Global central banks purchased a record 289 tons of gold in the second quarter of 2026, according to data from the World Gold Council (WGC).
The figure represents a fivefold increase from the revised first-quarter total of 57 tons, signaling a dramatic acceleration in official sector demand after a muted start to the year.
The surge in institutional buying highlights the continued structural shift in reserve management strategies.
Despite earlier data revisions indicating that central bank purchases in the early months of 2026 were lower than initially estimated, the second-quarter volume more than compensated for the soft opening.
The WGC’s updated figures confirm that the institutional demand driving the recent bull market remains robust, even if the pace has been uneven.
The Central Bank of Russia emerged as the largest seller during the reporting period, reducing its reserves by 22 tons.