India's Flex Workspace Market Hits Record H1 With 191,306 Seats

India’s flexible workspace sector records its strongest first half in 2026, with 191,306 seats leased across eight cities, driven by GCC demand and rising preference for scalable, technology-enabled office solutions.

India’s flexible workspace sector records its strongest first half on record in 2026, with operators leasing 191,306 seats across the country’s top eight cities. According to Cushman & Wakefield, seat leasing rises 68.4% year-on-year from 113,623 seats in H1 2025, reflecting increasing demand for workplace flexibility, scalability and faster business expansion.

Flexible workspace operators also record 8.4 million square feet (MSF) of gross leasing volume (GLV) during the first half, marking the segment’s highest-ever half-yearly performance. The figure represents a 55% increase from 5.4 MSF in H1 2025. Flex operators account for nearly 20% of the approximately 43 MSF of total office leasing during the period, compared with 13% in the corresponding period last year.

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The growth is being supported significantly by Global Capability Centres (GCCs). GCCs account for 44% of total flex seats leased during H1 2026, compared with 37% for the full year 2025. The rising share indicates that global companies are increasingly incorporating flexible and managed office solutions into their expansion and workplace strategies.

Bengaluru remains India’s largest flexible workspace market, accounting for 57,487 seats, or 30% of total seat uptake. Leasing in the city grows 31.8% year-on-year. Hyderabad follows with 40,451 seats and records a substantial 170.8% annual increase, supported by technology companies and GCC activity.

Other major markets also register strong growth. Mumbai records 25,820 seats, representing a 130% increase, while Delhi-NCR sees leasing rise 152.7% to 21,970 seats. Pune records 20,900 seats, up 27.8%, and Chennai posts a modest 3.6% increase to 16,297 seats. Ahmedabad records the highest percentage growth, with seat leasing rising 570.3% to 4,927 seats, while Kolkata grows 48% to 3,454 seats.

The performance indicates that flexible offices are moving beyond their traditional role as short-term alternatives to conventional workplaces. Enterprises are increasingly seeking customised, experience-led offices that combine global workplace standards with technology-enabled services, wellness features and sustainability considerations.

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Ramita Arora, Executive Managing Director, Bengaluru, and Head-Flex, India, at Cushman & Wakefield, says flexible workspaces are becoming a core component of corporate real estate strategies. The increasing participation of listed operators is also improving transparency, governance and occupier confidence.

With enterprise and GCC demand continuing to strengthen, India’s flexible workspace sector is positioned for further expansion. The record H1 performance demonstrates its growing importance within the country’s office market and signals a broader shift towards agile and technology-enabled workplace models.