Office trends come and go in the trade press, but some of them show clearly in the numbers. Here are ten office real estate trends that affect which premises get let, at what price and on what terms. Each trend is based on a named, published source, and we describe what it means for you as a tenant. For the broader picture of how the workplace is changing, see our article on the future office.
Office trends at a glance
| # | Trend | What it means for tenants |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A two-tier market | Big differences in supply and price between locations |
| 2 | "Super prime" pulls away | The best space gets pricier and goes faster |
| 3 | Less new construction | Fewer brand-new offices in the next few years |
| 4 | Large tenants consolidate | Whole districts can gain new anchor tenants |
| 5 | Office attendance stabilises | Space needs can be planned again |
| 6 | Focus over open plan | More quiet rooms in the layout |
| 7 | Amenities become a requirement | The building's offer weighs heavily |
| 8 | Flex in the portfolio | A mix of own office and flexible space |
| 9 | Stricter energy requirements | Energy performance becomes a selection criterion |
| 10 | AI affects space needs | A need for flexible leases |
Trends in the office property market
1. A two-tier market: flight to quality
The clearest trend in office real estate is that the market is splitting in two. According to Cushman & Wakefield's Stockholm office MarketBeat for Q2 2026, vacancy in Stockholm's CBD is 8.0 percent, compared with 14.0 percent in the rest of the inner city and 23.0 percent in decentralised areas. Across Greater Stockholm, vacancy is 18.5 percent. Demand is moving to modern premises in the best locations, while older space further out stays empty longer.
For you: in outer locations and older stock there is room to negotiate. In central, modern premises competition is tougher.
2. "Super prime" pulls away
Within the best segment there is now a top tier of its own. According to JLL's Nordic Outlook for autumn 2026, 17 percent of lettings in Stockholm's CBD in 2025 were signed above the published prime rent, compared with 9 percent in 2023. Cushman & Wakefield puts prime rent in Stockholm's CBD at SEK 9,850 per sq m per year in Q2 2026.
For you: if you want the very best in the CBD, expect to pay above the levels in the reports, and start early.
3. New construction slows down
In the first half of 2026, 76,800 sq m of new office space was completed in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, 22.4 percent less than the same period a year earlier, according to Cushman & Wakefield's Sweden office MarketBeat Q2 2026. Just under 271,000 sq m is under construction in the three metropolitan regions, of which around 180,000 sq m is in Greater Stockholm.
For you: with fewer brand-new offices coming, recently refurbished space in existing buildings becomes an increasingly important option.
4. Large tenants consolidate into new clusters
Large companies are bringing operations together in fewer, newer buildings. The biggest example in Q2 2026 was Ericsson, which according to Cushman & Wakefield signed leases for 58,000 sq m in Hagastaden with Atrium Ljungberg and 39,700 sq m in Hagastaden with Castellum. When an anchor tenant moves, both the new district and the one left behind change.
For you: consolidations often free up space in the buildings being vacated, which can create good opportunities a few years later.
Trends in how the office is used
5. Office attendance stabilises
After several uncertain years, attendance has found a level. In Castellum's Framtidens arbetsliv 2026 (3,999 Nordic office workers), 56 percent work in the office four to five days a week. There is still a gap: according to ISS's Kontorslivet 2026, 36 percent of CEOs want higher attendance while 40 percent of employees want to work more remotely.
For you: it is possible to size the office on actual attendance again. More in our guide to office space for hybrid work.
6. Focus over open plan
Quiet zones are the most requested space in Castellum's survey, followed by lounge areas and small meeting rooms. Half (52 percent) prefer their own or a shared room, while only 15 percent want a fully activity-based office with no assigned desk.
For you: the layout should include more rooms for concentration and small meetings than was standard ten years ago.
7. Amenities become a requirement
In CBRE's European Office Occupier Sentiment Survey 2026, 88 percent of companies say they would reject a building lacking essential amenities, up from 82 percent the year before. That can be anything from bike storage and changing rooms to a restaurant, conference facilities and good public transport.
For you: compare buildings, not just premises. Shared facilities can replace space you would otherwise have to rent yourselves.
8. Flexible space as part of the portfolio
In CBRE's 2025 survey, European companies expected flexible space to make up about a third of their office portfolio within two years, and 55 percent expected to reduce their total office footprint in the medium term. Flexible offices are increasingly used alongside a main office rather than instead of one.
For you: we compare serviced offices, coworking and a traditional lease in flexible vs traditional offices.
Trends driven by regulation and technology
9. Stricter energy requirements for buildings
The EU's recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1275) requires member states to renovate their worst-performing non-residential buildings, at least 16 percent of the stock by 2030 and 26 percent by 2033, through national minimum energy performance standards. That makes energy performance a question of future operating costs and risk, not just environmental profile.
For you: ask for the energy performance certificate and any environmental certification. More in our guide to sustainable offices and green buildings.
10. AI affects space needs
61 percent of companies in CBRE's 2026 survey expect AI to reshape their space requirements within two years. That can concern both how many people need a workspace and what types of space are needed. Nobody knows exactly how, which makes flexibility in the lease more important.
For you: negotiate the ability to give back or add space during the lease term.
What the office trends mean overall
The trends point the same way: companies want fewer but better square metres, in the right location, in buildings with good amenities and low energy use. The market rewards premises that deliver this and penalises those that do not. For tenants that means both opportunities and risks. Supply is plentiful in some segments, but the most sought-after premises are still hard to secure.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest office real estate trends right now?
The biggest trends are a two-tier market where modern, central premises get let while older ones stay empty, a top segment that is pulling away on price, and tenants demanding more amenities and better energy performance. Hybrid work has stabilised, which makes space needs easier to plan.
How high is office vacancy in Stockholm?
According to Cushman & Wakefield, vacancy was 18.5 percent in Greater Stockholm and 8.0 percent in the CBD in Q2 2026. Figures differ between research houses because they define areas and vacancy in different ways.
Is it cheaper to rent an office now?
It depends on location and quality. In decentralised areas and older stock, where vacancy is high, there is often room to negotiate rent, rent-free months or fit-outs. In Stockholm's CBD prime rent rose in 2026, and the best space is often let above that level.
What is flight to quality?
Flight to quality means tenants moving to more modern, better located premises, often with less space but higher standards. It leads to low vacancy in the best buildings and higher vacancy in older ones.
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