Best Upcoming IPOs Still Expected in 2026 (Updated August 2026)

This guide highlights the most important IPOs still expected during the remainder of 2026, followed by several major private companies that investors should watch for future public listings.

IPO plans can change rapidly. Filing a draft prospectus or beginning regulatory review does not guarantee that an IPO will proceed or occur within the expected timeframe.

Key Takeaways

• Jio Platforms, Zepto, and Shein are among the biggest IPOs still expected to list in 2026, while companies such as OpenAI, Stripe, and Canva remain major private companies to watch for future IPOs.

• IPO timelines can change quickly due to regulatory approvals, market conditions, and company decisions, so filing documents or market speculation does not guarantee a listing.

• Before investing in an IPO, evaluate the company’s valuation, growth potential, profitability, competitive position, and regulatory risks, rather than relying solely on market hype.

Top Upcoming IPOs Still Expected in 2026

1.Jio Platforms

Expected: Late 2026 (subject to approvals)

Proposed exchange: BSE & NSE (India)

Jio Platforms, Reliance Industries’ digital business, is widely expected to become one of India’s largest IPOs. The company operates India’s largest telecom network while expanding into broadband, cloud services, digital payments and enterprise technology.

The company has already submitted draft IPO documents to India’s securities regulator, putting the deal well into the initial public offering process and making it one of the most advanced large-cap IPO candidates currently in the pipeline; investors still need clarity on the final price and lead underwriter. Qualified institutional buyers such as banks and mutual funds usually receive the majority of IPO shares, so institutional investors get most allocations while retail investors receive a smaller portion.

Why it matters: Jio has become the backbone of India’s digital economy through its massive subscriber base and rapidly expanding digital ecosystem. A successful listing could become one of the largest IPOs ever completed in India.

Strengths

• Dominant telecom operator

• Large recurring revenue base

• Backed by Reliance Industries

• Expanding AI and cloud ecosystem

Risks

• Capital-intensive business

• Competitive telecom market

• Regulatory and spectrum risks

• Final valuation remains unknown

2.Shein

Expected: Second half of 2026 (subject to regulatory approval and market conditions)

Proposed exchange: Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)

Shein is one of the world’s largest online fast-fashion retailers and remains among the most anticipated IPOs of 2026 with a $ 30- 40 billion valuation. After previously exploring listings in the United States and later London, the company shifted its focus to Hong Kong, where its IPO has progressed significantly through the regulatory process.

As of August 2026, Shein has published its Hong Kong listing documents and is advancing through the final stages of regulatory review. While the company has not announced a final offering date or valuation, market reports indicate that a Hong Kong listing could take place during the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and market conditions.

Why it matters: Shein has built a global fashion business through its data-driven supply chain, rapid product development, and direct-to-consumer model. If completed, the IPO is expected to become one of Hong Kong’s largest public offerings in recent years and could serve as an important indicator of investor appetite for large consumer technology listings.

Strengths

• Global brand recognition

• Large international customer base

• Highly efficient digital supply chain

• Strong e-commerce platform and operational scale

Risks

• Ongoing regulatory review

• Tariff and geopolitical uncertainty

• ESG and supply chain scrutiny

• Valuation and market timing remain uncertain

3.Anthropic

Expected: IPO timeline not officially confirmed

Potential exchange: Nasdaq

Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI, has emerged as one of the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence startups.

Following its latest funding round, the company attracted enormous investor attention and is frequently mentioned as one of the most anticipated upcoming IPOs. IPO has filed a draft registration statement (Form S-1) with the SEC on June 1, 2026.

However, as of August 2026, no public SEC registration statement has been released and no official IPO date has been announced, with little visibility into any estimated valuation for a potential offering.

Why it matters: Anthropic sits at the centre of the generative AI boom alongside OpenAI and Google DeepMind. If it eventually goes public, it could become one of the largest AI IPOs ever completed.

Strengths

• Leading AI foundation models

• Strong enterprise adoption

• Strategic backing from Amazon and Google

• Rapidly growing AI market

Risks

• IPO timeline remains uncertain

• Extremely high private valuation

• Intense competition

• Growing AI regulation

4.Zepto

Expected: Second half of 2026 (subject to market conditions)

Proposed exchange: NSE & BSE (India)

Zepto has become one of India’s fastest-growing quick-commerce companies by promising grocery delivery within minutes through its network of urban fulfilment centres.

Following updated regulatory filings in 2026, Zepto remains one of India’s most closely watched consumer technology IPOs. They are also looking to raise up to $837 million in IPO.

Why it matters: Quick commerce has become one of India’s fastest-growing internet sectors. Zepto’s IPO could provide one of the first pure-play public investment opportunities in this industry.

