After a year of bigger deals and rising exits, private equity is moving into 2026 with momentum, though Bain’s Global Private Equity Report 2026 highlights liquidity as a growing focus as investors wait for capital to be returned.
Beneath the rebound in activity, however, the report points to a structural tension shaping the market: Value creation is improving, but the recycling of capital remains slow. Investors continue to hold significant unrealized gains while waiting for distributions, a dynamic that Bain says is influencing fundraising, exit strategies and how sponsors measure performance across their portfolios. READ MORE