Global M&A Activity Reaches $2.6 Trillion in First Half of 2026

Mergers and acquisitions worldwide surged in the first six months of 2026, totaling about $2.6 trillion—a 30 % increase year‑on‑year and approaching the historic peak set in 2021. The market saw a record 38 “mega‑deals” worth more than $10 billion each, the highest number ever recorded for a six‑month period.

Notable transactions include NextEra Energy’s $67 billion proposal to buy Dominion Energy, which would create one of the largest U.S. energy conglomerates, a merger of AvalonBay Communities with Equity Residential valued at over $50 billion, and Unilever’s agreement to sell its food division to McCormick for roughly $45 billion. Industry leaders attribute the boom to abundant liquidity, a more business‑friendly regulatory stance, and the expanding role of artificial‑intelligence tools that enable larger, faster deals.

Executives from Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs highlighted that corporations are now pursuing acquisitions not just for the next few years but with a multi‑decade horizon, leveraging AI‑driven insights and favorable financing conditions to secure scale and competitive advantage.