Improving macroeconomic conditions, rising demand, and declining availability of modern office space mean that office construction may once again become attractive for developers, according to the report “2026 Poland Real Estate Market Outlook” by CBRE.
In 2025, the Polish market saw an increase of 108,000 square meters of workspace, while demand reached 1.56 million square meters. At the same time, the amount of space available for lease dropped significantly. As a result, the trend of demolishing office buildings to convert sites for other uses will increasingly be accompanied by renewed developer interest in central locations for office projects. According to CBRE experts, investors are now more frequently deciding—depending on the location—to retain the office function of properties.
Supply of Modern Office Space Declines
The stock of modern office space decreased over the past year. For example, in Warsaw, the total supply at the end of 2025 amounted to 6.23 million square meters, compared with 6.29 million square meters a year earlier. Office supply also declined in cities such as Wrocław, mainly due to the conversion of office buildings to other functions.
However, according to CBRE experts, 2026 may bring not only continued searches for alternative uses for some office buildings but also a return of interest in office developments themselves. Improving macroeconomic conditions and greater optimism among companies when making relocation or expansion decisions are translating into growing demand for high-quality office space.
In response, the market is expected to see an increase in the supply of new office projects, although developers remain cautious and highly selective about their investments. The limited availability of plots in city centers will often require renovation or demolition of existing buildings to create new projects.
“In past decisions to demolish older office buildings, the dominant approach was to change the site’s purpose—for example, to residential use. This trend, as seen in other mature European markets, will remain a permanent feature of the office landscape. However, another trend is also emerging: new office developments or modernizations in city centers. Increasingly, we see property acquisitions in central areas—even older buildings—carried out with the intention of preserving the office function after modernization or demolition,” says Katarzyna Gajewska, Head of Research and Market Analysis at CBRE.
She adds that strong demand for modern workspaces and declining availability are pushing rental rates upward, making office development once again an attractive investment opportunity.
Rising Rents Will Influence Location Choices
Tenants, like investors and developers, are primarily interested in central city locations. This trend is expected to drive the development of the office market in 2026. However, the availability of office space for lease in such areas remains very limited.
In prime locations in Warsaw, the vacancy rate has fallen to 5%, while across the entire capital it stands at 9.1%. In regional cities, the average vacancy rate is 16.9%, and in Kraków, the difference between the city center and the broader market is similarly pronounced as in Warsaw.
Rents are rising, particularly in top locations within central business districts. As a result, some companies are turning to “second-best locations” that offer lower rents in more peripheral districts or in well-located but older buildings.
“Not only location but also quality will drive the development of office space in 2026. Aesthetics and design are important, as well as air quality, lighting and acoustics. Buildings must meet increasingly high standards. As a result, developers and office owners are investing in modernization and improvements to meet the growing expectations of companies. Another increasingly important element is designing the surroundings and ground-floor retail areas so that buildings remain lively even after office hours—this is becoming one of the key expectations of tenants,” says Katarzyna Gajewska of CBRE.
