At Bratislava Property Forum 2026, investors and market experts compared notes on where capital is actually moving in CEE real estate and what is still holding it back. The opening discussion, moderated by Rudolf Nemec MRICS, Partner & Head of Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield Slovakia, made it clear that while activity is picking up, higher financing costs, geopolitical uncertainty and stricter return expectations continue to shape how and where deals get done.

Czech real estate fund Wood & Company has bought the Royal Wilanów complex in Warsaw from Capital Park Group, in a deal worth more than €100 million. The building offers 37,000 sqm of lettable space and is fully commercialised.

Poland's retail market is on a growth trend and over the next three years total sales volume will increase by an average of 2.9% annually, while the shopping park format will dominate new supply, according to a JLL analysis.

Despite global uncertainty and stronger competition from other asset classes, Europe’s real estate market is proving more resilient than many expected. In an interview with Property Forum, Petra Blazkova, Head of Research & Strategy at Catella, argues that structural undersupply, index-linked income and disciplined development are keeping the sector on a solid footing, while investors increasingly shift from broad sector bets to highly selective, asset-level strategies.

Investment activity in Slovakia is showing clear signs of recovery, supported by improving sentiment and renewed capital flows across Europe. We report from Bratislava Property Forum 2026.

CTP is pushing ahead with an ambitious growth strategy, targeting a near doubling of its portfolio by 2030 while expanding across CEE and beyond. In an interview with Property Forum, Rob Jones, Head of Investor Relations, explains how strong tenant demand, a vast land bank and a disciplined development approach continue to support one of Europe’s most active logistics platforms.

ECE Real Estate Partners and Bonitas Investment Fund Management have completed the sale of Árkád Szeged shopping centre in Hungary from ECE European Prime Shopping Centre Fund II to HOME Ingatlanfejlesztő Alap, a Hungarian real estate fund. The transaction closed on March 19, 2026, with both parties keeping the purchase price confidential.

Lidl Romania continues to invest in the country and announces for the financial year 2026 (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027) an expansion plan of over €285 million, dedicated exclusively to extending the national network with over 40 new stores.

Poland’s recent cycle of interest rate cuts has improved financing conditions and reinforced investor appetite for major cities across CEE. It has also intensified the race for the remaining attractive buildings and development plots in core locations. In this competitive environment, institutional investors benefit most when they work with platforms that manage the entire process from A to Z – from identifying and acquiring the right site or standing asset, through design, permitting and construction, all the way to long‑term operation and asset management, ensuring stable returns on capital. 

Logistics investor Prologis enters 2026 with plans to significantly expand its footprint in the Czech Republic, targeting up to 178,000 sqm of new development in prime logistics hubs.