Retail parks remain the key driver of new supply
At the end of Q3 2026, the stock of modern retail space in Poland stood at 17.3 million sqm. Between July and the end of September, the market expanded by 128,000 sqm of new space, 36.2% more than in the corresponding period of the previous year. Retail parks accounted for more than 90% of new supply, continuing to strengthen their position both in smaller cities and on the outskirts of the country’s largest metropolitan areas.
The largest schemes delivered in Q3 included OTO Park Siemianowice Śląskie, offering 20,500 sqm, S1 Rybnik with 19,500 sqm, Park Handlowy Ku Słońcu in Szczecin with 11,000 sqm and Park Handlowy Sekunda in Włoszczowa with 10,200 sqm.
Development activity also remains high looking ahead to the coming quarters. At the end of September, 532,000 sqm of new retail space was under construction, while a further 125,300 sqm was attributable to projects involving the reformatting and extension of existing schemes. The largest projects currently under construction include BIG Piła, PH Świderek in Otwock, Brama Bieszczad in Sanok and BIG Konstantynów Łódzki.
“Retail parks remain one of the main areas of growth in the Polish retail market. The format responds well to the needs of consumers looking for convenient and easily accessible shopping destinations, while at the same time continuing to evolve. We are increasingly seeing brands previously associated primarily with traditional shopping centres entering retail parks, alongside the growing importance of food and beverage, entertainment and services. This shows that the segment is maturing and gradually expanding its role beyond its core retail offering,” says Anna Pływacz, Director of Retail Leasing at BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland.
Low vacancy rates confirm strong market absorption
Despite high development activity, the market remains well balanced. The average vacancy rate across Poland’s eight largest metropolitan areas stood at 2.5% in H1 2026, down by 0.3 percentage points year-on-year.
The lowest level of available space was recorded in Szczecin, where the vacancy rate stood at 0.9%. This was followed by the Tricity at 2.0%, while Warsaw and Kraków each recorded 2.1%. The highest vacancy rates among the analysed metropolitan areas were recorded in Katowice GZM at 3.4%, Łódź at 3.3% and Poznań at 3.2%
Turnover grows faster than footfall
The strong performance of existing retail schemes is also reflected in footfall and sales figures. Between January and August 2026, shopping centre footfall increased by 0.8% compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, while turnover rose by 2.3%.
Retail sales in September 2026 were 3.3% higher than a year earlier. At the same time, the current consumer confidence indicator stood at -10.8% in Q3, pointing to continued caution among consumers.
Despite cautious consumer sentiment, customers continue to actively use physical retail. Stable footfall and growing turnover mean that the quality of retail schemes and the attractiveness of their tenant mix are becoming increasingly important. The best-positioned projects, combining retail with food and beverage, services and entertainment, are well placed to maintain the interest of both consumers and tenants.
New brands continue to choose Poland
Q3 brought further brand debuts on the Polish market. New concepts included fashion brands Beverly Hills Polo Club at Centrum Riviera in Gdynia, kay/day and Kappahl baby at Galeria Krakowska, VILA at Posnania and Coosh in Warsaw. In the home furnishings segment, Sensey and Etnika also entered the market, with both brands available at Domoteka in Warsaw.
The diversity of new concepts entering the market reflects the ongoing evolution of Polish retail schemes. Alongside their traditional shopping function, services, food and beverage and entertainment are playing an increasingly important role
Prime locations maintain their strong position
The healthy condition of the market and continued tenant interest are reinforcing the position of the best retail locations.
“The healthy condition of the market is also reflected in rental levels. In Q3 2026, prime rents in Poland’s leading shopping centres reached EUR 180/sqm/month for units of approximately 100 sqm, while leading retail parks achieved rents of EUR 19.50/sqm/month. This demonstrates that the most attractive and well-positioned schemes continue to maintain a strong market position,” comments Renata Weikert, Senior Consultant at BNP Paribas Real Estate Poland.
High development activity, low vacancy rates and the solid performance of retail schemes confirm the stable condition of the Polish market. Its structure continues to evolve, driven by the growing role of retail parks and the expansion of food and beverage, entertainment and service offerings, which enhance the attractiveness of retail destinations for both consumers and tenants.