Strengths

• Rapid revenue growth

• Strong urban customer base

• Well-known consumer brand

• Growing operational scale

Risks

• Still loss-making

• High logistics costs

• Fierce competition from Blinkit and Instamart

• Profitability remains uncertain

Major Private Companies That Could IPO Next

While the companies below are unlikely to complete an IPO during the remainder of 2026, they remain among the world’s most anticipated future public listings.

1.OpenAI

OpenAI remains arguably the most anticipated IPO globally. Although the company has not announced an IPO timetable, its rapid revenue growth and leadership in generative AI continue to fuel speculation that it could eventually become one of history's largest technology listings.

2.Stripe

Stripe is one of the world’s largest private fintech companies, powering online payments for millions of businesses. Its consistent growth and global reach make it one of the most closely watched future IPO candidates, although management has not confirmed a listing schedule.

3.Databricks

Databricks has become a critical provider of enterprise AI and data infrastructure. Instead of pursuing an IPO in 2026, the company recently secured additional private funding at a significantly higher valuation, suggesting management may prefer to remain private until market conditions become more favourable. Even so, among the anticipated upcoming ipos for 2026, artificial intelligence, fintech, and defense technology remain prominent sectors, while biotechnology companies with differentiated clinical programs are still attracting investor backing despite mixed economic conditions.

4.Canva

Australia-based Canva has evolved into one of the world’s leading design software companies, serving hundreds of millions of users across individuals, businesses and enterprises. Although there is no confirmed IPO timeline, Canva remains one of the most frequently discussed future listings in the Asia-Pacific technology sector.

5.Discord

Discord has expanded far beyond gaming into online communities, education and enterprise collaboration. The company continues to appear on many investor watchlists, although no official IPO date has been announced.

6.Altera

Formerly Intel’s Programmable Solutions Group, Altera became an independent semiconductor company after Silver Lake acquired a majority stake. Intel has indicated plans to IPO its Programmable Solutions Group in roughly 2–3 years, and Altera’s leadership team will likely need to show it can operate with the discipline expected of a public company.

Its leadership position in FPGA chips makes it an interesting future semiconductor IPO candidate, although no public listing timetable has been confirmed. That positioning also aligns with semiconductor and defense demand, and surging defense budgets are helping some firms heading toward the public markets in 2026.

How to Evaluate an Upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO)

Before investing in any IPO, consider the following:

• Valuation: Is the proposed valuation reasonable compared with listed peers?

• Revenue growth: Is the company growing sustainably?

• Profitability: Is there a credible path to long-term profits?

• Competitive position: Does the company have a durable advantage?

• Regulatory risk: Could future regulation materially affect the business?

• Use of proceeds: Will IPO funds be used to grow the business or primarily allow existing investors to exit?

There are also additional risks around IPO trading, including market volatility on the first trading day and in the days immediately after listing; regulatory compliance also matters for platform and market access, especially through crypto-linked routes to investing.

Some investors track the grey market to speculate on IPO share prices before listing, but it is important to stay informed and review prospectus disclosures carefully.

Strong companies can still become poor investments if they debut at excessive valuations.

How to Participate in Pre-IPO Market via Gate Stocks

Traditional Pre-IPO participation involves a complex process. Investors must use overseas brokerage accounts, undergo cumbersome qualification checks, sign lengthy documents, and navigate complicated fund transfers. For those unfamiliar with traditional finance, these steps are formidable obstacles. Customers should review Gate’s eligibility requirements before joining a pre-IPO waitlist.

Gate compresses the pre-IPO participation process into three steps:

• Step 1: Access the Entry Point. Visit the "Pre-IPOs" page on the Gate platform.

• Step 2: Select the preferred pre-IPO and join the "Waitlist". Receive subscription alerts; the system notifies users via email and internal messages when subscriptions open.

• Step 3: Complete the KYC verification and ensure sufficient USDT balance for subscription, with regulatory compliance especially important in the current market environment for crypto-related access routes.

The entire process integrates seamlessly with existing crypto workflows. Users don’t need to switch between traditional brokers and crypto platforms, nor handle cross-border transfers or currency exchanges. All steps are completed within Gate’s platform.

When the subscription window opens (typically for 48 hours), the ability to participate quickly depends on the smoothness of the process. Gate’s three-step workflow minimizes friction, ensuring users don’t miss opportunities due to operational delays.

FAQ

Is OpenAI going public?

OpenAI has not confirmed plans for an IPO. However, it remains one of the world’s most anticipated future public listings due to its leadership in generative AI.

Has Anthropic filed for an IPO?

As of August 2026, Anthropic has not released a public SEC registration statement or announced an official IPO date.

Is Stripe still private?

Yes. Stripe remains privately held and has not announced when it intends to go public.