2026 PRI Reporting – New and Mandatory For All

What’s changing in 2026?

Now that the 2025 PRI Reporting window has come to a close, it’s time to plan for 2026. 2026 PRI reporting is changing – it’s new, and it’s mandatory for all signatories. The new reporting framework is expected to consist of around 40 assessed indicators and see the removal of the individual asset class modules. This means that larger, multi-asset class managers will see a bigger reduction in the number of indicators they’re required to answer whereas smaller signatories that report on only one or two asset classes may see minimal, or even no, reduction. For context, amongst our PRI signatory clients the average number of assessed indicators was 51 in 2025, with a small number even completing fewer than the expected 40.

The option for “Partial Reporting”, made available in 2024 and 2025 will be removed, and the new reporting framework will be mandatory for all signatories. It is unclear at the moment how the new framework will be assessed (although the PRI has confirmed that some level of assessment will remain in place) or the extent to which they will be made public. The PRI have only said that “elements of [the] outputs may be public.”

Whilst the finalised framework is not expected to be released until November, expect it to focus primarily on the areas previously covered by the Policy, Governance & Strategy module, with a focus on responsible investment policies and approaches and on stewardship & engagement, including with policymakers. We anticipate that the granular, asset class specific information requested in previous years will be removed from the mandatory reporting framework and instead form part of the building blocks of Pathways. We also expect to see a greater focus on assessing topics such as human rights and nature.  

What about PRI Pathways?

The PRI’s ‘Progression Pathways’ initiative (now simply “Pathways”) has been in development for several years, with the first version now expected to launch in November. It will be built around three broad approaches to responsible investment: A) Managing Risk; B) Addressing System-Level Risk; and C) Pursuing Impact. Signatories will be able to use these approaches, along with a set of associated practices, to create a customised framework for their own progression. The PRI has said that the Pathways tool will be voluntary to complete, with flexible timelines. This allows signatories to focus on the areas of responsible investment most relevant to them and receive personalised recommendations of PRI guidance and learning resources. The idea is that Pathways is based on the same fundamental set of responsible investment practice areas as the mandatory framework, allowing signatories to establish and report on the foundational elements while also advancing in areas of particular interest. Voluntary Pathways reporting is expected to become available to signatories from 2027.

What does this all mean for signatories?

Signatories should be aware that a new framework is coming, and it is once again mandatory to complete for all. Whilst this will be based on the same concepts as previous reporting iterations, we don’t expect that questions will be exactly the same. It is therefore unlikely that efficiencies such as answer pre-filling, which has been available for the last two years, will remain. Signatories need to start thinking about making plans for completing the 2026 reporting accordingly.

We support PRI signatories with gap analysis exercises, mock assessments, peer analysis and fully outsourced reporting - saving significant time and resource for our clients. Are you ready for these changes? Get in touch to find out how we can help.  

This post was updated on 3 September to reflect additional information provided by the PRI on the Pathways.