Why corporate deal fever isn’t cooling off in 2026

If you thought the corporate shopping spree was over, think again. After a massive rebound in 2025, companies are expected to keep buying, merging, and selling at full speed this year.

Global mergers and acquisitions jumped 40 percent last year to $4.9 trillion, the second highest total ever recorded, according to Bain & Company. Now, 80 percent of executives surveyed say they plan to sustain or increase deal activity in 2026.

This is not just boardroom drama. When companies merge or spin off divisions, it can mean layoffs, new bosses, product changes, or sudden expansion into new markets.

So what is driving the rush?