With simply two months to go till DCR Dwell 2026, Knowledge Centre Evaluation is making ready to convey the trade collectively for a day filled with perception, debate, networking and celebration.
Knowledge Centre Evaluation has lengthy been recognized for delivering the Vital Perception convention, which has been a breakout with greater than 100 audio system having taken half within the sequence since its launch in 2022. However with DCR Dwell, we needed to boldly go the place we haven’t gone earlier than – to the true world.
Constructed across the theme Knowledge Centres: The Subsequent Era, DCR Dwell 2026 will collect a number of the greatest names within the trade for a day of dialogue, debate and networking. There’s already a jam-packed schedule of occasions happening all through the day, whereas it’ll all be topped off with the announcement of the winners of the 2026 DCR Excellence Awards.
So, what are you able to count on from DCR Dwell 2026?
Exploring the following frontier of digital infrastructure
The info centre sector is coming into a brand new period. In simply the previous yr, the demand for digital infrastructure has grown to all-new heights, as emptiness charges hit all-time lows as AI demand outpaces provide. On the identical time, delivering infrastructure that may accommodate AI masses is throwing up all types of challenges round energy and cooling.
If that wasn’t sufficient, the trade is having to deal with two opposing sides – a Authorities that’s desperate to have the UK as a world chief in AI improvement, and a bit of society against the burdens that information centres have on native energy grids. That’s led to all types of awkward conditions, similar to a Authorities in Scotland supportive of knowledge centres, whereas its capital metropolis backs a moratorium on constructing them.
These are a number of the challenges that will likely be explored at DCR Dwell 2026.
What’s on the agenda?
The DCR Dwell 2026 agenda is jam-packed, with the day opening with a panel asking what’s standing in the way in which of the UK’s subsequent technology of knowledge centres. With grid capability, planning approvals, native opposition and public notion all persevering with to problem improvement, this session will study how the trade can collectively transfer from gridlock to progress. Becoming a member of us for this panel will likely be Tilly Gilbert, Managing Director, Consulting at STL Companions; Mark Pestridge, EVP & Common Supervisor at Telehouse; and Alan Stewart Brown, VP EMEA at Opengear.
Following that session, we’ll hear from James Tyler, Managing Director UK at Equinix, as he explores what has modified since information centres have been designated as Vital Nationwide Infrastructure. In spite of everything, this isn’t nearly protecting the lights on. It’s about making certain the infrastructure behind the UK’s digital economic system is prepared for no matter comes subsequent.
Whereas these two classes will take a look at extra the final challenges that the info centre sector at present faces, the following two classes will hone in on one of many greatest – energy.
As workloads turn into extra power-hungry and rack densities proceed to rise, DCR Dwell 2026 will discover how energy methods should evolve to help the services of the longer term. The primary of the 2 classes will study how UPS expertise is adapting to altering necessities, with Platinum Sponsor Riello UPS giving us the low-down, whereas the second will give attention to the controversy round AC and DC energy methods for AI information centres.
Cooling may even take centre stage at DCR Dwell 2026, with a panel asking who will win the cooling wars whereas nonetheless retaining public approval. Becoming a member of us for that panel will likely be Venessa Moffat, Managing Director on the Knowledge Centre Alliance; Richard Collar, Technical Director at Kao Knowledge; Chris Woosnam-Savage, Principal Engineer – Superior Engineering Group at Digital Realty; and Colin Partridge, Key Account Supervisor – Knowledge Centre at Service
Later within the day, the agenda will flip to sustainability and group engagement, asking how information centre builders and operators can show their environmental credentials and construct belief with the communities through which they function.
For an trade whose mission is more and more important, public confidence might show simply as necessary as technical functionality.
The ultimate panel of the day will discover whether or not the UK’s planning reforms go far sufficient to help the following technology of knowledge centre improvement. That session will function Conor Molloy, Sr. Venture Supervisor, Europe & Nordics at Bureau Veritas; and Emma Fryer, Director Public Coverage Europe at CyrusOne.
However whereas that would be the ultimate panel of the day, it received’t be the ultimate session. That’s as a result of we’ll even be joined by Nienke Ris, Knowledge Centre Group Affairs Director at Microsoft, who will assist element the methods information centre operators can higher work with native communities to showcase their sustainability commitments.
In-person networking with the trade
Whereas the agenda is designed to ship perception from the stage, DCR Dwell 2026 may even present a beneficial alternative for the info centre group to attach in particular person.
The occasion is designed for information centre end-users and operators, with certified attendees together with homeowners, operators, engineers, consultants and enterprise IT leaders. Going down at a central London venue, the day will embrace devoted networking breaks, lunch, refreshments and breakout areas, giving attendees the possibility to proceed the dialog away from the convention classes.
The 2026 DCR Excellence Awards
Capping off a day of dialogue would be the DCR Excellence Awards 2026. This yr’s awards have been fully revamped to be extra clear and simpler to enter, and the response we’ve acquired from the trade has been astounding.
The shortlist for the awards will likely be introduced on Could 27, giving the trade a primary take a look at the organisations, initiatives and people in rivalry earlier than the winners are revealed stay at DCR Dwell 2026 in June.
With two months to go, DCR Dwell 2026 is shaping as much as be a key date within the calendar for anybody concerned in the way forward for the info centre sector.
From high-level debate and sensible perception to in-person networking and trade recognition, attendees can count on a day targeted not solely on the place the sector is in the present day, however the place it goes subsequent.
The subsequent technology of knowledge centres is coming. At DCR Dwell 2026, the trade will come collectively to chart the course.
