Berlin's office space market has made a dynamic start to 2026. In the first quarter, around 140,000 m² of office space was brokered, significantly more than in the same period last year (approx. 123,800 m²).
"The market is back, and much more lively than many expected just a few months ago. We see that companies are acting more courageously again and no longer postponing decisions," says Aissatou Frisch Baldé, Head of Commercial Leasing at Engel & Völkers Commercial Berlin.
Engel & Völkers Commercial was able to further expand its market position and brokered around 7,523 m² of office space with 23 leases in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1 2025: 5,240 m² with 20 leases). This means that the brokerage house has accompanied the most deals on the Berlin office market in the current year.
The average rent in the first quarter of 2026 was 25.40 euros/m² (Q1 2025: 26.37 euros/m²), while the prime rent rose to 46.00 euros/m² (Q1 2025: 45.00 euros/m²). This development shows an increasing differentiation in the market. High-quality new-build space in prime locations remains in high demand, but users in secondary locations or in existing properties are generally more price-sensitive. "Anyone who is currently close to the market can see that demand is there, but it is becoming more selective," says Frisch Baldé.
Impulses come in particular from the technology sector. High-growth European software and platform companies are driving demand for modern office space. Examples include companies such as JetBrains and Doctolib, which are continuing to expand their presence in Berlin.
At the same time, the signals for a return of large-volume rentals are increasing. Corresponding applications for space are increasingly visible in the market again, but in many cases could not yet be finalised in the first quarter.
For 2026 as a whole, Engel & Völkers Commercial expects a total take-up of 600,000 to 650,000 m² in Berlin. "The big deals haven't disappeared, they've just shifted. I assume that we will see some larger deals in 2026," explains Frisch Baldé.
