Top 10 Data Center Industry Trends to Watch in 2026

TierPoint has published an article outlining the Top 10 data center industry trends for 2026 and beyond.

• Main announcement: TierPoint presents a trends roundup emphasizing AI, hybrid cloud, hyperscale, edge computing, automation, cooling/energy, security, and regulatory/compliance. Key facts cited include global data center market growth of over 11% by 2034, the AI market predicted to reach almost $2 trillion by 2030, hyperscale operators forecast to account for 61% of capacity by 2030, 46% of IT decision-makers adopting hybrid-by-design, and 58% of organizations impacted by IT skills shortages.
• Background and specifics: The article details energy and cooling context and solutions: fossil fuels (including natural gas) made up 56% of data center electricity use, while nuclear + renewables provided 43%; recommends high-density colocation, liquid–air hybrid systems, direct-to-chip cooling, closed-loop liquid cooling, and automation/self-healing infrastructure. It also highlights compliance focus with certifications like ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, and references TierPoint’s 2030 IT Blueprint report and a Cloud Currents podcast episode with Tamanna Sait.