Global M&A activity in the first eight months of 2026 reached $2,09 trillion, marking a 15% increase compared to the same period in 2025. According to Boston Consulting Group, this total remains 11% above the 10-year average, though it is still 28% lower than the record $2,91 trillion observed during the same months in 2021.
The growth is driven primarily by megadeals valued at $10 billion or more, which reached a record count of 37 transactions. This figure surpasses the 32 megadeals recorded in 2021. Meanwhile, deal volumes for transactions below $1 billion, including those between $250 million and $1 billion, remain below long-term historical norms.
Geographically, North America accounted for over half of the total deal value. European M&A activity grew by 43% to reach $541 billion, whereas the Asia-Pacific region saw a 27% decline. Jens Kengelbach of BCG noted that the primary constraints are currently execution-related, such as finding transaction-ready assets and navigating regulatory hurdles.
The report highlights that artificial intelligence is simultaneously driving deal activity and complicating closures. The BCG M&A Sentiment Index rose to 83 from 79 at the start of the year, though it remains below the long-term average of 100. Technology and consumer sectors recorded the lowest sentiment scores at 52 and 64, respectively.
In the crypto sector, M&A deal value reached a record $9,66 billion in the first half of 2026. Despite this record value, the total number of announced deals in the crypto space declined by 25%, totaling 87 transactions during the same period.
