Demand for UK brand protection shows no sign of slowing, with March 2026 setting an all-time monthly filing record at the UK Intellectual Property Office.
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) recorded its busiest-ever month for new trade mark applications in March 2026, with 22,506 applications filed in a single month.
The total comprised 20,173 domestic applications and 2,333 international applications routed through the Madrid System a fresh high that caps several years of rising demand for brand protection in the UK.
The surge was almost certainly amplified by applicants filing ahead of the UK IPO fee increases that took effect on 1 April 2026. But the spike fits a much broader, sustained upward trend: annual filing volumes have nearly doubled since 2019.
A record-breaking year takes shape
In 2025 the UK IPO received 203,195 trade mark applications the highest annual total on record, and a striking jump from the 107,526 applications filed in 2019. Between January and April 2026, a further 72,765 applications were received, keeping the year on course to rank among the strongest filing periods in UK history.
Monthly volumes tell the same story. Before 2021, monthly totals rarely passed 10,000. November 2020 set a then-record of 13,254 applications; since 2025, monthly figures have consistently exceeded that mark.
UK trade mark applications and registrations, 2019–2026
| Year | Applications | Registrations |
| 2019 | 107,526 | 95,174 |
| 2020 | 137,040 | 96,090 |
| 2021 | 196,640 | 169,131 |
| 2022 | 158,827 | 163,302 |
| 2023 | 163,731 | 143,604 |
| 2024 | 173,186 | 156,637 |
| 2025 | 203,195 | 177,094 |
| 2026 (Jan – Apr) | 72,765 | 61,034 |
Source: UK Intellectual Property Office. 2026 figures cover January to April.
What is driving the growth?
The increase in UK trade mark activity since 2016 has been attributed to a combination of factors, including:
• A rise in applications originating from China;
• A wave of new brand creation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• Filing activity connected to the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Registrations remain strong
It is not only applications that are climbing. The UK IPO registered 177,094 trade marks in 2025, with a further 61,034 registrations completed in the first four months of 2026 confirming that brand owners are not just filing more, but successfully securing protection.
Why this matters for brand owners
Record filing volumes underline a simple reality: the UK marketplace is more crowded and more competitive than ever, and the window to secure a distinctive mark narrows as more businesses move to protect theirs. With official fees having risen in April 2026, early and well-prepared filing is now more valuable than ever both to lock in priority and to avoid conflicts with the growing pool of registered rights.
If you are planning to launch, expand, or safeguard a brand in the United Kingdom, our team can guide you through clearance searching, filing, and registration to give your mark the strongest possible protection.
Ready to protect your brand in the UK? Connect with Legacy Partners for expert guidance on clearance, filing, and registration and give your mark the protection it deserves.
