IFRS Standards List 2026: IAS, IFRS, IFRS S Explained

IFRS Standards List 2026 (With IAS, IFRS and ESG)

If you work in finance, the latest IFRS standards list is no longer “nice to know” – it is a daily survival tool. Between new standards like IFRS 18 and IFRS 19 and the arrival of sustainability standards IFRS S1 and S2, keeping track can feel overwhelming.

This guide brings all active IAS, IFRS and key sustainability standards together for 2026, with plain‑English summaries and a small trivia note for each so you actually remember them. Use it as a quick reference for exams, interviews oryour next financial‑statement review.

How to use this 2026 IFRS list

• First, scan the IAS list if you are revising fundamentals for ACCA, CA or DipIFR.
• Next, focus on IFRS standards that drive measurement and disclosure (IFRS 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19).
• Finally, review IFRS S1 and S2 if your role touches ESG or integrated reporting.

For a deeper dive into how these standards fit into your career plan, see Eduyush’s guides on the Diploma in IFRS and IFRS certification pathways:

• Diploma in IFRS overview 

IAS standards list for 2026 (with quick trivia)

IAS 1 – Presentation of Financial Statements

Sets the overall blueprint for primary statements and notes, including minimum content and fair presentation.

Trivia: IAS 1 is the standard that originally codified the going‑concern, accrual and consistency assumptions; from 2027, its presentation role is taken over by IFRS 18 while these principles live on in the new framework.

IAS 2 – Inventories

Covers cost formulas (FIFO/weighted average), write‑downs and what can be included in inventory cost.

Trivia: IAS 2 bans LIFO, so any exam question using LIFO is usually testing your ability to adjust to IFRS rules.

IAS 7 – Statement of Cash Flows

Explains how to classify and present operating, investing and financing cash flows.

Trivia: Many analysts read only IAS 7 cash flows and notes before even looking at the income statement.

IAS 8 – Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors

Tells you when to restate, when to adjust prospectively and how to handle prior‑period errors.

Trivia: “Retrospective vs prospective” is an IAS 8 phrase that appears again and again in ACCA SBR and DipIFR exams.

IAS 10 – Events After the Reporting Period

Distinguishes adjusting vs non‑adjusting events and sets the date up to which events are considered.

Trivia: Dividends declared after year‑end are the classic non‑adjusting event exam trap.

IAS 12 – Income Taxes

Sets out current and deferred tax treatment, including temporary differences and tax‑base concepts.

Trivia: In many groups, the biggest balance‑sheet asset after PPE is not receivables – it is deferred tax.

IAS 16 – Property, Plant and Equipment

Covers recognition, measurement, depreciation and revaluation of tangible fixed assets.

Trivia: IAS 16 is one of the most tested standards in ACCA FR and SBR papers because it links to impairment and revaluations.

IAS 19 – Employee Benefits

Deals with short‑term benefits, pensions (defined benefit and defined contribution) and other long‑term schemes.

Trivia: The “actuarial gains and losses to OCI” rule is a favourite in advanced financial‑reporting questions.

IAS 20 – Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance

Explains when to recognise grants as income vs deferred income and how to disclose government support.

Trivia: Many COVID‑era government support packages were analysed under IAS 20.

IAS 21 – Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates

Covers functional vs presentation currency, foreign‑currency transactions and translation differences.

Trivia: The “functional currency” concept often gives a better clue to business reality than the company’s registered country.

IAS 23 – Borrowing Costs

Requires capitalisation of borrowing costs that are directly attributable to qualifying assets.

Trivia: Whether something is a “qualifying asset” can change debt‑to‑equity ratios more than the loan itself.

IAS 24 – Related Party Disclosures

Defines related parties and sets out disclosure requirements for relationships and transactions.

Trivia: Some of the most important information in annual reports sits in tiny IAS 24 footnotes.

IAS 28 – Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures

Explains the equity method and when significant influence exists.

Trivia: A 20% shareholding with board representation is the classic associate example in textbooks.

IAS 29 – Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies

Guide to restating financial statements when inflation is extreme.

Trivia: Hyperinflation accounting can turn historic‑cost figures into something that looks like a new set of books.

IAS 32 – Financial Instruments: Presentation

Focuses on classifying instruments as equity or liability and how to present them.

