This year's European M&A Awards shortlist combines Mergermarket's league table data with editorial insight, placing emphasis on regional trends to spotlight the firms making the greatest impact across Europe.

The analysis considers both transaction value (EUR equivalent) and volume (deal count) in equal measure — meaning that even if your transactions have undisclosed values, every deal counts.

The review period covers deals announced between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. Our proprietary method ensures locally headquartered advisors are well represented in their domestic categories.

When the analysis is complete, we announce a shortlist. Only firms that appear on the shortlist are eligible to enter Mergermarket's European M&A Awards.

Contact Yulianna.Hovoradlo@iongroup.com for further information.

Shortlisted firms are invited to write a 300-word pitch, reviewed by a panel of M&A veterans alongside our data to determine the winners.

Judges are looking for the story behind the data: value-adding advisory work, creative solutions to complex deals, and examples of how you got the deal across the line. Find tips for pitching here.

In November, our judges from investment banking, private equity, financial advisory, legal advisory, academia, and journalism review all the pitches and data to select the winners.

The top dealmakers from across the region will be announced on 1 December 2026 at the Mergermarket European M&A Awards at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.