Data Centre Projects 2026: Global Growth, Major Developments, and Market Leaders

The global data centre market is growing rapidly in 2026, with its overall value projected to reach $300 billion this year and $699 billion by 2034. Data centres have become a core aspect of the global economy, powering everything from cloud computing and enterprise systems to the surge of artificial intelligence.

This is translating into significant build activity, with over 670 hyperscale projects in the global pipeline and approximately 35GW of capacity currently under construction in North America alone. This growth is largely concentrated in regions that can solve the two main challenges of modern data centre development, which are power availability and land access.

In this article, we explore the biggest data centre projects in 2026, including hyperscale developments, AI infrastructure growth, and the companies shaping the future of the industry.

Contact CSG Talent to secure data centre leadership and technical expertise.

Key Data Centre Projects Driving Infrastructure Growth in 2026

Microsoft’s Superfactory Model

Microsoft is shifting away from standalone data centres towards a more integrated model of AI infrastructure. Its “Fairwater” architecture connects large-scale campuses in Wisconsin and Atlanta via a dedicated high-speed fibre network, allowing them to operate as a single computing environment despite being 700 miles apart.

Each site is designed to support hundreds of thousands of NVIDIA GB200 and GB300 GPUs within one coordinated system. This level of density requires new features such as two-storey data halls to maximise rack capacity and closed-loop liquid cooling systems capable of supporting power densities of up to 140kW per rack.

This model also improves power availability by distributing workloads across multiple states. Microsoft can access different regional grids simultaneously, reducing reliance on a single power source and enabling hyperscale expansion.

Google’s America–India Connect Initiative

In February, Google announced the America-India Connect initiative that represents a $15 billion investment over 5 years aimed at strengthening global data connectivity. At the centre of the project is a new international subsea cable gateway in Visakhapatnam that positions India’s east coast as a key digital hub. The development includes three new subsea cable routes linking India with Singapore, South Africa, and Australia, alongside a gigawatt-scale compute facility powered by clean energy.

Hexagon Development in Riyadh

As the largest government-owned data centre globally, the Hexagon data centre development in Riyadh is designed to support national data governance while enabling long-term digital growth. The development is positioned as the foundation of a wider national network that is expected to be worth $3.9 billion by the completion of its Vision 2030 strategy. 

The campus will deliver 480MW of capacity and is built to Tier IV standards to ensure almost perfect levels of uptime. Sustainability is also a key consideration, with the facility targeting LEED Gold certification through the use of renewable energy and hybrid liquid cooling systems.

Project Stargate

Project Stargate brings together Microsoft, OpenAI, SoftBank Group, Oracle, and MGX in a joint venture that has expanded from an initial $100 billion concept into a $500 billion multi-year infrastructure programme. The project targets a total capacity of 10GW, which is equivalent to the power consumption of approximately 7.5 million homes. The initial flagship site in Abilene, Texas is expected to reach 1.2GW of operational power by mid-2026, with infrastructure designed to support more than 450,000 GPUs.

As AI continues to drive demand, developments like Stargate signal a shift towards hyperscale infrastructure where power, capital, and technical complexity must align to enable the next phase of digital growth.

The START Campus in Sines

Europe’s role in next-gen data centre infrastructure is also accelerating, with the START Campus in Sines emerging as one of the most significant developments currently in progress. With a total planned capacity of 1.2GW, it’s set to become the largest and most sustainable AI data centre campus in Europe.

The project will be delivered across 6 buildings designed to support high-density compute environments as demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow. Its access to Portugal’s renewable energy grid enables the campus to align with increasingly strict European sustainability requirements.

Sines is positioned as a major global connectivity hub, with direct access to subsea cable routes linking Europe to North America, Africa, and Latin America. This combination of clean energy, available land, and international connectivity is becoming increasingly important as traditional European data centre markets face power and space constraints.

With the full 1.2GW campus expected to be operational by 2030, the START Campus reflects a shift towards developing large-scale infrastructure in locations that can support both sustainability and long-term capacity growth.

Leading US Data Centre Companies to Watch in 2026

Montera Infrastructure

In a market where delays are increasingly common, Montera Infrastructure is specialising in the rapid delivery of 100+MW campuses that are designed to be AI-ready from day one. Its engineering-led owner-operator model ensures seamless execution throughout the full asset lifecycle, guaranteeing AI requirements are met without setbacks.

Related Digital

Related Digital has rapidly expanded into digital infrastructure with a strategy focused on urban and brownfield redevelopment. By targeting sites in high-demand markets such as New York and Chicago, the company is unlocking capacity in locations where new development is typically challenging. Its 2026 focus on modular construction is expected to significantly reduce build timelines and offer an alternative to the long delivery cycles of urban data centre projects.

Goodman Group

Goodman Group is aggressively pivoting its strategy from traditional logistics to data centre development to meet AI and cloud computing demand. Projects such as the 150MW LAX01 campus in Los Angeles demonstrate its ability to secure power in Tier 1 markets, where access to energy is increasingly restricted by ageing grid infrastructure and long interconnection queues.

