DCD>Connect | Southern Europe 2027
About the Event
DCD>Connect | Southern Europe returns to Palacio Municipal IFEMA Madrid for its 2027 edition on May 5-6, organised by Data Centre Dynamics Ltd. The event brings together 3,400+ senior professionals from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France, and the broader Southern European region. The 2026 edition drew more than 3,000 attendees, 200+ exhibitors, and 200+ speakers; the 2027 programme is expanding the format with new forums and a full-day investment track.
Spain and Portugal rank among Europe's fastest-growing AI data center markets. The country's combination of renewable power capacity, land availability, and subsea cable connectivity has attracted major hyperscaler commitments and a wave of colocation development. Southern Europe is now a primary topic at every significant infrastructure investment forum in the region, making this event the main annual gathering where those decisions get made.
Programming Focus
- AI-ready data center design: GPU-dense workloads, power density, and thermal management
- Southern European market development: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and emerging corridors
- Energy sourcing, grid access, and renewable integration across Iberia and the Mediterranean
- Data center investment, M&A, and financing — including the "AI bubble" debate among investors
- Subsea cable connectivity, edge nodes, and cross-border fiber infrastructure
- EU regulatory compliance, data sovereignty, and the Digital Personal Data Protection framework
- Neocloud customers and how investors are underwriting new client risk profiles
- AI Data Center Impact Forum: roundtable discussions on Southern Europe's most pressing challenges
- ESG Forum: sustainability metrics, carbon commitments, and water management
Featured Speakers
- Guillaume Sampic — VP Strategy and Business Development EMEA, Digital Realty
- Emmanuel Becker — CEO, Mediterra Datacenters
- Begoña Villacís — Executive Director, SpainDC
- David Blázquez — Head of Public Policy Infrastructure Iberia, AWS
Who Should Attend
- Data center operators and facility managers active in Iberia and Southern Europe
- Hyperscaler and cloud infrastructure teams expanding in the region
- Infrastructure investors, lenders, and M&A advisors focused on European digital assets
- Engineering, architecture, and construction firms working on Southern European builds
- Energy and sustainability professionals involved in renewable integration
- Government and policy representatives shaping digital economy strategy in Spain, Portugal, and the broader EU
Logistics
The co-located DCD>Investment | Southern Europe forum runs on May 5, the same day as Day 1 of the main Connect event. End-user and specifier passes are complimentary; vendor and general admission passes are available at separate rates. Full registration and pass details are available on the event website.