PwC Sees M&A Surging To $4 Trillion In 2026 As AI Drives Mega Deals

Global mergers and acquisitions are on track for a strong rebound, with annual deal value projected to reach $4 trillion in 2026, according to a new report from PwC. If realised, that would mark the market’s strongest performance since 2021.

Mega Deals Are Reclaiming The Market

PwC attributes the rebound largely to a surge in transactions valued at more than $5 billion. So far this year, those mega deals have accounted for nearly half of global deal value, up from 39% in 2025 and 26% in 2024.

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The firm expects the value of these transactions to grow by 40% annually through 2026 if current momentum continues.

“2026 is the year of super-sized mergers and acquisitions,” said Brian Levy, leader of PwC US’ global deals sector. He added that artificial intelligence is accelerating mega deals, reshaping capital flows and changing the competitive landscape across industries.

AI Emerges As A Key Acquisition Driver

According to PwC, companies are increasingly pursuing acquisitions to strengthen their artificial intelligence capabilities.

Recent transactions illustrate that trend. SpaceX has completed a $60 billion acquisition of the AI startup Cursor, while Salesforce has agreed to acquire the AI-powered customer service platform Fin for $3.6 billion. Qualcomm is also reportedly in discussions to acquire Modular in a deal that could value the AI chip company at around $4 billion.

Mid-Market Buyers Face A More Difficult Climate

While the largest transactions continue to gain momentum, PwC said many mid-market investors remain constrained by geopolitical uncertainty, valuation gaps, slower economic growth, higher inflation, elevated interest rates and a backlog of private capital exits.

Those factors continue to weigh on smaller and mid-sized transactions, even as larger companies pursue strategic acquisitions.

Private Markets May Become More Liquid

PwC also said artificial intelligence has the potential to improve liquidity in private markets by making asset evaluation and deal negotiations more efficient.

If global M&A activity reaches $4 trillion in 2026, it would represent an increase of at least 13% from 2025 and the second-highest annual deal value since 2021.

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Cyprus Expected Working Life Reaches 39.5 Years, Above EU Average

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 20, 2026

People in Cyprus are expected to spend 39.5 years in the workforce, around two years longer than the European Union average of 37.5 years, according to the latest Eurostat data for 2025.

The figure places Cyprus among the EU countries with the longest expected working lives.

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Cyprus Ranks Above EU Average

Only a handful of member states recorded higher figures than Cyprus. The Netherlands topped the ranking at 44 years, followed by Sweden at 43.4 years, Denmark at 42.6 years, and Estonia at 41.5 years.

At the other end of the ranking were Romania with 32.7 years, Italy with 33.0 years, Bulgaria with 34.6 years and Greece with 35.3 years.

Gender Gap Remains Wider Than EU Average

Men in Cyprus are expected to remain in work for 42.1 years, compared with 36.7 years for women. The gap of 5.4 years exceeds the EU average gender gap of 4.1 years.

Across the bloc, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were the only countries where women were expected to spend longer in employment than men. Finland recorded the smallest positive gender gap at 0.7 years.

Italy posted the widest gap at 8.9 years, followed by Romania at 6.9 years, Greece at 6.7 years and Malta at 6.3 years.

Working Lives Continue To Lengthen

Between 2016 and 2025, expected working life in Cyprus increased by 3.5 years, placing the country among the strongest performers in the EU over the period. Men’s expected working life rose by 3.3 years, while women’s increased by 3.6 years.

Across the EU, every member state recorded an increase. Malta posted the largest gain at 4.9 years, followed by Hungary and Ireland at 4.2 years each, and the Netherlands at 4.1 years.

Malta’s increase was driven largely by women, whose expected working life rose by 7.8 years, the biggest increase recorded across the bloc.

By comparison, Romania, Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria recorded gains of two years or less over the same period.

Women’s Working Lives Increase Faster Across Europe

Women’s expected working life increased faster than men’s in most EU countries. Denmark, Romania, Sweden and Greece were the main exceptions.

In Cyprus, gains for men and women were broadly similar, alongside Bulgaria, Belgium and Slovenia.

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