Trivia: A “convertible bond” is the go‑to IAS 32 exam scenario to test equity vs liability split.

IAS 33 – Earnings Per Share

Provides formulas and disclosure rules for basic and diluted EPS.

Trivia: Share splits and bonus issues are where many candidates lose easy marks in IAS 33 questions.

IAS 34 – Interim Financial Reporting

Sets minimum content and measurement principles for half‑yearly or quarterly reports.

Trivia: Some “one‑off” items appear twice – once in interim, once in annual – if IAS 34 guidance is ignored.

IAS 36 – Impairment of Assets

Explains recoverable amount, value‑in‑use, CGUs and impairment reversals.

Trivia: In downturns, IAS 36 is often the standard that triggers the biggest P&L surprises.

IAS 37 – Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

Defines provisions and clarifies when to recognise vs disclose vs ignore obligations.

Trivia: Lawsuits and environmental obligations are classic IAS 37 exam themes.

IAS 38 – Intangible Assets

Covers recognition, amortisation and impairment of intangibles, including development costs.

Trivia: Internally generated brands are usually not recognised, which surprises many non‑accountants.

IAS 40 – Investment Property

Deals with property held for rentals or capital appreciation and fair‑value vs cost models.

Trivia: A simple change in how management uses a building can move it from IAS 16 to IAS 40.

IAS 41 – Agriculture

Explains accounting for biological assets and agricultural produce at fair value.

Trivia: IAS 41 is one of the few standards where fair value less costs to sell is the starting point, not an exception.

IFRS standards list for 2026 (with quick trivia)

IFRS 1 – First‑time Adoption of IFRS

Roadmap for entities moving from local GAAP to IFRS, including opening balance sheet rules and exemptions.

Trivia: Most large IFRS transitions are actually project‑managed as “IFRS 1 implementations”, not just “IFRS projects”.

IFRS 2 – Share‑based Payment

Covers equity‑settled and cash‑settled schemes such as employee stock options.

Trivia: Tech‑company P&Ls often look very different after expensing IFRS 2 share‑based payments.

IFRS 3 – Business Combinations

Provides acquisition‑method rules, including fair‑valuing acquired assets and liabilities and recognising goodwill.

Trivia: The term “bargain purchase gain” is the IFRS version of buying a business on the cheap.

IFRS 5 – Non‑current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Explains classification, measurement and presentation when assets or operations are held for sale.

Trivia: The “discontinued operations” line can dramatically change how investors view a company’s core performance.

IFRS 6 – Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources

Temporary standard for exploration and evaluation activities in mining and oil & gas.

Trivia: IFRS 6 is one of the only IFRS standards that deliberately allows some existing accounting policies to continue.

IFRS 7 – Financial Instruments: Disclosures

Sets extensive disclosure requirements around risks, exposures and risk‑management policies.

Trivia: Many analysts skip straight to IFRS 7 notes to understand credit and liquidity risk.

IFRS 8 – Operating Segments

Requires segment‑wise reporting based on internal management structure and CODM view.

Trivia: IFRS 8 is why large groups sometimes give more detail about segments than about legal entities.

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments

Modern standard for classification, measurement, impairment (ECL) and hedge accounting.

Trivia: The move from “incurred loss” to “expected credit loss” under IFRS 9 changed bank provisioning models globally.

Eduyush has dedicated practice content on IFRS 9 for exams and interviews:

• IFRS 9 interview questions 
• IFRS 9 practice questions 

IFRS 10 – Consolidated Financial Statements

Defines “control” and sets the rules for when and how to consolidate subsidiaries.

Trivia: Voting rights are not the only factor; power, returns and ability to use power must all be considered.

IFRS 11 – Joint Arrangements

Splits arrangements into joint operations and joint ventures, with different accounting.

Trivia: The old proportionate consolidation approach largely disappeared for joint ventures under IFRS 11.

IFRS 12 – Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

Brings together disclosures for subsidiaries, associates, joint arrangements and unconsolidated structured entities.

Trivia: IFRS 12 is often behind those long note tables explaining NCI, associates and off‑balance‑sheet interests.

IFRS 13 – Fair Value Measurement

Provides a unified fair‑value framework, hierarchy levels and disclosure rules.

