San Francisco — Global architecture and design firm Gensler has released its 2026 Design Forecast, identifying the critical forces reshaping cities, real estate value, and the built environment amid accelerating technological, economic, and climate change.
The annual report marks a turning point for the design industry, highlighting how artificial intelligence, adaptability, and human-centered innovation are converging to redefine how cities are planned, built, and experienced. For the first time, the forecast introduces country- and region-specific insights, showing how global trends are interpreted through local priorities across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other regions.
The expanded digital edition of the forecast features interactive visualisations, insights from Gensler’s City Pulse research, and practical findings drawn from the firm’s 33 global practice areas, offering actionable guidance for developers, city leaders, and organisations navigating an era of uncertainty.
“Design has always been about imagining what’s next,” said Gensler Co-CEOs Jordan Goldstein and Elizabeth Brink. “Today, AI is not just accelerating our work — it’s revealing new patterns in human behaviour. At the same time, economic volatility makes agility essential. The organisations that succeed will be those that combine data-driven intelligence with human imagination.”
Six Trends Defining Design in 2026
Gensler’s forecast outlines six major trends shaping the future of the built environment:
- Experience Drives Real Estate Value
Emotional connection, storytelling, and immersive experiences are becoming more important than scale, with destinations attracting people through meaning rather than size. - The Next Workplace Evolution
As competition for talent intensifies, organisations are rethinking workplace interiors to strengthen culture, purpose, and innovation beyond post-pandemic norms. - Agility Turns Volatility into Opportunity
Rising construction costs and supply chain disruptions are making predictive intelligence and design flexibility essential to maintaining project viability. - AI Transforms Design Possibilities
AI is emerging as a creative partner, enabling designers to analyse behaviour, prototype faster, and reimagine spaces with unprecedented speed and precision. - Adaptive Reuse Reshapes Urban Form
Cities are blurring boundaries as stadiums, transit hubs, and former retail spaces evolve into mixed-use civic, cultural, and educational destinations. - Climate Resilience Becomes Non-Negotiable
As extreme weather intensifies, urban environments must be flexible, durable, and regenerative to remain viable and competitive.
As cities face mounting technological and environmental pressures, the 2026 Design Forecast positions design as a strategic tool for turning complexity into opportunity. By embracing AI-driven insights, adaptive reuse, and regenerative practices, Gensler aims to help clients create resilient, future-ready environments that support long-term social, economic, and environmental value.
