Johannesburg is set to become the centre of Africa’s digital infrastructure conversation when the Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference (PADC) returns to the Sandton Convention Centre on 23-24 June. For anyone tracking the growth of cloud, connectivity and critical infrastructure on the continent, this Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference is shaping up to be one of the key industry gatherings on the calendar.
The event brings together a paid conference programme and a free exhibition floor, giving delegates and visitors access to the technologies, services and expertise used to design, build, operate and maintain data centres. In practical terms, that means the companies behind power systems, cooling, physical security, digital infrastructure, networking and operational resilience will all be in one place.
That matters in a market where demand is rising fast. Across sub-Saharan Africa, data centres are no longer niche facilities tucked away from public view. They are becoming central to how banks, telcos, government systems, cloud platforms and AI infrastructure are supported. As we have seen in South Africa, power reliability, energy efficiency and scalable design are now just as important as floor space and racks.
The organisers say the PADC 2026 Conference will be its strongest edition yet, with a format built around formal presentations, case studies, moderated panel discussions and fireside chats. That mix is designed to move beyond theory and into the kind of practical discussion that operators, investors and technology partners actually need.
For the local market, that is especially relevant. South Africa remains one of the continent’s most competitive digital infrastructure hubs, but it is also dealing with familiar pressures: electricity constraints, rising demand for resilient connectivity, and the need to build facilities that are both efficient and future-ready. Events like this often act as a barometer for where the sector is heading next.
Confirmed speakers include Siya Madyibi, head of CELA South Africa at Microsoft; Henning Rasmuss, managing director of Datascape; and Menno Parsons, managing director of Master Power Technologies. Also on the programme are Mtho Xulu, president of the South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Lars Johannisson, CEO of Rack Centre.
Other names on the speaker list include Snehar Shah of IX Africa, Muhammed Munshi of Stanlib, Julia Power of Bowmans, and Robert Marston from NTT Nigeria. Nancy Maina, founder and CEO of Women in Sustainable Stem Africa (WiSSA), is also confirmed, alongside Grant Ralph of Envusa Energy and Paul-Francois Cattier of ADCA.
The presence of both commercial and policy-minded voices suggests the event will not be limited to technical chatter. Instead, the conference appears positioned to tackle the broader questions facing the sector, including capital investment, legal frameworks, sustainability and the changing role of data centres in Africa’s economic growth.
Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference brings business, networking and new deals
The Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference is not only about presentations on stage. The exhibition element is a major draw for suppliers and solution providers hoping to meet decision-makers from across the region. Visitors will be able to compare products, explore new technologies, assess different suppliers and build relationships that could lead to new contracts and partnerships.
For businesses trying to break into the African data centre market, that kind of access is often where the real value lies. A live exhibition gives vendors the chance to demonstrate equipment and services in person, while end users can ask direct questions about performance, deployment, support and cost. In a sector where procurement decisions can run into millions of rand, face-to-face engagement still matters.
There is also a strong networking component built into the event. On the evening of 23 June, a free-to-attend networking drinks reception will be held in the exhibition hall. That should offer a less formal environment for industry professionals to meet speakers, exhibitors and peers.
Attendees who want to continue the evening can also book a place at the PADC gala dinner. The dinner includes a three-course meal, half a bottle of wine per person or equivalent, and ends with a guest appearance from Jonty Rhodes, the former South African cricketer, who will share stories from his time on tour. It is a distinctly South African touch that may help the event stand out from more conventional tech conferences.
The organisers say the event is supported by the Africa Data Centre Association, the Uptime Institute, Women in Sustainable Stem Africa (WiSSA) and Rising Advisory Africa. Those names carry weight in an industry where credibility, standards and sustainability increasingly shape buying decisions.
On the commercial side, Master Power Technologies is listed as the Platinum sponsor, while Eaton is the Gold sponsor. Sponsorship from major infrastructure players typically signals confidence in the sector’s growth prospects and the importance of the market being served.
As we reported earlier, the local and regional data centre landscape is evolving quickly, with new investments and new expectations pushing operators to think differently about resilience, environmental impact and long-term scalability. That is why gatherings such as this often attract interest beyond the immediate industry.
For delegates looking to attend the conference programme, registration details and the latest agenda are available on the event website. Those who only want to visit the exhibition can also register separately, making the event accessible to a wider audience of professionals, buyers and curious observers.
With demand for digital infrastructure continuing to rise across Africa, the Pan African DataCentres Exhibition & Conference is likely to offer an important snapshot of where the sector is headed. From power and cooling to investment and policy, the discussions in Sandton could help shape how the next phase of Africa’s data centre growth unfolds.