India Office Leasing Soars 10% in Q1 2026, Hits 5-Year High

India's office leasing market saw robust growth of 10% year-on-year, reaching 21.6 million square feet in the first quarter of 2026, marking the strongest activity in five years. The technology sector dominated demand with a 32% share, followed by flexible workspaces and BFSI. Bengaluru remained the leading market with 6 million sq ft leased, while Hyderabad showed impressive growth of 39%. Despite a decline in new supply, the overall vacancy rate eased to 13.9% due to steady demand.

Key Points: India Office Leasing Rises 10% in Q1, Strongest in 5 Years

  • 10% YoY growth to 21.6 mn sq ft
  • Tech sector leads with 32% share
  • Bengaluru top market with 6 mn sq ft leased
  • Large deals drive 52% of transactions
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Office leasing in India rises 10 pc to 21 mn sq ft in Q1, strongest in 5 years

India's office leasing grew 10% YoY to 21.6 mn sq ft in Q1 2026, led by tech sector. Bengaluru and Hyderabad show strong demand.

"India's office market has entered 2026 on a strong footing despite global headwinds - Naveen Nandwani, Savills India"

New Delhi, April 13

The office leasing market in India witnessed a 10 per cent year-on-year growth to 21.6 million sq ft in the first quarter of 2026, marking the strongest leasing activity in the past five years, according to a report released on Monday.

According to the Savills India report, in terms of supply, the activity declined by 28 per cent year-on-year to 7.9 million sq ft, while the overall vacancy rate eased to 13.9 per cent during the same period, supported by steady leasing activity and disciplined supply additions.

Sector-wise, the technology industry dominated leasing activity with a 32 per cent share, followed by flexible workspaces at 22 per cent and BFSI at 12 per cent, the report said.

Large deals -- 100,000 sq ft or more -- continued to drive market activity, contributing 52 per cent to overall transactions during the quarter.

"India's office market has entered 2026 on a strong footing despite global headwinds, with Q1 absorption of 21.6 million sq ft, up 10 per cent year-on-year," said Naveen Nandwani, MD, Commercial Advisory and Transactions, Savills India.

He added that demand remains resilient, led by technology, BFSI, manufacturing, and flexible workspace operators, with global capability centres (GCCs) continuing to fuel momentum.

Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR together accounted for around 5 million sq ft of new completions during the period, representing nearly two-thirds of the total supply added across India.

City-wise, Bengaluru retained its position as the leading office market, recording 6 million sq ft of leasing activity -- an increase of 25 per cent year-on-year -- driven by IT-BPM operators.

Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR recorded gross absorption of 3.6 million sq ft in Q1 2026.

Hyderabad emerged as a strong performer, with gross absorption rising 39 per cent year-on-year to 4.3 million sq ft, supported by large deals and strong demand from GCC occupiers. Pune also saw healthy traction, with leasing activity increasing 20 per cent year-on-year to 3 million sq ft. However, Mumbai saw gross absorption of 2.8 million sq ft, a decline of 15 per cent year-on-year amid delayed expansion plans by occupiers.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Great to see the numbers, but I hope this growth translates into better infrastructure. The traffic in Bengaluru is already a nightmare. Need metro expansion and better roads to keep up with this office space boom.
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Sarah B
Interesting to see flexible workspaces at 22% share. Post-pandemic, the hybrid model is clearly here to stay in India too. Companies are being smart about real estate costs.
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Vikram M
Mumbai's decline is a bit worrying. Hope it's just a temporary blip due to delayed plans. The city needs to stay competitive, especially with Hyderabad and Pune growing so fast.
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Naveen S
As someone in commercial real estate in Delhi-NCR, this report matches what we're seeing on the ground. Demand is strong, especially from GCCs. The vacancy rate easing is a very positive sign for landlords.
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Rebecca D
While the growth is impressive, I hope this development is sustainable and doesn't lead to a real estate bubble. Also, wish there was more focus on Tier-2 cities to spread the economic benefits.

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