What Stood Out at the 7th Annual Summit in Las Vegas
Earlier this month, the data center world gathered at the Wynn Las Vegas for the 2026 infra/STRUCTURE Summit, hosted by Structure Research. The summit ran October 6 to 8 and drew over 700 senior leaders from across the internet infrastructure value chain, including operators, hyperscalers, neoclouds, and edge platforms.
This year’s theme was Interlude, framed by Structure as a critical moment when the industry pauses, recalibrates, and redeploys capital and strategy for the next phase of AI-driven growth. Philbert Shih, Founder and Managing Director of Structure Research, noted that the theme captures a market adjusting to support the coming wave of AI and cloud demand. That sense of strategic pause ran through nearly every session and conversation.
It was JSA’s first time attending the event and here are the five key takeaways that made it worth the trip:
1. First-Timer Verdict: Excellent Content
The agenda skipped generic buzzwords and focused squarely on the operational and economic realities keeping data center executives up at night. Key sessions tackled the core economics of AI-scale builds, power availability and nuclear options, M&A capital formation, and shifts in hyperscaler procurement. The summit delivered on its promise of substance over hype, with candid panel discussions and minimal vendor pitching.
Rather than serving as a disconnected series of presentations, the Interlude theme provided a strong overarching narrative. Discussions emphasized how the industry is pivoting from simple capacity expansion to navigating complex execution constraints, such as moving from traditional air cooling to liquid-cooled AI factories, adapting to master-planned campuses, and managing the shift toward specialized GPU compute.
2. Data From the Source
The summit’s centerpiece was the analyst briefings delivered directly by Structure Research’s primary research team. Because these analysts gather market intelligence through direct industry tracking, attendees received proprietary numbers alongside the strategic context needed to guide multi-year capital deployment.
Key market findings presented during the briefings include:
- Explosive Neocloud Growth: Off-premise neocloud infrastructure is projected to grow at a 5-year CAGR of 77.9%, scaling from $27.08 billion in 2026 to $482.22 billion by 2031 as dedicated GPU clouds capture a larger share of AI workloads.
- Shift in US Pipeline Dynamics: GPU cloud providers now account for 18.7% of the total tracked US data center market (representing 28,879 MW across operational, under-development, and land-banked pipelines). In total, the US colocation capacity pipeline is on track to reach 99,020 MW of critical IT load by 2031.
- Grid Bottlenecks & Moratoriums: Interconnection queues and power limits are reshaping site selection. Utility request queues have ballooned, such as ERCOT’s large-load queue expanding past 474 GW, while municipal pushback intensifies. Notably, in July 2026, New York became the first state to enact a temporary statewide data center moratorium.
3. The Elegance of The Wynn
The Wynn Las Vegas provided a deliberate, executive-level setting designed specifically to foster high-value interactions. Unlike huge expo-style trade shows defined by noisy exhibit halls and surface-level booth tours, infra/STRUCTURE centers on private, closed-door research discussions and scheduled 1:1 business meetings. The venue’s upscale layout and unhurried environment catered directly to senior decision-makers looking to conduct confidential strategic negotiations and capital planning away from the main floor.
4. Industry Voices, On Stage and On Camera
JSA TV interviewed executive attendees under the JSA Community Center arch throughout the summit. From power procurement strategies (including microgrids, utility partnerships, and nuclear/SMR development) to community engagement, host Barb Mitchell completed in-depth interviews with prominent leaders across the infrastructure value chain.
As local municipalities increasingly implement zoning restrictions and moratoriums, proactive community strategy and transparent communication have become just as important as securing power contracts when deciding where next-generation capacity gets built. Watch the full series of video interviews on JSA’s LinkedIn and YouTube channels.
Beyond the camera, JSA was proud to support several of our clients as they took the stage to share their expertise on executive panels.
5. High-Value Executive Connections
Beyond the formal stage presentations, the summit’s primary value lay in the concentration of senior leadership in attendance. The curated attendee list ensured that informal hallway conversations, private networking dinners, and side meetings yielded actionable commercial insights and partnership opportunities.
Supported by an influential sponsor lineup, including Citizens, First Citizens Bank, Inflect, Maddox, Foresight, Priority Power, Duos Edge AI, Iron Mountain Data Centers, EdgeConneX, CyrusOne, and OLH Ventures, the event gathered the operators, investors, and platform leaders actively shaping the market.
The Last Word
If the digital infrastructure sector is currently navigating a period of strategic recalibration, infra/STRUCTURE is where leaders gather to map out the next expansion cycle. For executives seeking primary research, candid peer dialogue, and relationship-building without the commercial noise, this summit remains a must-attend event. JSA looks forward to returning next year.
