Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Global Outlook 2026

Industry leaders' reflections from the 2026 Emerging Trends in Real Estate® report point to global volatility posing a ‘major test of nerve’ for investors. However, in an era where volatility might be the new normal, there is a strong belief in the resilience of real estate - buoyed by improving fundamentals and returning liquidity across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. With valuations having corrected and occupier markets remaining relatively resilient, there is a growing consensus that buyers and sellers are finding common ground, even as capital allocation decisions grow more nuanced. The industry's pivot toward operational real estate, the expansion of data centres driven by AI, and the rising influence of private wealth are reshaping the composition of global real estate capital, making 2026 less a question of whether to invest, and more a question of where, how, and in what form.