The NEXT Real reaffirms its role as a leader in real estate development education, reflecting the economic landscape of 2026. Despite challenges, opportunities exist if one understands the structure and adjusts strategies accordingly. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, The NEXT Real is updating its curriculum to align with current real estate conditions and is now accepting applications for Class 16, while also launching a new course, “ReDev”, which focuses on redeveloping old buildings in urban areas to meet the evolving needs of cities and society. Additionally, it has partnered with three international agencies: Knight Frank, CBRE, and JLL to host a discussion on the overall landscape and direction of the Thai real estate business, emphasizing that it can continue to thrive if operators understand market conditions across various sectors.

Mr. Borisut Kasinpila, co-founder and program director of The NEXT Real, revealed that The NEXT Real was established with the idea of creating a learning space for real estate that goes beyond textbooks, focusing on sharing real experiences from industry professionals. This approach helps students understand the business structure, market trends, and actual risks that arise at different times.

“Over the past 10 years, The NEXT Real has consistently emphasized that the real estate business is always changing. Operators need to understand that each sector has different driving factors; a one-size-fits-all approach is no longer viable. Structural knowledge combined with real-world experience will be crucial decision-making tools for operators today,” he stated.

The NEXT Real is preparing to launch Class 16, which will include new content covering a broader range of real estate sectors, including Residential, Industrial & Warehouse, Office & Retail, Hotel, and Data Center, as well as properties supporting Hospitality and Wellness services. This year, they are also introducing the new course “ReDev”, focusing on the redevelopment of overlooked old buildings or land in urban areas, which represents an emerging direction in the real estate business with potential for future growth.

Given the changing landscape of the real estate business, making decisions based on reliable data is crucial for developers. Therefore, The NEXT Real has gathered three international real estate experts: Knight Frank (Thailand) Ltd., CBRE (Thailand) Ltd., and JLL (Thailand) Ltd. to provide insights for analyzing the market and trends for 2026, covering six main real estate sectors: Residential, Industrial & Warehouse, Office & Retail, Hotel, Data Center, and Land.

Mr. Nattha Khaapan, Managing Director of Knight Frank (Thailand) Ltd., stated that in 2026, the industrial sector will continue to be the main driver of the Thai real estate market, but investments will not be as dispersed as before and will concentrate in locations and projects that are genuinely ready, especially assets that can be utilized immediately and support long-term operations.

“In the office market, the acceleration of new Grade A supply will intensify competition and clearly differentiate building quality. Buildings that cannot upgrade or adapt will increasingly fall behind in the market,” Mr. Nattha added.

Ms. Pentida Srisawang, Director of CBRE (Thailand) Ltd., noted that 2026 will be a year where project developers and investors must balance risk and return amid economic uncertainty. Business opportunities remain for those who can adapt to changing consumer behaviors, both in developing new projects and upgrading existing assets, with a greater emphasis on quality and flexibility in business operations.

“Thailand is becoming a target for data center establishments by major technology companies from both the West and East, with investment promotion values exceeding 200 billion baht, and construction is already underway,” Ms. Pentida stated.

Mr. Karun Kaneyao, Senior Vice President of Investment Services for the Asia Pacific region at JLL (Thailand) Ltd., stated that the Thai real estate market in 2026 will continue to be driven by structural economic and technological changes, with investors increasingly focusing on assets that can generate long-term returns and support future growth, including development and management approaches aligned with ESG principles, which will be key factors in shaping market direction.

“The hospitality business is expected to grow significantly in Thailand. Last year, we saw a high volume of hotel transactions, and funds and international investors are keen to hold hotel real estate assets as they can generate cash flow continuously and are easily tradable,” Mr. Karun remarked.

“Amid the challenges, if we can identify opportunities, we can look ahead with precision. The real estate sector remains a crucial chain in maximizing the circulation of money within the country, which will impact various supply chains, including construction materials, decoration, labor, and the overall macroeconomic growth. Therefore, if everyone utilizes data and beneficial perspectives to find opportunities amidst challenges and adapt to the current economic conditions, the real estate sector will continue to be a major contributor to the country’s economy,” Mr. Borisut concluded.

The NEXT Real is a continuous development program for real estate developers to align with the context of the real estate market and economic conditions. It has conducted 15 classes, with over 1,800 graduates, including real estate developers, business owners, senior executives, landholders, and professionals related to real estate, all of whom are vital components of the Real Estate Ecosystem, reflecting The NEXT Real's role in connecting knowledge, networks, and strategic perspectives in this business.

For Class 16 of The NEXT Real, enrollment is open from today until March 26, 2026, with classes held every Friday for a total of 16 sessions, starting from May 8 to August 28, 2026. Interested individuals can register for the course or find more details at www.thenextreal.com or inquire further at 094-149-4446.

Additionally, the ReDev course will commence its first class from February 6 to April 3, 2026, held every Friday. Interested individuals can register for the course or find more details at www.redevshapedbythenextreal.com or inquire further at 095-691-5422.