PwC forecasts $4 trillion in global M&A deal value for 2026, driven by AI megadeals
Global M&A deal value is on track to reach $4 trillion in 2026, a 13% year-on-year rise, as megadeals over $5 billion now account for 48% of total deal value compared to 39% in 2025, according to PwC.
Global M&A deal value is on track to reach $4 trillion in 2026, marking a 13% year-on-year increase from 2025 and the strongest year since 2021, when deals exceeded $5 trillion, according to a PwC report [1]. Megadeals above $5 billion now account for 48% of global deal value, up from 39% in 2025 and 26% in 2024, with PwC expecting a 40% year-on-year rise in megadeal values if the current pace continues [1].
Brian Levy, global deals industries leader at PwC US, attributed the surge to artificial intelligence, stating that AI is propelling megadeals, redirecting capital, and shuffling sector winners and losers [1]. Recent AI-driven transactions include SpaceX's $60 billion formal agreement to acquire AI coding startup Cursor, Salesforce's $3.6 billion purchase of AI customer service platform Fin, and Qualcomm's talks to acquire AI chip firm Modular at a $4 billion valuation [1][2].
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