Microsoft has announced that Build 2026, its annual developer conference, will take place in San Francisco on June 2nd and 3rd, 2026. This marks a return to the city for the event, which last took place there in 2016. The conference will be held at Fort Mason Center, and Microsoft has confirmed that the event will feature hands-on sessions focused on real code, real systems, and real workflows with the teams building and scaling AI. The company has also promised 'no fluff' during this year's event, aiming for a smaller and more intimate atmosphere than previous Build conferences.
Build 2026 is aimed at AI developers, technical leaders, and enterprise developers, and Microsoft plans to host online versions of the conference for those who can't attend in person or don't want to pay the $1,099 entry fee. The event is expected to feature new announcements, and attendees can expect to hear about Microsoft's latest developments in AI and other technologies. To watch the opening keynote, you'll need to register for an online account or follow along with coverage from PCMag.
One of the key changes for this year's event is the focus on making it more personalized and interactive. According to Kyle Daigle, chief operating officer at GitHub, Microsoft is aiming to create an event that is 'in the middle' of the spectrum, where meeting with people who attend is just as much a part of the actual conference content, announcements, and using the tech. This marks a shift away from the large-scale, sprawling conferences that Microsoft has hosted in the past, and a move towards a more intimate and personalized experience for attendees.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some may argue that this shift towards a more personalized experience comes at the cost of the conference's overall impact and reach. While it may be a more enjoyable experience for those who attend, it may also limit the number of people who can access the event and its content. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft balances this trade-off and whether the move towards a more intimate event will be well-received by the developer community.
And this is the part most people miss... While Microsoft has confirmed the dates and location for Build 2026, it has not yet announced the full schedule or agenda for the event. It will be interesting to see what other surprises and innovations Microsoft has in store for attendees, and whether the conference will live up to the hype and expectations of the developer community.
