Best ETFs of 2026: Here they are

ETF investments can be a valid alternative to direct stock and bond trading. With ETFs, you will have a highly diversified tool with the possibility of choosing from multiple options: from ETFs that replicate stock indices to bond ones, up to those that track the performance of crypto.

Which ETF to buy today? While the presence of a large number of Exchange Traded Funds on major stock exchanges allows everyone to invest, regardless of the capital available, on the other hand, the problem of which one to choose arises.

Below, we have analyzed what analysts and major trading platforms consider to be the best ETFs of 2026. For each one, you will find a brief review with its characteristics and why it could be an interesting investment.

To define the best ETFs we have taken as a reference:

• Return: the growth value achieved in one year
• Costs: expressed as a percentage, they indicate the fee that will be charged by the management company
• ETF Size: the larger the fund volume, the greater its reliability, reducing potential default risks
• Type: is the ETF accumulating or distributing? Does it replicate the reference asset physically or synthetically?
• Composition: the type of securities held within it.

The performance of the S&P 500 index over the last two years has also drawn investors' attention to its related ETFs. An example is the iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS, which achieved a one-year return of 17.4%. It offers total replication of the index, giving you the opportunity to invest in all the major mid- and large-cap companies in the United States. Furthermore, it features an accumulation system, where reinvested earnings contribute to increasing final returns.

Alternatively, if you want to focus on the energy sector, you could consider the iShares Global Clean Energy, with a market capitalization of 13.47 billion euros, which physically replicates the top 30 largest-cap companies in the clean energy sector. It has a cost of 0.65% per year.

Among the indices that achieved consistent performance in 2025 is the FTSE MIB. For this reason, it is not surprising that among the best Europe ETFs, there is an exchange traded fund linked to the FTSE MIB.

The Amundi FTSE MIB UCITS has a fund size of 452 million euros in capital and total replication, with a slightly higher cost of 0.35%, and a one-year return of 38.62%.

Also interesting is the Xtrackers DAX Daily UCITS, which replicates the German DAX 40 index. It has a capitalization of over 79 billion euros and an average one-year return of 22%.

Emerging market ETFs are index funds that contain securities linked to newly formed economies. Their strength lies in their returns, which are particularly attractive at certain times. However, there is a higher investment risk, as they are linked to non-consolidated economies.

What could be the best ETF in this sector? We have evaluated the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS, with a market capitalization of 53 billion euros and a stock composition linked 27% to China, 21% to India, and 19.13% to Taiwan. In one year, it achieved a performance of 10.43%. It features quarterly distribution of earnings.

If you want to invest in Emerging Countries, diversifying your portfolio with stocks mainly linked to the hi-tech sector and achieving a medium-term return, you may consider the Amundi Index MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS.

It is a physically replicated ETF, with an accumulation system and a capitalization of 37 billion euros. It achieved a five-year performance of 14.5% and, in 2025, 11.45%.

Investing in crypto ETFs is an alternative way to operate in this sector, reducing the risks associated with the volatility of these financial instruments. Today, among the best ETFs of 2026, you will find the iShares Bitcoin, with a capitalization of 56 billion and an average annual return of 73.16%. Also worth considering is Valkyrie Bitcoin, among the cheapest in terms of pricing and management costs.

Including one or more bond ETFs in your portfolio allows you to use minimal capital while still investing in bonds and government securities, providing you with instruments that offer a steady return with reduced risk. However, gains are not always high. From this perspective, among the best ETFs of 2026, you can include the Xtrackers ESG USD High Yield Corporate Bond UCITS. It has a capitalization of 216 million euros and synthetically replicates the Bloomberg MSCI US High Yield Sustainable index, which includes 38% US government bonds. It is noteworthy for its one-year return of 4.13%.

Also among bond ETFs that could deliver interesting performances for 2026 is the SPDR Refinitiv Global Convertible Bond UCITS. It has a size of 726 million euros, with sampling replication and a yield distribution system. Its holdings include 20% US bonds and the remaining 58% in bonds from European companies.

The UBS Bloomberg CMCI Composite SF UCITS is among the best ETFs to buy today if you want to invest in the commodities sector. In fact, it achieved a return of 10% in 2024 and 50% over 5 years. It has a capitalization of 23 million euros and synthetically replicates the performance of the UBS BCOM Constant Maturity index, with a cost of 0.34%. It is also interesting for its accumulation system, which allows for the reinvestment of earnings, automatically increasing capital.

To diversify your portfolio with assets linked to the raw materials sector, there is the WisdomTree Coffee ETF. Launched in 2006, it synthetically replicates the Bloomberg Coffee index, which includes securities linked 65% to the energy and agriculture sector, 15% to gold, and 10% to other precious metals. It has achieved a return of 226% over the last 5 years. It has a capitalization of 41 million euros, with a cost of 0.49%.

Now that you know some of the best ETFs to invest in for 2026, if you do not already have a trading account, you may be wondering at this point how it is possible to purchase them.

To invest in ETFs, you will need to register an account with one of the best ETF brokers. These are trading platforms that include, among various tradable assets, the possibility of buying and selling ETFs online.

You can purchase them manually, or through an automatic and periodic investment by creating an ETF PAC (Capital Accumulation Plan).

Below you will find what we consider to be the online brokers that allow you to trade ETFs under the best conditions in terms of ease of use, commissions, and market access.