The 2026 ULI Europe Conference brought together real estate leaders to take stock of where the European market stands today and where it is heading. Across a series of sessions covering investment strategy, capital markets, climate risk and technology, several clear themes emerged. We report from Berlin to summarise the five most significant ones.

Munich-based Arcona Capital and Warsaw-listed Reino Capital have finalised terms for a strategic partnership to establish a pan-European investment platform. The collaboration leverages Arcona's operational presence in Prague and its roots in the Czech market to provide institutional investors with a vehicle for cross-border real estate investment.

SquarePlan, the AI-powered PropTech company, has secured new funding from Movens Capital. The round brings the company's total capital raised to $3 million and will be used to accelerate its expansion into new international markets.

As higher financing costs and slower economic growth force investors to become more selective, resilience has become one of the most important themes in real estate. But what makes an asset truly resilient today? Speakers at the closing panel of Prague Property Forum 2026 argued that the answer lies in adaptability, strong fundamentals and the ability to meet changing occupier needs, regardless of sector.

Poland's commercial real estate investment market has delivered increasing performance in the first five months of 2026, with total investment volume reaching approximately €2.3 billion across around 50 deals, according to Avison Young Poland. 

As traditional real estate sectors mature, investors are increasingly looking to residential rental housing, co-living, student accommodation and data centres for growth. While demand drivers remain strong, these sectors are still evolving, with questions around regulation, financing, market liquidity and operational models shaping investment decisions. At Future of Real Estate 2026, industry leaders discussed where the biggest opportunities lie and what needs to happen for these asset classes to scale further in Poland and across CEE.

Poland continues to attract investors from across Europe, but the profile of that capital is changing. As regional players become more active and some Western institutions take a more cautious approach, new opportunities are emerging across a range of sectors. Speakers of the first panel at Future of Real Estate 2026, a conference organised in Warsaw, agreed that the country’s strong economic fundamentals remain intact, but unlocking the next wave of growth will require greater market liquidity, larger investment platforms and a deeper pool of domestic and regional capital.

Colliers has released its 2025 Global Sustainability Report, showing progress against its sustainability commitments including reduced emissions intensity, enhanced workplace experience, strengthened governance and ethics, and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.

GTC reported rental and service revenue of €53 million in Q1 2026, up 7% from €50 million in Q1 2025, driven by 4% like-for-like growth in rental income. The increase was primarily supported by higher rents in Poland, particularly in shopping malls, as well as strong performance from properties in Sofia and Belgrade.

Rising borrowing costs and a more uncertain economic outlook have undoubtedly changed the way real estate projects are financed, but market participants suggested that access to debt remains relatively healthy for the right opportunities. The focus has shifted from chasing growth to assessing resilience, with lenders placing greater emphasis on cash flow, sector fundamentals and sponsor quality. These themes dominated the financing discussion at Prague Property Forum 2026.