Microsoft’s flagship developer conference is back. Microsoft Build 2026 takes place June 2-3, 2026, in San Francisco and online, with a clear mission: go deep on real code and real systems with the teams building and scaling AI at Microsoft.
Whether you are a CIO evaluating AI strategy, a developer building citizen-facing applications, or an infrastructure lead modernizing your agency’s cloud footprint, Build is the single best event to see where the Microsoft platform is headed and get hands-on with the tools that will shape your roadmap for the next year.
Registration is open now, the session catalog is live, and this post breaks down everything you need to know to plan your attendance.
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 2-3, 2026 |
| Location | San Francisco, CA and online |
| Registration | register.build.microsoft.com |
| Session Catalog | build.microsoft.com/sessions |
| Event Website | build.microsoft.com |
| Cost | Free for online attendees |
What to Expect: The AI-First Developer Conference
Build 2026 continues the trajectory Microsoft set at Build 2025, where CEO Satya Nadella and CTO Kevin Scott unveiled the company’s vision for an AI-powered developer platform. This year’s tagline - go deep on real code and real systems - signals that Microsoft is moving past high-level AI demos and into the practical engineering of production AI systems.
Based on the published session catalog and Microsoft’s platform investments over the past year, expect the conference to be organized around several core theme areas:
AI Agents and Agentic Development
Agentic AI has dominated Microsoft’s developer narrative since late 2025. Expect deep sessions on building, testing, and deploying AI agents using Microsoft Foundry, the Foundry Agent Service, and Model Context Protocol (MCP). For government developers, this is the space to watch - agent-based architectures can automate permit processing, benefits eligibility checks, and constituent service workflows in ways that traditional automation cannot.
Azure Platform and Infrastructure
Build is historically where Microsoft previews the next wave of Azure platform capabilities. Look for sessions on cloud-native development with Azure Container Apps and Azure Kubernetes Service, serverless architectures, and Azure infrastructure updates. Azure CTO Mark Russinovich traditionally delivers a deep-dive keynote on Azure internals that is not to be missed by anyone running production workloads.
Developer Tools and GitHub Copilot
Visual Studio, VS Code, and GitHub Copilot are central to the Build experience. Sessions will cover the latest in AI-assisted development, including agent mode in GitHub Copilot, GitHub Copilot CLI, and integration patterns across the development lifecycle. The developer tooling track is especially relevant for government teams looking to accelerate delivery velocity while maintaining code quality standards.
Security, Trust, and Governance
Security is always a headline theme at Build, and with AI workloads expanding across the enterprise, expect sessions on securing AI agents, governing model access, managing prompt injection risks, and implementing Zero Trust patterns for AI-enabled applications. Government agencies operating under FedRAMP, StateRAMP, or CJIS requirements will find actionable guidance here.
Cloud-Native and App Modernization
For agencies still running legacy .NET Framework or Java applications, Build will feature sessions on modernization paths using .NET Aspire, Blazor, container-based migration strategies, and AI-assisted code modernization with GitHub Copilot. These sessions go beyond slides with hands-on labs and working code samples.
Expected Keynote Structure
While the full speaker lineup is still being finalized, Microsoft Build follows a well-established keynote format:
Opening Keynote - Traditionally led by Satya Nadella (CEO) and Kevin Scott (CTO), this session sets the strategic vision and features major product announcements. At Build 2025, this keynote introduced key AI platform capabilities and set the tone for the entire event.
Technical Keynote - Microsoft engineering leaders including Scott Guthrie (EVP, Cloud + AI) typically unpack the technical details behind Day 1 announcements, with live demos of new platform capabilities across Azure, GitHub, and developer tools.
Azure Deep Dive - Mark Russinovich (Azure CTO) typically delivers a session going deep on Azure architecture, new services, and behind-the-scenes engineering decisions that inform how the platform operates at scale.
Keep an eye on the Build session catalog for confirmed keynote details as they are published.
