The event grew by more than 70% and brought together industry leaders to address the energy and technological challenges of the new digital era.
The 2025 edition of Data Center World, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, exceeded all expectations with a 70% increase in attendance compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 4,500 participants and more than 400 exhibitors. Organized by AFCOM, the event has established itself as the global reference forum for critical IT infrastructure and the data centers of the future.
With an agenda focused on emerging technologies, advanced construction, energy efficiency, and the rise of AI Factories, Data Center World featured keynotes from giants like NVIDIA, Google, and Kairos Power, along with panels, innovation competitions, and hands-on sessions that approached digital transformation from multiple angles.
Innovation, sustainability, and energy challenges
The event made it clear that the future of data centers hinges on overcoming critical challenges in power, scalability, and sustainability. The rise of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G, and data-intensive applications are forcing the industry to rethink its energy and operational models.
One of the most anticipated moments was the announcement of the new Data Center World POWER event, to be held from September 29 to October 1, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. This summit will exclusively address energy challenges in data centers, from capacity planning and self-sufficiency to new solutions such as microgrids, SMRs, and hydrogen cells.
Awards, challenges, and emerging talent
This year’s Innovation Challenge awarded startups with disruptive solutions for the industry:
- Most Disruptive Technology: Energy-efficient HVAC filters | R-Zero
- Greatest Market Potential: Exowatt
- Best Investment Positioning: FlexConnect
- Most Influential Founding Team: Exowatt
Additionally, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Christian Belady (DigitalBridge) for his contributions to the sustainable development of the industry, and the Data Center Manager of the Year award went to Ryan Patten from Novva Data Centers.
Training and new generations
The PowerUp program brought together STEM students from Northern Virginia Community College, offering them classes, mentorship, and access to the innovation ecosystem. This is a clear push to attract new talent to an industry that is becoming increasingly critical to the digital economy.
Next event: Data Center World 2026
The organization has already announced that Data Center World 2026 will return to Washington, D.C., from April 20 to 23 next year. Additionally, the Asian edition of the event will debut from July 15 to 17, 2025, in Hong Kong, reflecting the growing importance of the data center market in the Asia-Pacific region.
More information:
👉 Data Center World POWER
📅 Upcoming events:
- DCW POWER: September 29 – October 1, 2025 | San Antonio, TX
- DCW Asia: July 15 – 17, 2025 | Hong Kong
- DCW 2026: April 20 – 23, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
Data Center World 2025 not only set attendance records but also made it clear that the data center sector is at the heart of digital transformation. From infrastructure to artificial intelligence and sustainability, the event brought together the key players defining the critical infrastructure of the next decade.