India's commercial office sector posted its strongest six-month leasing result on record in the first half of 2026, with tenants absorbing 45.5 million square feet of space, according to a report released by property consultant CBRE on Monday.
The 45.5 million square feet figure is 9.6% higher than the amount leased in the same period a year earlier and represents the largest volume of take-up recorded for any six-month span. To provide a visual sense of scale, the report equates the leased area to nearly 400 football pitches.
CBRE attributed the surge in activity to a combination of large transactions from multinational companies expanding global capability centres and an uptick in deals from flexible workspace operators. These groups were responsible for much of the incremental demand, pushing overall absorption to the new high.
Fortune 500 firms accounted for about 6.8 million square feet of leases in the second quarter, representing 28% of total activity during that period. CBRE's data also shows that the number of deals signed by these large corporations rose by roughly 34% from the prior quarter, indicating increased momentum among the largest global tenants.
The pattern of leasing points to continued interest from overseas firms in locating technology operations and shared-service or capability centres in India, even as geopolitical frictions and economic uncertainty weigh on other regions. The report highlights that India remains an attractive destination for multinational expansions.
Commenting on regional risks, India Ratings and Research said last month that volatility linked to the Middle East was unlikely to have a material effect on office demand in India. The agency added that higher crude oil prices and currency movements could, however, delay some planned capital deployment by firms.
Looking ahead, CBRE expects office demand to stay resilient through the rest of 2026. The consulting firm's outlook reflects the strong first-half take-up and the continued activity from multinational corporations and flexible space providers that underpinned the recent gains.
Data snapshot
- First-half 2026 leasing: 45.5 million sq ft (record six-month total)
- Year-on-year increase: 9.6%
- Fortune 500 leasing in Q2: 6.8 million sq ft (28% of Q2 activity)
- Quarter-on-quarter change in number of Fortune 500 deals: +34%