Private Equity Industry Predictions for 2026

After a prolonged period of subdued deal activity and capital accumulation, private equity is entering 2026 with renewed optimism—flush with dry power and ready to deploy. Financing conditions are stabilizing, interest rates are decreasing, and valuations are beginning to reset. As the industry prepares for renewed activity, private equity firms are shifting from growth-at-any-cost strategies toward operational value creation, deeper diligence, and more disciplined risk underwriting. 

Read this Private Equity Predictions outlook to learn about key industry shifts that may impact your strategy, including:

• how funds are recalibrating their strategies in the wake of the effects of aggressive dealmaking in prior years;
• why deal volume and size is expected to grow in 2026—and what’s driving it; and
• where private equity is placing its biggest bets (hint: it’s more than AI).