Poland and Germany face rising corporate bankruptcies in early 2026

Poland’s corporate bankruptcy count remained essentially unchanged in the first half of 2026, with 206 firms filing for insolvency compared with 207 a year earlier. However, many entrepreneurs are turning to restructuring instead of formal bankruptcy, and 1,424 individuals filed for personal bankruptcy to protect their businesses. The highest concentration of bankruptcies was recorded in the Mazowieckie region, followed by Wielkopolskie, Śląskie and Dolnośląskie. According to Adam Pasternak of Lege Restrukturyzacje, “the number of bankruptcies alone no longer reflects the scale of financial problems; restructuring procedures have become a key indicator.”

In Germany, the second quarter of 2026 saw 4,900 insolvency filings – the most since the comparable period in 2005. The transport and logistics sector led with the highest failure rate, followed by hospitality and construction. A sharp rise in insolvencies among photovoltaic firms was noted, and 137 breweries have ceased operations over the past six years. Creditors’ claims amounted to about €13.9 billion in the first four months of the year.