Europe continues to play a prominent role in the strategies of international real estate investors. According to INREV, the European Association for Investors in Non-Listed Real Estate Vehicles, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain are among investors’ preferred European markets in 2026. This interest is emerging in an environment in which capital allocation requires greater selectivity across assets, geographies and risk profiles.
This current landscape will be examined at The District 2026, Europe’s largest event dedicated to Real Estate from a capital markets perspective, which will take place from 22 to 24 September at IFEMA Madrid. Madrid ranks second among European cities with the strongest real estate investment and development prospects for 2026, according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate Europe report produced by PwC and the Urban Land Institute. This position reinforces the Spanish capital’s role as a meeting point for anticipating the next moves of international capital.
The District 2026 will therefore bring together senior executives from major asset managers, private equity funds, debt specialists and investment platforms in Madrid to analyse Europe’s positioning and the growth of strategies such as value-add and core-plus. Leading voices will include Samir Amichi of Blackstone; Donato Saponara of PIMCO; Pedro Correia of Brookfield; Luis Huete of Ardian; José Carlos Torres of Barings; Javier de Castro of Harrison Street; Jon Asumendi of Starwood; Juan Manuel Acosta of Rockfield; Michael Abel of Greykite; and Cristina García-Peri of Azora, among other international figures who will share their perspectives on the evolution of the market.
The event will explore how capital is responding to stabilising interest rates, the gradual recovery of liquidity and the need to generate returns beyond the mere acquisition of assets. It will also address which managers have the capacity to transform properties, professionalise their operations and adapt their portfolios to new operational and environmental requirements.
Europe seeks to strengthen its position on the global stage
The Draghi report estimates that the European Union will require between €750 billion and €800 billion in additional annual investment until 2030 to meet its strategic objectives. This need places capital mobilisation and European competitiveness at the heart of a debate that also concerns cities and their ability to attract investment. Experts such as Frédéric Jariel of Tikehau Capital; Geoffrey Pourtales of TPG; and Ariadna Nijssen of Stoneweg will explore how demographics, technology and urban heritage are reshaping the attractiveness of different markets. The growing interest from investors in Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the new opportunities this creates for Europe, will also be examined.
Execution becomes the competitive advantage in value-add strategies
According to the European Commission, 75% of buildings in the European Union have poor energy performance, while the annual renovation rate remains at around 1%. Modernising assets is therefore becoming essential to preserving their competitiveness, rental income and value.
Against this backdrop, acquiring assets at a discount no longer guarantees returns. Opportunities range from offices requiring extensive repositioning to commercial and industrial assets whose valuations are affected by ESG upgrades, as well as rental housing offering scope for more professional management. Banks’ decreasing willingness to finance transition risk is also creating additional opportunities for specialised capital. Experts such as Joaquín Castellví of Stoneweg and Amroy Lal of LaSalle Investment Management will examine which managers can turn an investment thesis into an executable transformation strategy.
Core-plus gains ground among institutional investors
According to JLL, European investment in living assets is expected to exceed €70 billion in 2026, following growth of 22% during 2025. This increase reflects the appeal of assets supported by structural demand and helps explain the growing prominence of core-plus strategies in institutional portfolios.
This strategy prioritises properties that already generate income but still offer potential through occupancy improvements, lease reviews, more efficient management or ESG upgrades. The approach is gaining ground in build-to-rent, student accommodation and affordable housing, as well as in well-located but under-managed office and logistics assets.
Its appeal lies in combining more limited execution risk than pure value-add strategies with higher potential returns than traditional core investments. Marta Cladera of Nuveen will examine where the boundary between core-plus and value-add currently lies and which strategies are attracting the greatest interest from European institutional capital.
