He Data center sector will face a decisive turning point in 2026. It will be marked by advances in AI, increasing energy restrictions and rising societal expectations for sustainability.
These factors are having a very prominent impact on the industry’s priorities, to the point that they are changing its priorities. This is reflected in the top ten data center industry trends for 2026, which are as follows:
1 – AI and energy consumption: Artificial Intelligence has become the main driver of technological and economic transformation. In turn, data centers are the backbone supporting such AI, providing the essential infrastructure to train, host and run fundamental and generative AI models.
The International Energy Agency estimates that global data center energy consumption could reach 1,050 TWh in 2026, largely due to the demand for Artificial Intelligence workloads and the use of GPUs, which are significantly more energy intensive than traditional CPUs. Therefore, more willingness to design sustainable, efficient and responsible data centers is expected to address the needs of AI while minimizing its environmental impact.
2 – Liquid cooling, immersion and thermal density– As GPUs and high-density racks become more common, traditional cooling methods are no longer able to meet the demands of data centers. Therefore, the industry is adopting advanced refrigeration technologies to reduce consumption related to these processes. Among them, direct liquid cooling of chips, immersion cooling and two-phase cooling systems. An increase in its adoption is expected in 2026.
3 – Hybrid energy mix and autonomyTo meet growing energy needs and reduce carbon emissions, data center operators are using a combination of energy sources and strategies. This combination includes the integration of renewable sources and storage solutions, such as long-life batteries and microgrids.
In the future, a rise of even more radical solutions is expected, such as small modular reactors, which could begin to be tested to provide a stable, low-carbon energy supply. Especially in regions where the existing electrical grid is less reliable.
4 – Regulations, responsible use of water and local acceptance: Environmental aspects are occupying the focus in data center development. Authorities in water-scarce regions have begun requiring the use of dry or hybrid cooling methods, and the use of gray or recycled water. Environmental regulations are increasingly focusing on low-carbon materials, BREEAM certifications, comprehensive impact assessments and more careful data center installation practices.
Furthermore, the support of the communities where data centers are established is already a strategic factor, because projects can face serious delays and obstacles if they do not have the cooperation of the local environment. Consequently, an increase in the development of local outreach programs and the hiring of public affairs professionals focused on interaction with local governments is expected.
5 – Digital twins, automation and operational optimization: Digital twin adoption is maturing in the industry. These tools enable predictive maintenance, intelligent load distribution, adaptive cooling strategies, and rapid responses to grid conditions. Therefore, we can expect a boost in data center automation in order to improve their operational efficiency.
6 – Megacampus at gigawatt scale: Data center megacampuses are emerging in Europe with projects exceeding hundreds of megawatts and sometimes approaching or exceeding one gigawatt. These require huge electrical resources and robust infrastructure, such as high-performance connectivity, backup power sources and highly efficient cooling systems. They represent the new industrial frontier of the sector and, in 2026, we will see the appearance in Europe of the first real campuses with a capacity of several gigawatts.
7 – Circularity and more environmental metrics: Although Energy Use Efficiency (PUE) remains fundamental, it is now complemented by additional indicators. Such as carbon use efficiency (CUE), water use efficiency (WUE) and full life cycle assessments (LCA). In 2026, the industry will begin to further integrate material reuse, modular construction and heat recovery solutions into the early stages of project design.
8 – Edge computing, geography and site diversification: Edge computing, characterized by the deployment of micro data centers, is growing rapidly. Especially in sectors where low latency is critical, such as telemedicine, industrial automation and autonomous vehicles. In 2026 we will see more operators diversify their geographic presence to alleviate power grid congestion and take advantage of local renewable energy resources.
9 – Talent shortage and skills development: The sector is facing a shortage of specialized professionals, such as engineers in mechanical, energy, construction, refrigeration and AI infrastructure. Addressing this requires robust technical training programs, partnerships with universities, and efforts to retrain workers in related industries. Companies that manage to attract, retain and develop this talent are expected to obtain significant competitive advantages.
10 – Massive investment and social issues– Large investments will continue to flow into the development of AI-ready infrastructure as the sector sees a rise in large-scale transactions. However, there is increasing scrutiny of the carbon footprint of data centers, the transparency of their impacts, and the involvement of local communities and businesses. As a result, data centers will have to demonstrate that they are a vital industrial sector with a key strategic role in ensuring digital sovereignty.
