Goldman Sachs leads EMEA M&A advisory in first half as dealmaking surges

Key facts

• Goldman Sachs led M&A advisory in EMEA in the first half of 2026.
• Goldman Sachs captured its largest market share in EMEA M&A advisory in nearly a decade.
• EMEA M&A dealmaking reached $676 billion in the first half of 2026.
• EMEA M&A dealmaking more than doubled compared to the previous year.
• The first half of 2026 saw a 19-year high in EMEA M&A dealmaking.

Goldman Sachs has emerged as the dominant player in M&A advisory across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region for the first half of 2026. The investment bank secured its largest market share in this sector in nearly a decade, signaling a strong performance amidst a revitalized dealmaking environment. The overall M&A activity in the EMEA region experienced a dramatic increase, reaching a total of $676 billion. This figure represents more than double the volume recorded in the same period of the previous year, and it stands as the highest level of dealmaking seen in 19 years. The surge in transaction values indicates a robust recovery and expansion of corporate finance activities across these key global markets.