## [# 2026 ETF.com Award Nominees](/sections/features/2026-etfcom-award-nominees) # 2026 ETF.com Award Nominees We've whittled down the best ETF launches of 2025, both within their respective categories and overall, to create a shortlist of nominees for the ETF.com 2026 Awards. Find out which ETFs made the cut and why. [![ETF.com](/sites/default/files/styles/author_image_icon/public/2023-12/etf.com_400x400.png?itok=LO34LQE1)](/contributors/etfcom-staff) [By ETF.com Staff](/contributors/etfcom-staff) Jan 06, 2026 Edited by: ETF.com Staff [ + Follow ](/etf/login) Share Email LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-article_page_302x26'); }); Loading 2025 proved a busy year for the ETF industry with over 1,100 launches by year's end. From novel and innovative strategies to sophisticated refinements that increased accessibility for investors, we've narrowed down the selections of ETF launches to a handful of best-in-class for each category. Below you will find the nominees for best ETFs launched this year, which includes a brief blurb as to why each fund made its category's short list. We now leave it to you, our community, to determine which ETFs take the crown. You can [**vote here**](https://www.etf.com/etf-awards-2026-voting) for your top picks now through February 15th for the 2026 ETF.com Awards. All votes are confidential. Curious about our methodology? You can read more [**here**](https://www.etf.com/sections/features/best-etfs-2025-award-announcement-coming-soon) as to how this year's ETF award nominees were selected, and stay tuned for more in-depth discussions of each category. ## Best New U.S. Equity ETF - [GRNJ](https://www.etf.com/GRNJ) - Fundstrat Granny Shots US Small- and Mid-Cap ETF - Tom Lee’s proven research framework extended to small/mid-caps - [VUSV](https://www.etf.com/VUSV) - Vanguard Wellington US Value Active ETF - Vanguard’s first-ever bottom-up stock picking ETF - [DSPY](https://www.etf.com/DSPY) - Tema S&P 500 Historical Weight ETF Strategy - First weighting innovation since RSP in 2003 - [TRUT](https://www.etf.com/TRUT) - VanEck Technology TruSector ETF - Elegant solution to RIC concentration limits in tech sector - [XDIV](https://www.etf.com/XDIV) - Roundhill S&P 500 No Dividend Target ETF - First ETF designed to eliminate distributions entirely googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-in_article_unit'); }); ## Best New International Equity ETF - [IVES](https://www.etf.com/IVES) - Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF - Most-quoted AI analyst’s picks in ETF form with nearly $1B in flows - [VEXC](https://www.etf.com/VEXC) - Vanguard Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF - Ultra-low-cost (7bp) EM ex-China from Vanguard - [GPZ](https://www.etf.com/GPZ) - VanEck Alternative Asset Manager ETF - Offers pure-play exposure to private equity/venture capital managers - [KDEF](https://www.etf.com/KDEF) - PLUS Korea Defense Industry Index ETF - Pure-play Korean defense at a timely geopolitical moment - [IDEQ](https://www.etf.com/IDEQ) - Lazard International Dynamic Equity ETF - Lazard’s institutional pedigree in ETF form, with over $500 million in AUM ## Best New U.S. Fixed Income ETF - [PRIV](https://www.etf.com/PRIV) - SPDR SSGA IG Public & Private Credit ETF - First private credit ETF. - [SBIL](https://www.etf.com/SBIL) - Simplify Government Money Market ETF - The first true Rule 2a-7 money market fund in ETF wrapper, and netted over $4 billion in AUM - [CPAG](https://www.etf.com/CPAG) - F/m Compoundr US Aggregate Bond ETF - First accumulating bond ETF in the U.S., bringing over European structure innovation - [LQTI](https://www.etf.com/LQTI) - FT Vest Investment Grade & Target Income ETF - First Trust Vest expertise applied to investment grade credit - [TIPD ](https://www.etf.com/TIPD)- Northern Trust 2055 TIPS Distributing Ladder ETF - First decumulation ETF with 30-year TIPS ladder for retirees ## Best New International Fixed Income ETF - [ILS](https://www.etf.com/ILS) - Brookmont Catastrophic Bond ETF - The first-ever U.S.