KPMG Global family business report 2026

Belgian family businesses are feeling the pressure from the same forces: economic uncertainty, technological acceleration, and complex succession challenges. From our work with Belgian family businesses and high-net-worth clients, we see a growing awareness that the traditional, strongly family-centered way of operating is no longer sufficient on its own. Increasingly, families are transitioning from a “family‑run operating business” to a “family‑owned enterprise”: the family remains the owner and guardian of its values but entrusts day‑to‑day leadership to professional management teams, supported by effective and often more independent boards.

This shift is reflected in the formalization of family governance structures, such as family charters, the appointment of external board members and CEOs with specific expertise, and a well-thought-out approach to succession and ownership transfers across generations. Furthermore, we notice an increased focus on digitalization, data-driven decision-making, and innovation, without losing sight of the family’s core values.