Operators, recorded 8.4 million sq ft of gross leasing volume (GLV) in H1 2026, the highest-ever half-yearly volume for the segment and a 55% increase from 5.4 million sq ft in H1 2025.
“Flexible workspaces have firmly established themselves as a core element of corporate real estate strategies, with flex operators now accounting for nearly 20% of the 43 million sq ft of the total office leasing recorded during H1 2026. As enterprises seek greater agility and efficiency, flex and managed office solutions are becoming an integral part of long-term workplace planning. GCCs continue to be a significant demand driver, leveraging these solutions to support expansion and evolving workforce requirements,” said Ramita Arora, Executive Managing Director, Bengaluru & Head – Flex, India, Cushman & Wakefield.
Occupiers today are looking for highly customized, experience-led workplaces, and flex operators are increasingly delivering bespoke environments that mirror global office standards, brand identity and workplace culture.
Coupled with technology-enabled workplace experiences, wellness-centric design and sustainability considerations, these tailored solutions are reinforcing the segment’s appeal among both enterprises and GCCs.
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“At the same time, the growing presence of listed operators is enhancing transparency, governance standards and occupier confidence, supporting the continued maturation of India’s flex workspace market,” Arora said. Global Capability Centres (GCCs) continued to be a key demand driver for the flex workspace segment, accounting for 44% of the total flex seat leased in H1 2026, surpassing 37% share recorded during the full year 2025.
“The biggest change in flex is not just the growth in demand – it is a change in enterprise behaviour. Companies are increasingly moving away from the old habit of taking space first and building the workplace later, towards consuming offices as a ready, scalable service. As businesses expand across India, they want speed, consistency and the ability to scale without recreating the workplace in every location,” said Neetish Sarda, Founder and Managing Director, Smartworks.
The rising share of GCCs in flex leasing underscores the segment’s growing relevance within India’s occupier landscape, with global firms increasingly integrating flexible workspace solutions into their broader real estate and expansion strategies.
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“In the pre-flex era, any company looking to expand into a new product line or vertical — which almost always meant additional seat requirements — had first to weigh the lock-ins and long-term commitments that came with traditional leases. That calculation slowed decision-making considerably. Flex has removed much of that friction. Companies can now test a new business line, a new market, or a new team structure without tying themselves down, and scale up or down as the vertical proves itself,” said Vishal Datt Wadhwa, Founder & CEO, CoWorkZen.
At the city level, Bengaluru retained its position as the largest flex market in India, with 57,487 seats leased during H1 2026, accounting for 30% of the total seat uptake and registering a 31.8% YoY growth.
Hyderabad followed with 40,451 seats, recording a robust 170.8% annual growth, emerging as one of the strongest growth markets during the period, supported by sustained demand from technology occupiers and GCCs.
Mumbai and Delhi NCR also witnessed substantial growth, with leasing volumes rising by 130% and 152.7%, respectively. Pune maintained healthy growth with a 27.8% increase in seat uptake, while Chennai saw growth of 3.6% YoY.
Ahmedabad recorded the sharpest increase in flex seat leasing, rising 570.3% YoY on a relatively smaller base. Kolkata also posted strong growth, with seat uptake increasing by 48.0% over the previous year.