Global deal activity started 2026 on a softer footing with the first four months of the year seeing a decline compared to the same period in the previous year. The total number of deals (mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC)) announced globally decreased by around 5% year-on-year (YoY) during January-April 2026, according to GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The moderation reflects a cautious and selective environment wherein some pockets of strength remain. For instance, among the deal types under coverage, venture financing showcased some resilience while M&A and VC deals volume fell. Regionally, North America was the only region to showcase improvement.”
An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that the number of M&A deals announced globally declined by around 7% YoY during January-April 2026, whereas PE deal volume fell by around 14%. In contrast, the total number of VC deals was up by around 1% during this period.
Regional trends reveal an uneven global picture. North America was the standout, growing by 2% YoY during January-April. In comparison, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America saw their respective deal volume fall by 8%, 10%, 2% and 27%.
Deal activity across key markets highlights even more divergence. The US saw 2% YoY increase, broadly driving North America’s positive performance, while Canada witnessed 2% YoY growth. China rose by 23% YoY, emerging as a notable bright spot and helping offset weakness elsewhere in Asia-Pacific. India grew by 3% YoY.
The UK, Japan, Germany, Australia, France, South Korea, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Brazil and the UAE saw their deal volume YoY fall by 4%, 40%, 13%, 13%, 12%, 27%, 16%, 9%, 19%, 5%, 19%, 43%, and 18%, respectively, during January-April 2026.
Bose concludes: “Early-2026 dealmaking trends reflect a recalibration rather than a collapse with strategic buyers and investors narrowing their focus on transactions with stronger growth potential and lower execution risks. Looking ahead, deal activity is likely to remain mixed.”
Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain.
