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Flexible workspace operators leased 191,306 seats across India’s top eight cities during the first half of 2026, marking a 68.4% increase from 113,623 seats in the corresponding period last year, according to Cushman & Wakefield data reported by The Economic Times, Times of India and BW Businessworld. Gross leasing volume reached 8.4 million sq ft, up 55% year-on-year from 5.4 million sq ft. Flex operators accounted for nearly one-fifth of the approximately 43 million sq ft of total office leasing during the period. Global Capability Centres (GCCs) contributed 44% of flex seat demand. Bengaluru led the market with 57,487 seats, while Hyderabad and Delhi NCR recorded strong annual growth in flex seat leasing.
Flexible workspace operators accounted for nearly 20% of India’s overall office leasing in the first half of 2026, as companies increasingly adopted managed and flexible office formats to support expansion, scalability and changing workplace requirements. According to Cushman & Wakefield data, operators leased 191,306 seats across the country’s top eight cities during H1 2026, the highest half-yearly volume recorded for the segment.
Seat leasing increased 68.4% year-on-year from 113,623 seats in H1 2025. Gross leasing volume for flexible workspaces reached 8.4 million sq ft, representing a 55% increase from 5.4 million sq ft recorded during the corresponding period last year. Flex operators accounted for nearly one-fifth of the roughly 43 million sq ft of total office leasing during the first half, compared with 13% in H1 2025.
Global Capability Centres remained an important source of demand. GCCs accounted for 44% of all flex seats leased during H1 2026, compared with 37% for the full year in 2025. The increasing contribution of GCCs indicates a greater role for flexible and managed office providers in supporting corporate expansion and workforce requirements.
Ramita Arora, Executive Managing Director, Bengaluru and Head – Flex, India, Cushman & Wakefield, said flexible workspaces had become a core component of corporate real estate strategies. She noted that enterprises were increasingly using flex and managed office solutions to gain greater agility and efficiency, while GCCs were using these formats to accommodate expansion and evolving workforce needs.
The demand is also extending beyond standard coworking arrangements, with occupiers seeking customised workplaces that reflect their corporate identity and workplace culture. Flex operators are increasingly providing tailored environments incorporating technology-enabled workplace experiences, wellness-oriented design and sustainability features.
Bengaluru remained the largest market for flexible workspace leasing, accounting for 57,487 seats, or 30% of the total seat uptake in the eight-city market. Seat leasing in the city increased 31.8% year-on-year. Hyderabad followed with 40,451 seats, recording a 170.8% annual increase.
Delhi NCR recorded 21,970 seats during the period, representing a 152.7% increase from H1 2025, while Mumbai saw seat leasing rise 130% to 25,820 seats. Pune recorded 20,900 seats, up 27.8%, and Chennai accounted for 16,297 seats, an increase of 3.6% year-on-year.
Ahmedabad recorded the sharpest growth among the eight markets, with flex seat leasing increasing 570.3%, from 735 seats in H1 2025 to 4,927 seats in H1 2026. Kolkata also recorded a 48% increase, with 3,454 seats leased during the first six months of the year.
The expansion of flexible workspaces forms part of broader growth in India’s office market. Data reported in June showed gross office leasing across the top seven cities had risen 6% year-on-year to 35.7 million sq ft in H1 2026, with GCC expansion and demand from sectors including technology and BFSI supporting activity. During the second quarter, flex operators contributed more than one-fourth of quarterly office leasing, according to Colliers data.
The H1 figures indicate that flexible workspace providers are moving beyond their traditional role as an alternative office format, with their growing share of leasing reflecting their increasing use by large enterprises and GCCs alongside companies seeking more adaptable office arrangements.
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