Private Equity Q3 2026: Preqin Quarterly Update

Private equity capital raised has grown for four consecutive quarters, but fundraising concentration, selective deal-making, and uneven exits point to a still-narrow recovery

• A nearly $50bn AI-focused mega fund boosted fundraising, lifting quarterly private equity capital raised to its highest level since late-2023

• Exit proceeds remain concentrated among a relatively small number of transactions, raising the importance of manager selection for LPs

• With the median institutional investor allocation to private equity remaining below target, the industry has further scope to grow