Trivia: Level 3 fair‑value measurements are where examiners like to test judgement and disclosure.

IFRS 14 – Regulatory Deferral Accounts

Interim standard for rate‑regulated activities and deferral balances.

Trivia: IFRS 14 was always meant as a temporary parking place until a comprehensive rate‑regulation project is completed.

IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Introduces the five‑step model for revenue recognition and replaces IAS 18 and IAS 11.

Trivia: The concept of “performance obligations” is now central to how auditors review revenue.

Eduyush has extensive exam resources on IFRS 15:

• IFRS 15 interview questions 
• IFRS 15 practice questions 

IFRS 16 – Leases

Brings most lessee leases on‑balance‑sheet as a right‑of‑use asset and lease liability.

Trivia: Many companies saw EBITDA jump simply because operating leases moved below EBITDA in the income statement.

IFRS 17 – Insurance Contracts

Comprehensive measurement and presentation model for insurance contracts, including CSM and different measurement approaches.

Trivia: IFRS 17 is considered one of the most complex IFRS standards ever issued, often compared to IFRS 9 plus IAS 19 on steroids.

IFRS 18 – Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements

New standard on overall presentation and disclosure structure, effective from 2027 but already widely discussed for 2026 planning.

Trivia: IFRS 18 is expected to reshape how “operating profit” and subtotals are presented, which will impact KPIs and covenants.

For a narrative explanation of IFRS 18 changes, see Eduyush’s guide:

• IFRS 18 article 

IFRS 19 – Subsidiaries without Public Accountability: Disclosures

New standard (effective 2027) allowing reduced disclosures for eligible subsidiaries that apply full recognition and measurement but are not publicly accountable.

Trivia: IFRS 19 is often described as a “disclosure relief” standard, making IFRS more accessible for smaller group entities.

IFRS sustainability standards (IFRS S1 and IFRS S2)

IFRS S1 – General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability‑related Financial Information

Sets the baseline for sustainability‑related financial disclosures across all ESG topics.

Trivia: IFRS S1 is designed to work together with IFRS Accounting Standards, not as a completely separate framework.

IFRS S2 – Climate‑related Disclosures

Focuses specifically on climate; closely aligned to TCFD structure with governance, strategy, risk and metrics disclosures.

Trivia: Many regulators are signalling that IFRS S2‑style climate disclosures will become mandatory over the next few years.

If you are preparing for ACCA SBR or future ESG‑heavy roles, combining this list with Eduyush’s IFRS knowledge hub is a practical way to build both exam and job‑ready skills: 

Where to check official texts and updates

This article is a practical guide and learning tool; it does not replace the official text of standards. For authoritative versions, transition amendments and latest changes, use:

• IFRS Foundation’s navigator – https://www.ifrs.org/issued-standards/list-of-standards/[ifrs]
• ACCA Global’s IFRS resource pages – https://www.accaglobal.com/an/en/technical-activities/technical-resources-search/2013/january/intl-accounting-standards.html[accaglobal]

If you plan to sit the ACCA Diploma in IFRS or want structured coaching aligned to current syllabi, explore Eduyush’s DipIFR resources and live‑class options here:

• DipIFR exam guide 
• IFRS course selection tool 

Final thoughts on IFRS Standards list

IFRS standards will keep evolving, but the real edge for finance professionals is not just memorising numbers – it is understanding how each standard changes decisions, KPIs, and conversations in the boardroom. Using a current, curated list like this helps you revise faster, answer interview questions with confidence, and spot red flags in real‑world financial statements long before they become headline problems.

If you are planning to sit ACCA DipIFR, move into a global reporting role, or want to future‑proof your skills, take this list as a starting point and then go one layer deeper into the standards that matter most for your industry. Pairing that technical depth with structured coaching and practice questions can turn “I vaguely know IFRS” into “I am the go‑to person for IFRS at my organisation.”

About the author

This article was written by Vicky Sarin, CA, Founder & CEO of Eduyush.com, with over 25 years of post‑qualification experience in financial reporting, audit, and global accounting education. Vicky has coached thousands of professionals for ACCA DipIFR and other IFRS certifications, with Eduyush students achieving world‑class scores and consistently outperforming global pass rates in recent exam sessions.