Citi Wealth's 2026 Global Family Office Survey shows Asia-Pacific offices posting the strongest returns and the highest direct-investing participation of any region, a sign of a fast-maturing local investment style rather than just a lucky year in markets.

TL;DR

  • Citi Wealth surveyed 351 family offices across 41 countries in June-July 2026; 22% of respondents were from Asia Pacific.
  • 26% of APAC family offices reported year-to-date returns above 15%, the highest of any region, and 79% engage in direct investing, also the highest globally.
  • 80% name AI as their top sector focus, but 53% also cite global financial system stability as a leading concern.

What did Citi Wealth's 2026 survey find about APAC family offices?

Citi Wealth's Global Family Office Survey drew on responses from 351 family offices in 41 countries, gathered in June and July 2026 and anchored around its 11th Annual Family Office Leadership Summit, which drew more than 150 family office leaders with an average family net worth of $2.1 billion. Of respondents, 22% were based in Asia Pacific. Within that group, 26% reported year-to-date portfolio returns above 15%, the strongest of any region surveyed, and 22% are targeting annual returns above 15% going forward, nearly double the global average target.

Why are APAC family offices outperforming?

Independent analysis from Hubbis points to strong regional public equity markets as a major driver, noting Japan's Nikkei 225 was up roughly 30% through mid-June 2026. Citi Wealth's own framing is less about market timing and more about approach: 62% of APAC family offices had adopted active management strategies and 49% had implemented hedging, changes Citi's Bernard Wai, Head of Asia for Integrated Client Solutions, linked to a "maturing family office landscape in Asia Pacific, characterized by entrepreneurial thinking."

What's behind the region's direct investing lead?

79% of APAC family offices reported direct investing activity, the highest participation rate of any region in the survey, and 77% said they prefer internal teams as their primary source of investment opportunities over external managers. That pattern lines up with what we've been tracking here: family offices building internal capability to source hospitality and real-asset deals directly (https://asiafamilyofficehub.com/family-offices-are-becoming-a-major-force-in-asia-pacific-hospitality-investment/) rather than routing everything through funds, and regional hubs actively courting that model through governance and structuring reform, including Singapore's own recent single-family-office rule changes (https://asiafamilyofficehub.com/inside-singapores-new-sfo-regime-how-the-class-exemption-rules-and-10-equity-incentive-shift-sfo-governance/).

Why is AI the top sector focus?

80% of APAC family offices named AI as their primary sector focus, the highest share of any region in the survey, ahead of global averages. Citi did not break down whether this means public AI equities, private AI-related venture and growth investments, or direct stakes, and the survey does not quantify actual AI allocations, only stated focus.

What are family offices most worried about?

Despite the strong performance, 53% of APAC family offices cited global financial system stability as a top concern, and 52% cited market volatility, both higher than most other risk categories in the survey. Hubbis's reporting connects some of that unease to a Strait of Hormuz oil blockade affecting roughly 85% of Asian-destined petroleum, a supply risk with direct relevance to energy-import-dependent Asian economies. Fifty percent of respondents also said they see no significant barriers to digital asset adoption, suggesting the caution is more macro than technology-specific.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many family offices did Citi Wealth survey?

351 family offices across 41 countries, surveyed in June and July 2026, with 22% of respondents based in Asia Pacific.

How well are APAC family offices performing?

26% report year-to-date returns above 15%, the highest of any region surveyed, a result Hubbis partly attributes to strong regional equity markets including Japan's Nikkei 225.

What's the top investment focus for APAC family offices?

AI, named by 80% of APAC respondents as their primary sector focus, the highest share of any region in the survey.

Sources and method

This article draws on Citi Wealth's press release distributed via PR Newswire on 22 September 2026, and independent reporting and analysis published by Hubbis on 23 September 2026. No figures or quotes beyond those published in these sources are used. This is not investment advice.