In brief — 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years for initial public offerings since 2021, driven by the artificial intelligence wave. SpaceX has already kicked things off in June, with the largest IPO in history on Nasdaq. Still to come are Anthropic, creator of Claude, and OpenAI, both of which have confidentially filed S-1 documents with the SEC targeting valuations close to or exceeding $1 trillion, as well as Stripe, crypto platform Kraken, and French sensation Mistral AI.
Why 2026 Is a Pivotal Year for IPOs
After several years of caution, the world's largest tech unicorns are emerging. The artificial intelligence sector is now expected to account for a significant portion of the year's planned tech IPOs, driven by the maturity of models and their widespread adoption in business. This dynamic is coupled with a market environment that has become more favorable to high valuations, following the slowdown of 2022-2023.
Anthropic: The Confidential S-1 Filing That's Riling Markets
The company behind the AI assistant Claude confirmed that on June 1, 2026, it confidentially filed a draft registration statement (Form S-1) with the U.S. SEC, the first formal step toward a public listing. This filing comes just days after closing a Series H funding round of $65 billion, which values the company at $965 billion post-money.
No official date, price range, or ticker has been communicated at this stage: the confidential procedure allows the company to have its filing reviewed by the SEC without immediately publishing its full financial statements. According to prediction markets, the probability of a listing before the end of October 2026 is estimated at approximately 70%, and over 87% before the end of the year. An official prospectus is also expected by the end of August. The listing, if it occurs, is generally anticipated on Nasdaq.
OpenAI, the Direct Rival, on a Tighter Schedule
Anthropic's main competitor announced on June 8, 2026, exactly one week after its rival, that it too had confidentially submitted a draft registration statement (Form S-1) to the SEC. However, the company led by Sam Altman specified that it had not set a timeline: the listing “could take time,” as some stages of its development are considered easier to conduct while remaining private. The market-discussed valuation exceeds $1 trillion, compared to approximately $852 billion during its previous funding round. This parallel race between the two generative AI heavyweights is being closely watched by investors, who see it as a real-world test of market appetite for unprofitable but high-growth stocks.
SpaceX: The Record IPO Is Already Behind Us
Unlike the previous cases, SpaceX's is closed. Elon Musk's company published its prospectus on May 20, 2026, set its offering price at $135 per share on June 11, and then made its debut on Nasdaq under the symbol SPCX on June 12. The transaction was closed on June 15 with the full exercise of the banks' option, bringing the total to 638,888,888 Class A shares placed — the largest ever capital raise in an initial public offering, surpassing Saudi Aramco.
What followed was rougher. One month after its debut, the stock fell below its IPO price, weighed down by a net loss of $4.9 billion for fiscal year 2025 and the approaching end of lock-up periods for historical shareholders. SpaceX now serves as a benchmark — and a warning — to candidates still in the running: the market absorbs very large valuations, but it penalizes them quickly.
Stripe and Kraken: Fintech Awaits Its Turn
Stripe, the American-Irish online payment giant, is being discussed for a listing between late 2026 and early 2027, on Nasdaq or the NYSE, with a potential valuation approaching $95 billion according to market estimates. The company had previously always preferred to remain private.
Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange platform highly popular with retail investors, could aim for a Nasdaq listing in late 2026 or 2027, with no official date as of yet.
And in Europe? The Case of Mistral AI
On the French side, generative AI gem Mistral AI, valued at 8.2 billion euros during its last funding round, had been mentioned for a stock market entry in 2026. This prospect remains to be confirmed: no official timeline has been communicated by the company led by Arthur Mensch.
What to Remember
SpaceX (aerospace) — already listed: Nasdaq, symbol SPCX, since June 12, 2026, at $135 per share. Anthropic (artificial intelligence) — confidential S-1 filed June 1, Nasdaq anticipated. OpenAI (artificial intelligence) — confidential S-1 announced June 8, timeline not set. Stripe (fintech) — discussed late 2026 / early 2027, Nasdaq or NYSE. Kraken (cryptocurrencies) — discussed late 2026 / 2027, Nasdaq. Mistral AI (artificial intelligence) — prospect unconfirmed.
