LATEST DATA: Q2 2026
Déjà vu all over again: Dealflow wilts with worst Q2 since 2020
Q2 2026 was yet another slow quarter for dealmaking. According to PE Hub’s analysis of S&P Global Market Intelligence data, Q2 saw 937 private equity deals, 560 of which were exits. Though there was a modest reduction from last quarter, when we saw 1,067 deals and 636 exits, it’s in comparison with other second quarters where the slump really shows.
This Q2 fall is not dissimilar to what we had reported for Q2 of last year. The optimism from the start of the year simply had not materialized into plentiful deals by the second quarter in 2025. This again seems to be the case for 2026.
PREVIOUS DATA
Private equity deals were fewer but bigger in the first quarter
In Q1 2026, the volume of completed PE transactions dropped while overall deal value rose.
Q2 2025: Worst quarter for private equity deal volume since Q2 2020
Tariff turmoil took a considerable toll on completed PE transactions.
Private equity dealmaking showed early signs of rebound in Q3
Sources told PE Hub they expected an uptick in deals in the second half – the latest numbers suggest that optimism was warranted.
Q4 private equity-backed completed global deal volume marked weakest finish in five years
Not only are fourth quarters usually stronger, they are usually the strongest quarter of their years. This was not the case in 2025.
