Dorothee Blessing, co-head of global investment banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co., has indicated that 2026 is on track to be a record year for dealmaking, encompassing both mergers and capital raising. This optimistic outlook comes despite growing worries about the broader economy. She shared this perspective during a Bloomberg TV interview on September 2, 2026, highlighting a strong pipeline of activity for the remaining months of the year.
According to data compiled by Bloomberg, global transaction volumes have already increased by approximately 30% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, reaching $2.6 trillion. The current record for dealmaking activity stands at $5.3 trillion. Blessing's forecast suggests that the anticipated surge in activity during the latter part of the year could push the total volume past this historical high.
This sentiment aligns with broader observations of a significant rebound in global dealmaking. Around 39 megadeals, each valued at $5 billion or more, have been announced in 2026, with their combined value nearing $957 billion—nearly tripling the value from the same period last year. Factors contributing to this resurgence include cheaper financing, buoyant equity markets providing strong currency for stock deals, and substantial unspent capital held by private equity firms looking to deploy investments.
