The global data center market continued to accelerate in mid-2026, with hyperscale operators and infrastructure developers announcing major investments across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Driven by soaring demand for artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and high-performance computing (HPC), the month saw the launch of multi-gigawatt campuses, strategic land acquisitions, major financing deals, and new energy partnerships to support next-generation digital infrastructure.
Notable new data center project developments included Meta's 5 GW Hyperion expansion in Louisiana, SoftBank's proposed 5 GW AI data center program in France, AirTrunk's planned 3 GW campus in India, Brookfield and NextEra's USD 100 billion Paducah AI Energy Hub, and SK Telecom's USD 91.5 billion data center investment plan in South Korea.
Meanwhile, companies including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, QTS, Digital Realty, Pure DC, and Alibaba Cloud continued expanding their global footprints through new campuses, operational milestones, and AI-ready infrastructure projects.
DC01UK - Equinix (Hertsmere, near London, UK)
DC01UK is a large-scale, AI-ready data center campus near South Mimms in Hertfordshire, whose planning was approved for development by Hertsmere Borough Council in July 2026. The site was acquired last year by colocation leader Equinix, which plans a GBP4 billion (about USD 5.3 billion) investment. Details of appearance, layout, landscaping, and scale are still to be determined, and the project is at the approved/early-development stage.
GW AI data center - SoftBank Group (Hauts-de-France, northern France)
SoftBank Group committed to develop and operate 5 GW of AI data center capacity in France, an investment of up to EUR 75 billion (about USD 85-87 billion). The first phase, an initial EUR 45 billion, targets 3.1 GW of capacity across three sites in the Hauts-de-France region - Dunkirk (Loon-Plage), Bosquel, and Bouchain - by 2031. It is SoftBank's largest AI infrastructure commitment in Europe and remains in the announced/planning stage.
Seinäjoki campus - Pure DC (Seinäjoki, Finland)
Pure DC launched the first phase of its Seinäjoki data center project, with Microsoft reported among the customers leasing capacity. The site has been expanded to 550 MW, with a planned investment of more than EUR 7.5 billion (about USD 8.55 billion) for the full buildout. Phase one is underway, with the remainder of the capacity to follow.
Dublin data center - Pure DC (Dublin, Ireland)
Pure DC secured USD 2.7 billion in financing to accelerate AI infrastructure growth across Europe and the Middle East, including a USD 2.15 billion Dublin data center facility secured against the firm's Dublin and Amsterdam campuses. The financing supports development already in progress.
Horndal data center - Google (Horndal, Sweden)
Google launched a new data center in Horndal to support Search, Google Cloud, and YouTube services in the country. It is Google's first data center in Sweden and is operational. The investment figure was not disclosed.
Haugaland mega site - atNorth (Haugaland, Norway)
Colocation provider atNorth expanded into Norway with the purchase of land for a planned mega data center in Haugaland. The facility is slated to go online in 2028, initially delivering 120 MW and scaling to 350 MW at full capacity. It is at the land-acquisition stage; investment was not disclosed.
Conclusion
The latest wave of announcements highlights how AI is reshaping the global data center landscape. Developers are building larger hyperscale campuses, securing dedicated power infrastructure, and expanding into emerging markets to meet unprecedented compute demand. As governments, utilities, and technology companies invest in next-generation digital infrastructure, the pace of new data center construction is expected to remain strong through the rest of 2026. Tracking these projects provides valuable insight into where future capacity, investment, and business opportunities are likely to emerge.
Joroinen site - Arcem (Joroinen, Finland)
Arcem signed an agreement with the municipality of Joroinen for an 800,000 sq m site that will host a facility with up to 500 MW of capacity. The first 60 MW construction phase is expected to launch in early 2027. The project is at the land-acquisition/planning stage.
Find the Latest Data Center Facility Projects Around the World with Ease
Are you seeking reliable and up-to-date insights into data center projects worldwide?
Explore the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research, your go-to resource for the latest data center projects and tenders across all stages:
- Upcoming Projects
- Tender Notices
- Contract Awards
- Projects Under Construction
- Completed Projects
Book a free demo today and see how the GPT platform can help you unlock opportunities and achieve your business goals.
Sign in to leave a comment.