Global Finance Names World's Best Investment Banks for 2026

Goldman Sachs chosen as Best Investment Bank in the World for 2026

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Global Finance has announced the winners of its 27th annual World's Best Investment Banks awards, with Goldman Sachs being named the Best Investment Bank in the World for 2026. The awards recognize organizations that best serve their clients through trusted advice, global reach, innovation, and disciplined execution, while setting the standard for excellence, resilience, and leadership across the global investment banking landscape.

Why it matters

The investment banking sector continues to face macroeconomic headwinds, regulatory scrutiny, and evolving market conditions that are reshaping industry competition and innovation. The Global Finance awards highlight the top performers who are navigating these challenges to provide exceptional service and value to their clients.

The details

Global Finance editors, with input from industry experts, used a series of criteria to score and select the winners, based on a proprietary algorithm. These criteria include: market share, number and size of deals, service and advice, structuring capabilities, distribution network, efforts to address market conditions, innovation, pricing, after-market performance of underwritings, and market reputation. Deals announced or completed in 2025 were considered.

  • The winners will be honored at Global Finance's 2026 Investment Bank and Sustainable Finance Awards Ceremony on April 21st in London at Landing 42.
  • Global Finance's 27th annual World's Best Investment Banks awards were announced on February 18, 2026.

The players

Goldman Sachs

An American multinational investment bank and financial services company that was chosen as the Best Investment Bank in the World for 2026.

Joseph D. Giarraputo

The founder and editorial director of Global Finance, who stated that the 2026 World's Best Investment Bank honorees are the organizations that best serve their clients by pairing trusted advice and global reach with innovation and disciplined execution.

Andrea Fiano

The editor of Global Finance, who can be contacted for editorial information about the awards.

Chris Giarraputo

The person to contact at Global Finance to obtain rights to use the Global Finance Investment Bank Awards 2026 logo or any other Global Finance logos.

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What they’re saying

“The investment banking sector remains resilient with selective deal-making strength and advisory growth, even as it grapples with persistent macroeconomic headwinds, regulatory scrutiny, and evolving market conditions that are reshaping how firms compete and innovate.”

— Joseph D. Giarraputo, Founder and Editorial Director, Global Finance (Global Finance)

What’s next

The winners will be honored at Global Finance's 2026 Investment Bank and Sustainable Finance Awards Ceremony on April 21st in London at Landing 42.

The takeaway

The Global Finance World's Best Investment Banks awards highlight the top performers in the investment banking sector who are navigating challenging market conditions to provide exceptional service and value to their clients through trusted advice, global reach, innovation, and disciplined execution.