If your LinkedIn feed has been inundated with photos featuring a giant white “DCW” sign… let’s talk about it. If you weren’t at Data Center World 2026, you’ve come to the right place to hear the highlights, and if you were, you’re in the right place to relive them.
More than 6,000 industry professionals gathered at Data Center World 2026 to explore the biggest trends shaping the future of data centers, from AI factories to power constraints and sustainability innovation. The DCW team announced its global expansion (with upcoming events in Melbourne, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Vienna, Abu Dhabi) and the move to Nashville for its longtime, flagship data center industry event.
Keep reading for a few DCW highlights from JSA’s perspective.
- Data Center World is the “How-To” for Building and Operating AI Factories
Of course, the “AI factories” conversation followed us from GTC to D.C. — from Jensen Huang’s keynote in the Silicon Valley to the nation’s capital! In the Wednesday keynote at DCW, Oracle, NVIDIA and Google executives discussed the logistics of hyperscaling. From securing power to supporting high-density data center environments to deploying in record time, the panel shared the real-world considerations behind today’s AI data centers.
“Record time” is key. In one session titled “3 Ideas for Building Data Centers Faster,” three industry leaders spoke about one idea each for accelerating infrastructure builds: adaptive reuse, evolving cable landing stations, and workforce accommodations and hospitality as a derisking tool for remote data center construction.
- Community Relations Becomes a Critical Data Center Strategy
Community relations in data center development is now a critical factor for site selection and long-term growth. It’s a topic no data center conference should ignore right now. In true form, DCW embraced the conversation, with session titles including:
- Data Centers & Communities: Power, Water and People
- Winning Over the “Not In My Backyard” Crowd
- Managing Data Center Growth: A Public Sector Perspective
- Real World Examples of Data Centers Integrated into the Community for Sustainable Urban Development
Adjacent to this theme is the conversation around site selection and construction in constrained markets. Discussions centered on master-planned campuses and the use of skidded or prefabricated infrastructure to bypass traditional construction delays. The event also addressed strategies for navigating the complex local and national compliance standards for energy and carbon emissions.
- Power Constraints Drive Nuclear, Microgrid and Alternative Energy Adoption
As we push against the limits of the traditional power grid, this year’s DCW program emphasized creative power strategies and behind-the-meter generation. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to advanced power architectures, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), hydrogen fuel cells and high-voltage distribution within the facility.
In one particularly interesting panel titled “The Great Buildout: Risk, Hype, and the Future of Data Centers,” the speakers answered a rapid fire question: which industry challenge would they choose to fix if they could only fix one? Their answers are below; what would yours be?
- Doug Powers (Principal, KKR Infrastructure): The grid
- Lisa Youngers (Head of Public Policy and Affairs, EdgeConneX): Power
- Colby Cox (Managing Director – Americas, DC Byte): Education / policy and community engagement
- Brandie Williams (Corporate Sr. Manager Business Development, Data Center Mission Critical): Talent
- Liquid Cooling and Water Management Dominate Data Center Innovation
With traditional air cooling becoming obsolete for gigawatt-scale data centers, DCW highlighted a move toward hybrid and full-liquid cooling strategies. The focus was on the practical risks and rewards of moving from air to two-phase liquid immersion and direct-to-chip cooling at scale. Meanwhile, a total of 15 conference sessions addressed the water conversation, discussing how to scale high-density cooling while navigating new legal restrictions on industrial water use and improving overall facility efficiency.
- Security Risks Shift from Cyber to Human Threats
During Bill Kleyman’s celebrated “Data Center 101” Master Class, he addressed one of the top takeaways from this year’s AFCOM State of the Data Center report: human threats are now the top reported security concern. Every previous year, the survey data named ransomware as the biggest security threat.
- Sustainability and Greener Data Take the Spotlight
Of Data Center World’s four conference tracks, one was “Power Sourcing & Sustainability,” and given that the four-day event overlapped with Earth Day this year, it was an ideal launch location for Greener Data – Volume Three. With the chance to pick up an advanced copy of the new Amazon Best Selling book, attendees also learned about and saw examples of the very planet-approved technologies highlighted in the Greener Data series.
What’s Next for Data Center World? Bring Your Boots to Nashville Next Year!
After a several-year stint at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Data Center World is on the move to Music City. (And in fact, the Data Center World portfolio is growing across the planet — into Asia, Australia, Brazil and Europe.) Complete with live country music (shout out to Shania Twain) and lasso rope demos, the Country Hoedown Conference Party was the perfect way to send the crowd off. We’ll see you back at the flagship event May 24-27, 2027!
Frequently Asked Questions about Data Center World 2026
When was Data Center World 2026?
Data Center World took place April 20 – 23, 2026.
Where was Data Center World 2026 held?
This year, Data Center World was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown Washington, D.C., just a few blocks from the White House. During the event, the DCW team announced that the conference will move to Nashville next year.
What were the main themes of Data Center World 2026?
The four official conference tracks included: Emerging IT & Data Center Technologies; Data Center BUILD; Colocation, Hyperscale & Cloud Innovation; and Power Sourcing & Sustainability. Topics covered ranged from hybrid cooling strategies to community relations to data centers in space. The DCW agenda dug into practical frameworks for rapid-deploy infrastructure (including innovative modular designs and even “data center tents”) to meet the explosive demand for AI capacity.
What networking events happened during Data Center World 2026?
In addition to the official conference parties — including the Welcome Reception and Country Hoedown Conference Party — many attending companies jumped at the opportunity to host their own networking events. DCW also hosted a Women in Data Centers Reception following its 3-hour workshop, “Women In Data Centers: Navigating the Early Days of the Data Center-Energy Convergence.”
