Our general managers see firsthand how work is changing across industries and regions. We asked them to share the patterns they’re noticing and the signals they believe will define the year ahead. Their insights point to seven key themes that explore how people will gather, workplaces will adapt, and organizations will reimagine culture and technology in 2026.
Insight #1: COVID’s Legacy Will Keep Shaping Work
While the pandemic may feel like it’s behind us, its cultural and structural aftershocks continue to ripple through the workplace. Post COVID, the pendulum swung from fully remote setups to rigid return-to-office mandates. In the years since, many organizations have recalibrated, finding ways to accommodate flexibility. This balancing act will continue to define workplace strategy in 2026.
As John Land, GM of CIC St. Louis, notes: “COVID showed us that many of the assumptions we held about work simply weren’t true. Once the model of full-time, in-person work was broken, it became clear that remote work could also support productivity. At the same time, fully remote work created new challenges, from loneliness to a lack of connection and mentorship. The future lies in balancing the best of both worlds.”
COVID’s legacy will continue to shape not only how we work, but where we work. The real estate landscape will keep reflecting this shift as large, traditional office towers give way to flexible workspace providers like CIC. Companies will increasingly seek environments that keep them agile in uncertain times and responsive to the evolving needs of their teams.
Insight #2: Hybrid Work Will Mature Into a Smarter System
Hybrid work has firmly established itself as the new norm. In both Europe and the U.S., a three-days-in, two-days-remote rhythm will remain common, with our campuses seeing the highest foot traffic from Tuesday through Thursday. At CIC Tokyo, the pattern looks slightly different, with Mondays through Thursdays being the busiest and Fridays becoming the preferred remote day.
By 2026, the focus will no longer be on counting days in the office. Organizations will instead design their hybrid strategies around the moments that matter most for in-person connection. Offices will increasingly serve as hubs for collaboration, alignment, and community rather than places for routine solo work.
This shift is already visible across CIC’s global campuses, and it will only accelerate in the year ahead. Many client companies will employ more people than they have desks, a structure that works because teams rarely arrive all at once. When they do, they will gather in flexible event spaces or conference rooms built for meaningful interaction. At the same time, demand will continue to rise for private offices with dedicated en suites that support seamless virtual calls, hybrid meetings, and visiting team members.
Insight #3. Flexibility Will Become Non-Negotiable
In 2026, companies will not reverse course on flexibility. Instead, they will demand more options that align with unpredictable occupancy patterns.
With 86 percent of meetings now including at least one remote participant, CIC St. Louis is retooling conference room layouts to create more small spaces designed for hybrid calls. In Cambridge, child-friendly conference rooms are making the workplace more inclusive for parents who experienced the benefits of better work-life balance during remote work. Across CIC’s global network, membership models are also evolving to meet these new realities.
As Jerzy Brodzikowski, GM of CIC Warsaw, explains: “The world of work is changing rapidly, and companies need flexibility to match. At CIC Warsaw, we are seeing organizations rethink how they use their space. A 50-person company may only need desks for 10, but they may require 30 access cards. Flexibility is no longer optional; it is the expectation.”
Insight #4: Gathering Will Become Essential
Nearly one in five employees globally report feeling lonely at work, with fully remote workers the most affected. In 2026, people will increasingly come together not out of obligation, but out of choice.
“People are finally seeing a real value in getting together in person that is outlasting return-to-office mandates and outpacing the convenience of totally remote work. We’re understanding we get more done, we’re happier, and we do better work when we see each other face-to-face.” notes John Land, GM, CIC St. Louis
Across CIC campuses, event space rentals are on the rise, and demand for community programming continues to grow as members look for opportunities to connect beyond their own companies. CIC Warsaw’s New Client Brunch and Terrace Networking Series have become signature gatherings that foster meaningful connections. In Rotterdam, the CIC Monthly has established itself as a cornerstone networking event for the local innovation community. At CIC Massachusetts, the weekly Community Breakfasts remain a cherished tradition, bringing members together and highlighting the value of face-to-face connection.
Insight #5: Culture Will Drive Space Decisions
The return-to-office conversation is no longer about mandates. In the coming year, leaders will view the workplace as a powerful lever for culture, employee experience, and community, and they will invest in the infrastructure and policies to make that vision real.
Stacey Messier, GM of CIC New England shared, “Companies are finally reconciling whether their spaces truly serve them. Return-to-office mandates have faded from the headlines, and the focus has shifted back to culture. In 2026, leaders will listen to employees, improve hybrid systems, and invest in wellness spaces that support how people really work.”
The data reinforces this shift. In a 2024 CIC-sponsored Harvard Business Review Report, 88 percent of business leaders said workplace decisions should be a priority, and 97 percent agreed those decisions directly impact company culture. By 2026, this will no longer be just a priority discussed in boardrooms. It will be a priority acted on, shaping how organizations design spaces that foster connection, collaboration, and well-being.
Insight #6: AI Will Transform the Physical Workspace
Until now, most people have interacted with AI through screens, most often as chatbots or digital assistants. By 2026, AI will step off the screen and into the spaces where we work.
Our GMs predict that offices may feel more responsive and human-centered: AI systems could track how people move through a workspace to anticipate cafeteria demand, reduce bottlenecks at coffee stations, or guide more efficient use of meeting rooms. Buildings themselves may become “smart collaborators,” adjusting lighting, HVAC, and ambiance automatically in response to occupancy or weather. Beyond the infrastructure, wearables and AR/VR tools will not only grow more stylish but also become a natural part of everyday work life.
Insight #7: Innovation Hubs Will Anchor the Future of Work
As industries evolve, cities will double down on innovation hubs as engines of economic growth and community.
We’re already seeing this take shape with New York City’s investment in BATWorks, a cutting-edge climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, which will be operated by CIC and LACI. By 2026, more of these large-scale initiatives will emerge as companies recognize that shared facilities provide access to resources they could not sustain on their own, and that the power of proximity and collaboration can accelerate innovation.
This momentum will also be visible on a smaller scale. Across CIC campuses, organic clusters will continue to form as AI companies and other high-growth sectors increasingly choose to work side by side. These hubs will not simply be infrastructure. They will be ecosystems that spark collaboration, fuel breakthroughs, and anchor the future of work.
Looking Ahead
The future of work is not defined by a single trend. It is a mosaic of shifting habits, emerging technologies, and evolving expectations. From pandemic legacies to AI-enabled offices, one theme ties everything together: people want workplaces that feel more human, more intentional, and more connected.
CIC is proud to help shape that future. Every day, our teams create the communities and spaces where tomorrow’s work and tomorrow’s innovation can thrive.
