Global M&A Announced Deals Surge to $2.8 Trillion in H1 2026, Up 30-48% Year-over-Year

According to LSEG and Bloomberg, announced M&A transactions reached $2.6 trillion to $2.8 trillion in the first half of 2026, representing growth of 30 to 48 percent year-over-year and marking the highest level on record since 1980.

Mega-deals (transactions exceeding $10 billion) were the primary driver, with 47 deals totaling over $1.3 trillion, accounting for nearly 50 percent of global M&A volume. Despite this surge in deal value, transaction count declined 9 percent to 24,000, the lowest in six years. Tech and energy sectors led activity, with tech deals reaching $649 billion driven by artificial intelligence investments, while energy saw major consolidation activity. Cross-border M&A also strengthened, rising 62 percent to $893 billion year-over-year.