-listed catastrophe bond ETF, opening a new asset class to investors - [XAGG](https://www.etf.com/XAGG) - Eaton Vance Income Opportunities ETF - Eaton Vance multi-sector expertise converted to ETF - [CFIT](https://www.etf.com/CFIT) - Cambria Fixed Income Trend ETF - Cambria co-founder and CEO Meb Faber’s trend-following applied to fixed income - [VGMS](https://www.etf.com/VGMS) - Vanguard Multi-Sector Income Bond ETF - Vanguard enters multi-sector at 30bp, a dramatic price shift within the category - [EMBX](https://www.etf.com/EMBX) - VanEck Emerging Markets Bond ETF - VanEck EM bond expertise in the ETF wrapper ## Best New Crypto/Digital Assets ETF - [BSOL](https://www.etf.com/BSOL) - Bitwise Solana Staking ETF - First SEC-approved Solana staking ETF, a regulatory breakthrough - [XRPC](https://www.etf.com/XRPC) - Canary XRP ETF - The first spot XRP ETF and launched with a record $58 million day-one volume for the year - [BITW](https://www.etf.com/BITW) - Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF - First mainstream diversified crypto index ETF, accumulating over $1.1 billion in AUM - [GLNK ](https://www.etf.com/GLNK)- Grayscale Chainlink Trust ETF - DeFi infrastructure play on the Chainlink oracle network - [NCIQ](https://www.etf.com/NCIQ) - Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF - Nasdaq-branded crypto indexing at 25bp currently ## Best New Commodities ETF - [SLVR](https://www.etf.com/SLVR) - Sprott Silver Miners & Physical Silver ETF - A unique hybrid play on one of the hottest precious metals of 2025, combining miners + physical silver in one vehicle - [FMTL](https://www.etf.com/FMTL) - First Trust Indxx Critical Metals ETF - A play on the energy transition metals thesis with revenue requirements linked to the U.S. or North America - [METL](https://www.etf.com/METL) - Sprott Active Metals & Miners ETF - Active management across all strategic metals - [GBUG](https://www.etf.com/GBUG) - Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners - Sprott’s core competency focused on precious metals mining - [UX](https://www.etf.com/UX) - Roundhill Uranium ETF - Nuclear renaissance play, particularly relevant to the power requirements of AI data center expansion ## Best New Active ETF - [ALLW](https://www.etf.com/ALLW) - SPDR Bridgewater All Weather ETF - Ray Dalio’s first-ever ETF, democratizing the All Weather strategy - [CAIE ](https://www.etf.com/CAIE)- Calamos Autocallable Income ETF - The first autocallable ETF launched in the U.S. - [ORR](https://www.etf.com/ORR) - Militia Long/Short Equity ETF - True hedge fund strategy harnessed in the ETF form, with an expense ratio that reflects real hedge fund costs - [JFLX](https://www.etf.com/JFLX) - JPMorgan Flexible Debt ETF - JPMorgan fixed income expertise, accumulating $1 billion in AUM - [CGMM](https://www.etf.com/CGMM) - Capital Group US Small and Mid Cap ETF - Capital Group’s first domestic SMID strategy, with over $1.1 billion in AUM ## Best New Options Income ETF - [OMAH](https://www.etf.com/OMAH) - VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select Income ETF - Combines Buffett’s portfolio with a 15% yield target and netted over $660 million in AUM - [CAIE](https://www.etf.com/CAIE) - Calamos Autocallable Income - The first autocallable ETF - [SFTY](https://www.etf.com/SFTY) - Horizon Managed Risk ETF - Risk management first, income second, offering a differentiated approach - [IAUI](https://www.etf.com/IAUI) - NEOS Gold High Income ETF - Gold with yield via options, helping to solve many income investors' dilemma - [TCAL](https://www.etf.com/TCAL) - T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Premium Income ETF - Institutional quality at 34bp, making it the cheapest in category ## Best New Thematic ETF - [AIPO](https://www.etf.com/AIPO) - Defiance AI & Power Infrastructure ETF - The first “who powers AI” ETF that combines AI energy infrastructure power demands with AI-enabling technology exposure - [IVES ](https://www.etf.com/IVES)- Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF - Analyst-as-brand model executed at scale - [DRNZ](https://www.etf.com/DRNZ) - REX Drone ETF - First pure-play drone/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ETF - [KOID](https://www.etf.com/KOID) - KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF - Focuses on the next technology evolutionary wave after chatbots and LLMs - humanoid robots and embodied AI - [LOGO](https://www.etf.com/LOGO) - Alpha Brands Consumption Leaders ETF - A refreshing non-tech theme within the category, with a focus on brand equity as the investment thesis ## Best New Multi-Asset ETF - [ALLW](https://www.etf.com/ALLW) - SPDR Bridgewater All Weather ETF - The multi-asset strategy offers risk parity across four regimes - [HECA](https://www.etf.com/HECA) - Hedgeye Capital Allocation ETF - The Hedgeye Quad framework as an investable product - [RAA](https://www.etf.com/RAA) - SMI 3Fourteen REAL Asset Allocation ETF - Invests in stocks, bonds, and alternatives and includes dynamic, trend-following informed asset allocations - [MDAA](https://www.etf.com/MDAA) - Myriad Dynamic Asset Allocation ETF - Dynamic allocation with tactical flexibility - [WTIP](https://www.etf.com/WTIP) - WisdomTree Inflation Plus Fund - Multi-asset inflation fighter, combining TIPS, commodities, and Bitcoin ## Best New Alternatives ETF - [IMF](https://www.etf.com/IMF) - Invesco Managed Futures Strategy ETF - Invesco’s institutional CTA in ETF form - [ORR](https://www.etf.com/ORR) - Militia Long/Short Equity ETF - Genuine hedge fund strategy, including 14.19% expense ratio (adjusted expense ratio of 1.30%) - [RSSX](https://www.etf.com/RSSX) - Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Gold/Bitcoin ETF - $1 invested gets $1 stocks + $1 gold/BTC, offering capital efficiency innovation in an ETF - [FFUT](https://www.etf.com/FFUT) - Fidelity Managed Futures - Fidelity enters the managed futures space, bringing their distribution power to trend following - [HEFT](https://www.etf.com/HEFT) - Hedgeye Fourth Turning ETF - Neil Howe’s generational cycle thesis as an ETF - [HFGM](https://www.etf.com/HFGM) - Unlimited HFGM Global Macro ETF - Global macro hedge fund replication via machine learning combined with 2x volatility level of the sector ## ETF Innovation of the Year - [BSOL](https://www.etf.com/BSOL) - Bitwise Solana Staking ETF - First SEC-approved Solana staking ETF, a regulatory breakthrough - [CAIE](https://www.etf.com/CAIE) - Calamos Autocallable Income - Innovative product structure, harnessing autocallables in daily-liquid ETF - [RSSX](https://www.etf.com/RSSX) - Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Gold/Bitcoin ETF - Capital efficiency—three assets in one vehicle - [CPAG](https://www.etf.com/CPAG) - F/m Compoundr US Aggregate Bond ETF - First accumulating bond ETF in the U.S., bringing structural innovation - [SBIL](https://www.etf.com/SBIL) - Simplify Government Money Market ETF - The first true Rule 2a-7 money market fund in the ETF wrapper ## Best New ETF - [BSOL](https://www.etf.com/BSOL) - Bitwise Solana Staking ETF - First SEC-approved Solana staking ETF, a regulatory breakthrough - [CAIE](https://www.etf.com/CAIE) - Calamos Autocallable Income - Innovative product structure, first autocallable ETF - [ALLW](https://www.etf.com/ALLW) - SPDR Bridgewater All Weather ETF - Featuring Ray Dalio’s portfolio, hedge fund royalty goes retail - [IVES](https://www.etf.com/IVES) - Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF - Most-quoted AI analyst’s picks in ETF form, offering analysts at scale - [ORR](https://www.etf.com/ORR) - Militia Long/Short Equity ETF - A true hedge fund in ETF wrapper with no pretenses #### Ready to cast your vote? You can [**vote here**.](https://etf.com/etf/login?destination=/etf-awards-2026-voting) [ + Follow ](/etf/login) [ETF.com Staff](/contributors/etfcom-staff) etf.com is the single source for ETF intelligence. We provide real-time ETF news and analysis to educate investors and drive financial knowledge in… [View Bio](/contributors/etfcom-staff) Related Topics [Equity](http://www.etf.com/topics/equity) [Fixed Income](http://www.etf.com/topics/fixed-income) [Crypto ETFs](http://www.etf.com/topics/crypto-etfs) [Commodities](http://www.etf.com/topics/commodities) [Alternative](http://www.etf.com/topics/alternative-etfs)