India's Retail Sector Matures: Brands Seek Experience-Led Spaces by 2026

• India's retail sector is transitioning to a mature, quality-led recovery, focusing on experience-oriented consumption.
• Brands are increasingly discerning, prioritizing hybrid formats, premium design, and flexible layouts for leasing decisions.
• Retail leasing in Delhi-NCR saw significant growth in 2025, with fashion, apparel, and F&B leading the activity.
• Gurugram dominated retail leasing in Q4 2025, followed by Delhi and Noida, with malls securing 56% of quarterly volume.
• High-street retail and destination malls are evolving into lifestyle ecosystems, blending shopping with leisure, food, and community engagement.

Why It Matters: India's retail real estate is shifting towards experience-led, data-driven leasing, with brands seeking integrated lifestyle ecosystems.