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        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF</name>
        <lei>549300WHPXXR83TGJA80</lei>
        <title>First Trust Alternative Absolute Return Strategy ETF</title>
        <cusip>33740Y101</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US33740Y1010"/>
          <ticker value="FAAR"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>97167.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>2714845.98000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>21.21974392009</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Gold Trust</name>
        <lei>5493006UOY7GXQW0IP42</lei>
        <title>iShares Gold Trust</title>
        <cusip>464285204</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642852044"/>
          <ticker value="IAU"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>20209.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>1015502.25000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>7.937355508940</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>
        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
    </invstOrSecs>
    <explntrNotes>
      <explntrNote note="Monthly returns presented in Item B.5(a) have been calculated without deducting any applicable sales loads or redemption fees." noteItem="B.5.a"/>
    </explntrNotes>
    <signature>
      <ncom:dateSigned>2025-01-24</ncom:dateSigned>
      <ncom:nameOfApplicant>First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII</ncom:nameOfApplicant>
      <ncom:signature>Derek Maltbie</ncom:signature>
      <ncom:signerName>Derek Maltbie</ncom:signerName>
      <ncom:title>Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer</ncom:title>
    </signature>
  </formData>
  <documents>XXXX</documents>
</edgarSubmission>
