BCG Reports Mixed Global M&A Activity in First Half of 2026
Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) value rose by 15% year-over-year to $2.09 trillion through August 2026, according to Boston Consulting Group (BCG). However, the growth is concentrated at the top end of the market with megadeals valued over $10 billion increasing from 24 in 2025 to 37 this year. Despite a higher number of large deals, total value remains below the record set in early 2021. Deal volumes for transactions under $1 billion remain below their long-term averages, indicating that broader market activity has not yet recovered fully. North America accounted for more than half of global M&A deal values, while European activity rose and Asia-Pacific declined. BCG attributes the current bottleneck to execution challenges rather than a lack of funding. Artificial intelligence is influencing both sides of the M&A landscape—driving some deals forward but also complicating others due to valuation corrections in software sectors and private equity pullbacks.
Topics: Deal Value Global Market Trends M&A