Coworking trends 2026: 300+ global experts reveal the future of work

The coworking industry is growing up. We’ve moved past the days of just selling "cool desks" and free beer. As we look toward 2026, the focus is shifting to something deeper: smarter tech, cross-collaboration, and—most importantly—real human connection.

To get the full picture we asked over 300 coworking space owners and industry leaders from 15+ countries—from Australia to Ukraine, Japan to Germany, and India to Canada—to share their single biggest forecast for 2026.

Here is what they told us.

 

The 6 major trends for 2026

 

1. The rise of the "super-hub" & cross-collaboration

Competition is out; collaboration is in. In 2026, specialized spaces will stop fighting each other and start referring members to build "super-hubs."

• Kat Dementyeva (CIC Berlin) & Lau Licciardi (MotionLab.Berlin, Germany): These neighbors are leading the way. They believe the future is "synergy, not just a buzzword." By connecting CIC’s premium offices with MotionLab’s hard-tech maker space, they stop seeing each other as competitors and start offering a "cross-contaminated" ecosystem where members get the best of both worlds.
• Ashley Proctor (Creative Blueprint, Canada): Predicts the rise of "multi-purpose community hubs." She wants to see spaces with "10 reasons to visit," combining coworking with cafes, maker spaces, event venues, and university partnerships.
• Jim Groves (Rubberdesk, Australia/UK): "Hyper-specialisation is set to be a major trend. The value lies in being laser-focused on a specific sector."
• Dean Connell (I-AM.D.C, UK): Adds that successful spaces need a specific "hook"—an activity or shared interest that "pulls people together and goes beyond the desk module."
• Maximilian von der Ahé (Betahaus, Germany): Reinforces this, noting that "content, content, content" is the key. Customers need to experience more than just an office; they need a distinct value proposition and niche to feel happy.

 

2. The "squeezed middle" & consolidation

The market is polarizing. You either get big and efficient, or you get niche and personal. If you are stuck in the middle, 2026 will be tough.

• Tim Schabsky (Rivvers/United Workspace, Germany): Believes 2026 marks the year of "accelerated consolidation and growing professionalization." He notes that demand aggregators will face challenging times as direct business increases, and large organizations will further adopt flex models.
• Zoe Ellis-Moore (Spaces to Places, UK): Agrees, stating that success won't come from who scales fastest, but "who operates smartest." She predicts providers must compete on "brand substance, ESG credentials, and data-driven operational excellence" as flex matures into mainstream real estate.
• Ben Kolp (The Living Room, Spain): "The market will become either more community-focused... or corporate servicing big flex office spaces. Anyone who is in between... will have a very hard time."
• Ed Bouterse (Savills, Netherlands): Confirms the strength of the big players, noting that despite the niche trend, the market largely favors "larger, flexible, hybrid spaces backed by big operators who can scale, offer diverse services, and integrate advanced technology."
• Nir Kelner (Brain Embassy) & Olivier Kegels (Humgy Cowork, Belgium): Both point to the same structural shift: management agreements. The days of signing risky leases are ending; smart operators are partnering with landlords to share the risk and reward.
• Claus Bornholt (Westhive, Switzerland) & Benjamin Nick (Unicorn Workspaces, Germany): Both see "Landlord-Operator Partnerships" and landlords becoming operators themselves (via acquisition) as a defining shift.
• Bruno Rebille (Choose and Work, France) : Warns that the market is "likely to consolidate." Actors who invested too heavily without controlling costs will face restructuring, while prices and rents continue to rise.

 

3. AI as the "boring stuff" killer

There is a fear that AI will replace staff. Our experts say the opposite: AI will handle the admin so your staff can actually talk to members.

• Carsten Foertsch (Deskmag, Global): "My hope is [operators] aim at empowering their teams... by automating repetitive tasks, not eliminating jobs. The saved time can then be reallocated to community building."
• Maudy Westerveld (EBC Amsterdam, Netherlands): "All the boring stuff will go out and the fun stuff will come in." She sees AI agents handling the routine so her team can focus on personal contact.
• Thom Wernke (StartDock Coworking, Netherlands): Confirms that "AI is going to play a big role" in getting the Amsterdam market back on track.
• Benjamin Nick (Unicorn Workspaces, Germany): Takes the tech trend further into the physical space, predicting the rise of "sensors in office plants" and smarter environments.
• Markus Hummelsberger (1000 Satellites, Germany**):** Simply puts it as the rise of "smart offices" driven by efficiency.

 

4. Hospitality & wellness over "office space"

Coworking is no longer real estate; it is the hospitality industry.