How to Register
Registration is open and straightforward:
- Navigate to register.build.microsoft.com
- Sign in with your Microsoft account (work or personal)
- Choose your experience - in-person in San Francisco or online
- Complete your profile - this helps Microsoft tailor session recommendations
Online attendance is free, making it accessible for government teams with limited travel budgets. The in-person experience offers additional benefits like hands-on labs with preconfigured lab machines, networking in Connection Zones, and direct access to Microsoft engineering teams.
Build Your Schedule Early
The session catalog went live on April 8, 2026. Once registered, you can browse sessions and use the Add to Schedule feature to build a personalized agenda. This is especially important for in-person attendees, as popular breakout sessions and labs fill up quickly.
Pro tip: Use the session catalog filters to focus on specific areas:
- Search for “Azure” to find cloud platform sessions
- Search for “security” to find trust and compliance content
- Search for “agent” to find AI agent development sessions
- Filter by session type (Breakout, Lab, Pre-Day Workshop) to match your learning style
Session Formats
Build 2026 offers multiple session types to match different learning preferences:
- Keynotes - High-level vision and major announcements from Microsoft leadership
- Breakout Sessions - 45-75 minute deep dives into specific technologies, architectures, or patterns
- Hands-On Labs - Guided, instructor-led labs where you write real code on preconfigured machines (in-person) or follow along online
- Pre-Day Workshops - Extended workshops for deeper immersion into specific topic areas
- Connection Zones - Networking areas to connect with Microsoft engineers, MVPs, and other attendees
Tips for Government Attendees
Here are practical recommendations for getting the most from Build as a government IT professional:
For CIOs and IT Directors
- Attend the opening keynote to understand Microsoft’s strategic direction and how it maps to your agency’s technology roadmap
- Watch for Azure Government announcements - Build often previews features that will later roll out to Azure Government regions
- Identify sessions on AI governance - as your agency explores AI adoption, understanding Microsoft’s responsible AI framework and governance tooling is critical
For Developers and Architects
- Prioritize hands-on labs - the interactive learning format is the fastest way to evaluate whether a new technology fits your environment
- Focus on sessions covering Azure Government parity - not all Azure services are immediately available in government regions, so pay attention to regional availability discussions
- Look for security-focused sessions - compliance requirements like FedRAMP, StateRAMP, and CJIS add complexity that commercial-focused sessions may not address; seek out sessions that discuss sovereign and government cloud scenarios
For the Whole Team
- Divide and conquer - with only two days and hundreds of sessions, coordinate with your team so different members cover different tracks and share notes afterward
- All sessions are recorded - online attendees can catch recordings after the event, so do not stress about scheduling conflicts
- Engage with Microsoft engineers - the Connection Zones and Q&A sessions after breakouts are often where the most valuable, specific-to-your-environment conversations happen
Why This Matters for Government
Microsoft Build is not just a developer conference - it is the clearest signal of where Microsoft’s platform is headed, and for government agencies deeply invested in the Azure and Microsoft 365 ecosystem, that signal directly impacts your planning.
Here is why Build 2026 deserves attention from state and local government leaders:
AI is no longer optional in government modernization. Citizens expect faster services, and agencies face pressure to do more with fewer staff. The AI agent architectures being showcased at Build represent practical tools for automating case management, document processing, and constituent service workflows. Build gives your team the technical foundation to evaluate these tools responsibly.
Azure Government feature parity continues to close. Understanding which new Azure services are on the roadmap for government regions helps agencies plan their architectures without betting on unavailable capabilities. Build announcements often include government region availability timelines.
Security and compliance tooling evolves rapidly. Government agencies face the most stringent security requirements of any Azure customer segment. Build sessions on Zero Trust, AI security, and platform governance provide the technical depth your security teams need to stay ahead of evolving threats.
The free online option eliminates budget barriers. Travel restrictions and tight budgets should not prevent your team from accessing the latest platform knowledge. The full online experience - keynotes, breakouts, and session recordings - is available at no cost.
Upskilling is a strategic investment. State and local government agencies compete with the private sector for technical talent. Giving your developers access to cutting-edge training at Build is a retention and capability-building strategy that pays dividends throughout the year.
Mark your calendar for June 2-3, 2026, and register today. Whether your team attends in person in San Francisco or streams from the office, Build is the best investment of two days your technology organization can make this year.