There are plenty of trends to watch out for in 2026, following a successful — albeit unpredictable — year for the medical device industry.

Wall Street analysts called out M&A as a key trend to watch. And those predictions have already panned out. This month has seen a string of acquisition announcements, including Boston Scientific’s $14.5 billion proposal to buy Penumbra. After M&A activity picked up in the second half of 2025, particularly in the final months of the year, spending will likely continue throughout 2026.