
European Office Markets in the First Half of 2026: Lower Demand, but Rising Prime Rents and Deepening Polarization
Demand for office space in major European cities fell by 9% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, mainly due to a lack of large transactions. Prime rents, however, continue to rise—by 6.2% year-over-year in major markets—driven by a shortage of high-quality Class A space. The vacancy rate rose to 9.6%, but remains highly polarized: prime locations in city centers are nearly full, while space is becoming available on the outskirts.










