Global M&A value was 11% above its 10-year average in the first eight months of 2026, according to Boston Consulting Group, but deal volumes below $1 billion remained below longer-term norms. Deal value reached $2.09 trillion, while transactions worth at least $10 billion rose to 37 from 24 a year earlier. The report said execution, valuation gaps and regulatory hurdles are constraining deals, while artificial intelligence is both encouraging and delaying transactions.