Global Cities Retail Guide 2026

Embark on a global journey through the world’s most dynamic retail markets, expanding beyond Europe to uncover prime opportunities from New York to Tokyo, Dubai to Sydney.

Exploring Global Retail Dynamics

The 2026 Global Cities Retail Guide marks a bold return to its global roots to deliver comprehensive insights across the world's most dynamic retail markets, from Europe and North America to Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

Guide Overview

This flagship 2026 edition covers prime rents, consumer trends, footfall dynamics, and growth forecasts for key cities worldwide, from Europe and North America to Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and beyond. Interactive country-then-city navigation provides retailers and investors with tailored market snapshots, blending local culture, brand-fit analysis, and strategic expansion intelligence.

Select your region below to explore:

Strategic Value

Enables data-driven site selection by comparing high-street visibility, mall performance, and profitability across global hotspots, far surpassing regional benchmarks.
Mitigates cross-continental expansion risks with in-depth reports on retail evolution, dining shifts, and urban consumer behaviours.
Supports luxury, experiential, and omnichannel retail strategies with forward-looking forecasts for 2026 and beyond.
Unlocks local culture insights, revealing unique consumer behaviours, footfall patterns, and retail/dining dynamics essential for global success.

How the World Changed Since Last Year

Since last year's edition, retail markets worldwide have shifted markedly. Geopolitical events, supply chain adjustments, artificial intelligence and technology-driven consumer behaviors have reshaped high streets, malls, and omnichannel experiences across continents. This 2026 guide reflects those changes with updated prime rents, footfall data, and growth forecasts for 100+ cities, delivering the timely intelligence retail brands need for confident global expansion. Stay equipped with the latest insights to ensure your strategies are aligned with fast-evolving markets full of new opportunities.

Why This Matters

Local Culture & Trends

Every city has its own consumer behaviours, footfall patterns, and retail and dining dynamics - understanding these is crucial for success.

Strategic Expansion

Well-chosen locations can maximise visibility, brand synergy, and profitability in a competitive marketplace, whether in bustling city centres or popular shopping malls.

Risk Mitigation

In-depth market intelligence reduces the uncertainty of cross-border or new-market ventures, helping you confidently navigate high-street and shopping centre opportunities.

End-to-End Advisory

Cushman & Wakefield’s retail experts provide a full range of services, from initial market analysis to final lease transactions, tailored to diverse retail formats, including shopping centres and city high streets.

Cushman & Wakefield Global Retail Expertise

Backed by our global retail advisory powerhouse, the guide integrates seamlessly with services like lease negotiations, market entry consulting, and portfolio optimization, spanning high streets, malls, logistics, and emerging formats worldwide.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Retail platform brings together market-leading expertise, deep local knowledge and a globally connected team to support brands, investors and developers navigating today’s fast-evolving retail landscape. With more than 2,000 retail professionals across the Americas, EMEA and APAC, the global retail team combines unmatched relationships and execution, industry-leading expertise and data-led insights to deliver results at every stage of the retail lifecycle.

Alanna Loeffler

Managing Director of Business Strategy
Costa Mesa, United States

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Robert Travers

International Partner, Head of EMEA Retail
Barcelona, Spain

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Ben Binns

Head of Agency, Cross Border Retail & Leisure Services
London, United Kingdom

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Sona Aggarwal

Managing Director, Head of Retail Sales and Strategy (APAC)
Singapore, Singapore

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TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Learn how Cushman & Wakefield can support your retail ambitions.
From global brands to local developers, we help clients create retail strategies that perform in today’s dynamic market. With deep expertise across leasing, investment and operations, we partner with clients to deliver solutions that drive revenue, strengthen portfolios and bring retail visions to life, with impact that lasts.

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Dedicated to Yvonne Court on Her Retirement

This 2026 edition is dedicated to Yvonne Court, International Partner and Head of EMEA Cross Border Retail and Leisure. Having launched the guide in 1999, she has led every edition since during her 36-year career at Cushman & Wakefield, guiding countless retail brands through cross-border expansions. Following her retirement, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her enduring contributions.

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