MSCI Global Semiconductors index, provides broad exposure to chip designers, integrated device manufacturers and equipment suppliers across the US, Asia and Europe. With generative AI buildout continuing to drive extraordinary demand for advanced compute — from datacentre GPUs to edge inference chips — the fundamental investment case for semiconductors in 2026 remains intact. The iShares vehicle offers the liquidity and scale of the world's largest ETF issuer with competitive total expense ratios.
Global X AI Semiconductor & Quantum UCITS ETF
This fund sits at the intersection of two of the most powerful long-term technology trends: artificial intelligence hardware and quantum computing. It targets companies developing AI-optimised chips, advanced packaging technologies, and the nascent but fast-growing quantum computing supply chain. While quantum computing remains earlier-stage than AI semiconductors, several portfolio companies have achieved meaningful commercial milestones in 2026, providing a growth optionality component that complements the near-term AI chip revenue story.
Thematic takeaways for investors
Three structural themes run through this year's top performers, and understanding their interplay helps investors think about portfolio construction beyond individual fund selection.
The semiconductor supercycle is not over
Three of the five top ETFs have direct semiconductor exposure — through Korean equities, a global semiconductor tracker, and the AI chip/quantum fund. This is not coincidence. The capital expenditure cycle for AI infrastructure remains in its early stages. Hyperscalers continue to commit tens of billions annually to data centre buildout, and every server rack requires high-bandwidth memory, advanced logic chips and interconnect silicon. Samsung's extraordinary performance is a symptom of this broader demand phenomenon, not an isolated corporate story.
Hydrogen is transitioning from policy theme to investment reality
The presence of Global X Hydrogen at the top of this year's rankings reflects a maturation of the clean energy investment thesis. Governments are not merely subsidising hydrogen — they are building mandatory procurement frameworks and infrastructure standards that create durable revenue visibility for the sector's leading companies. The fund's performance in 2026 reflects investors recognising that transition.
Thematic concentration requires active monitoring
A notable feature of this year's shortlist was its heavy skew toward Korean equities — a consequence of Samsung's outsized performance. The five funds presented here were selected in part to avoid over-concentration in a single country or company. Investors building a thematic ETF sleeve should be mindful that strong recent performance in a narrow geography can introduce correlation risks that sector-level labels may obscure.
Data provided by:
Arandis makes fund analysis and comparison simple, clear, and accessible. Their platform supports asset managers, fund of funds, family offices, and fund selectors to refine their strategic investment decisions. As data collection experts, they developed a robust and innovative architecture to deliver the highest quality of information.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