Beacon AI

Beacon AI is taking a different approach to infrastructure delivery by focusing on developing off-grid data centres supported by on-site natural gas generation. Recent approvals for projects in Alberta, Canada amount to over 2.4GW of capacity, positioning the company to deliver large-scale AI infrastructure without relying on traditional grid connections.

Stack Infrastructure

Stack Infrastructure continues to expand across the Southern United States, particularly in markets such as Louisiana where power availability and workforce access support long-term development. The company is recognised for its community-aligned approach, which is becoming increasingly important as ESG considerations play a larger role in site selection and project delivery.

Menlo Digital

Menlo Digital is delivering significant capacity across key US markets, including 225MW in Northern Virginia and Phoenix in 2026. Its strategic partnership with NRG Energy provides access to more than 1GW of future power, offering a clear advantage in a market where securing energy has become one of the primary barriers to growth.

Leading European Data Centre Companies to Watch in 2026

Nscale

Nscale has emerged as one of the best-funded new entrants in the European market. A $2 billion Series C raise, which is the largest in European startup history, has led to the business being valued at $14.6 billion. Its model is built around “vertical AI” infrastructure that combines high-performance GPUs, liquid cooling, and data centre capacity into a single integrated offering. This end-to-end approach positions the company as an alternative to traditional hyperscale models, particularly for organisations seeking dedicated AI infrastructure.

Global Technical Realty

Backed by a $1.9 billion capital commitment from KKR and Oak Hill Capital in January, Global Technical Realty (GTR) is continuing to expand its position as a leading built-to-suit provider in Europe. The company is increasingly focused on secondary markets such as Poland and Spain, where power availability and development timelines are less constrained than in the core FLAP markets (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, and Paris). This is a great example of the trend we’re seeing across Europe, where developers look beyond traditional hubs to unlock new capacity.

ACS Group (with Global Infrastructure Partners)

The joint venture between ACS Group and Global Infrastructure Partners is one of the most significant collaborations of 2026. Launching with an initial 1.7 GW portfolio and targeting 11 GW across its pipeline, the platform combines large-scale engineering capability with access to long-term capital. This alignment of construction expertise and financial backing is becoming increasingly important as projects grow in both size and complexity.

Stack Infrastructure

In Europe, Stack Infrastructure has taken a strategic approach to overcoming the power and land constraints affecting the FLAP markets. By securing large land positions in the Nordics and Milan, the company can develop in regions where renewable energy is more accessible and scalable. Its presence across Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen positions it well for AI training workloads, which prioritise power availability over proximity to end users.

At the same time, the company continues to deliver in core markets. Its 80MW campus in Liederbach, Frankfurt, incorporates waste heat recovery systems that channel excess energy into local residential developments to align with evolving European ESG requirements.

Their “Powered Shell” model delivers a complete, grid-connected building that is ready for immediate fit-out. By securing the land, permits, and power upfront, Stack provides the energised physical structure so that customers can skip the multi-year lead times typically required for permitting and power allocation.

The Data Centre Talent Challenge in a High-Growth Market

As data centre projects continue to scale, securing talent is increasingly becoming a challenge. The shift towards AI-driven facilities, higher power densities, and more complex delivery models is increasing demand for highly specialised skillsets across a wide range of functions.

Many of the regions experiencing the fastest growth are not traditional data centre hubs, which creates additional pressure on talent availability, particularly for leadership roles and technical specialists. Power and energy expertise is also becoming increasingly critical as organisations look to secure and manage access to scalable energy sources.

As a result, businesses are competing for a limited pool of experienced professionals who understand both the technical and commercial demands of delivering hyperscale infrastructure. The ability to attract and retain this talent is becoming a key factor in determining how quickly projects can move from concept to completion.

Data Centre Recruitment and Leadership Hiring with CSG Talent

At CSG Talent, we partner with data centre developers, hyperscalers, and infrastructure investors to secure the leadership and technical expertise required to deliver complex projects at scale.

Our data centre executive search specialists operate across the full data centre lifecycle, supporting hires within development, design, construction, and operations, as well as the critical power and energy functions that support every project. From senior leadership appointments through to specialised technical roles, we help businesses access talent that can accelerate delivery and support long-term growth.

Contact our data centre executive search specialists for support securing senior-level talent.

Related Data Centre & Energy Insights

Articles

• How Utility Partnerships Are Driving AI-Ready Data Centres
• Data Centre Grid Challenges: Powering AI Infrastructure at Scale
• Data Center Industry Trends 2026: Navigating Power, Sustainability, and Growth Challenges

Podcasts

• Netrality's Networks: Navigating Niche Hiring and Nurturing Next-Gen Talent
• Evolution of Data Centers: Education, Engaging Generations and Embracing Imperfections

Case Study

• ACS Group: Building a Global Data Centre Platform Through Executive Search