• Manuel Zea (CoworkingSpain, Spain**):** "Hospitality is going to be the key factor." Big operators are expanding, but the differentiator is high-level service.
• Dean Connell (I-AM.D.C, UK): Explicitly mentions "designing spaces to look like hotels" as a major direction.
• Katri Tuori (The Instant Group): Asks the vital question for 2026: "How can coworking operators sell the value of a healthy environment and increase profit margins?" She argues that a "healthy, inspiring physical environment increases wellbeing and thus productivity."
• Vanessa Sans (Happy Working Lab, Spain): Predicts a surge in "wellness at work." It’s not just about ergonomics; it’s about integrating health practices into the daily coworking plan.
• Xavi Bassons (Monday, Spain): Sees the differentiator moving toward "personal services" for members.
• Jean-Yves Huwart (Coworking Europe, Belgium): Sees spaces becoming "solution-driven" environments that integrate wellness, F&B, and social activity to create a truly "livable place."

 

5. Community: the only retention tool that matters

In a world of remote work, people are lonely. Your space’s ability to cure that loneliness is your biggest asset.

• Yuta Aoki (JCCO, Japan): "The keyword is 'evaluation of community'." Owners are now judging operators specifically on their ability to build genuine connection, not just fill desks.
• Maximilian von der Ahé (Betahaus, Germany): Advises operators to "grow slow and build sustainable." He believes customers don't care about using many locations of a chain; they care about "true community."
• Melanie Burnier (The Workhub, Switzerland): Notes that while big players focus on buildings, "small players can make their way out by focusing on human[s] and community."
• Hidekuni Takagi (TAKAGI BUILDING, Japan): Is focusing entirely on "Community Managers" to create culture and connect local industries with global partners.

 

6. The corporate migration

It’s not just freelancers anymore. Big companies (and SMEs) are moving in.

• Alexandra Bernhardt (German Coworking Federation): Predicts a shift where SMEs realize "mobile working" doesn't just mean "home office." It means working from a coworking space near home to boost employee happiness.
• Monika Reiman (CitySpace, Poland): Sees "more and more inquiries from corporate clients." Big business wants the ability to scale up and down without long-term leases.
• Markus Hummelsberger (1000 Satellites, Germany): Points out that this shift is placing "increasing pressure on landlords and the traditional office market" to adapt or lose tenants.

 

🌍 Regional spotlights: the local flavor

While the big themes are global, our research found fascinating local nuances:

 

🛑 What's overrated? (the "anti-trends")

We asked our experts what won't survive 2026. Here is the warning list:

1. The "middle ground": Being neither a boutique community nor a corporate machine. (Ben Kolp)
2. "Instagrammability": Focusing on looks over function. (Sascha Hartmann)
3. Manufactured events: Forced "fun" events that don't build real bonds. (Zoe Ellis-Moore)
4. Unlimited "chaos": Flexibility without rules or structure. (UStart)
5. Overestimating flexibility: Thinking flexibility alone is enough value; members need structure and service. (Patrik Åström)
6. Hyper-local hype: The idea that ultra-niche is the only future model is overrated; big hybrid spaces will still dominate. (Ed Bouterse)
7. Misusing "coworking": Marketing campaigns that use the word but exclude the actual community. (Carsten Foertsch)

 

🔄 The great shift: 2025 vs. 2026

If 2025 was about stabilizing the hybrid model, 2026 is about specializing and professionalizing.

 

🎥 Watch the expert interviews

Want to hear it directly from the source? Check out our video playlist featuring in-depth forecasts from this year's participants.

A huge thank you to all the experts who contributed to this research!

Jim Groves, Carsten Foertsch, UStart Team, Kat Dementyeva, Lau Licciardi, Ashley Proctor, Ben Kolp, Bruno Rebille, Elias Kumanoff, Hidekuni Takagi, Jean-Yves Huwart, Manuel Zea, Maudy Westerveld, Melanie Burnier, Monika Reiman, Nir Kelner, Olivier Kegels, Saurabh Doshi, Szilvia Filep, Thom Wernke, Vanessa Sans, Yuta Aoki, Zoe Ellis-Moore, Sascha Hartmann, Dean Connell, Benjamin Nick, Tim Schabsky, Claus Bornholt, Oscar Garcia Toledo, Ed Bouterse, John Milhado, Katri Tuori, Rafał Pisklewicz, Xavi Bassons, Patrik Åström, Maximilian von der Ahé, Markus Hummelsberger, Pauline Roussel, and many more.