Microsoft keynote calendar

The Microsoft keynote calendar

Microsoft runs the broadest enterprise keynote calendar of any major technology company, anchored by three flagship events: Microsoft Build in late May or early June for developers, Microsoft Ignite in mid-November for enterprise IT, and the Xbox Games Showcase in early-to-mid June for gaming. Each event targets a distinct audience and serves a distinct strategic purpose, yet they collectively articulate Microsoft's three-product narrative around Azure, Copilot, and Windows.

Build is Microsoft's annual developer conference, held in San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center since 2024 (after years in Seattle). The event runs as a hybrid in-person and online conference, capped at roughly 2,500 in-person attendees, fronted by CEO Satya Nadella and CTO Kevin Scott. Build is the venue at which Microsoft introduces major Azure, GitHub, .NET, Visual Studio, Windows AI, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power Platform, and Microsoft Fabric updates. Sessions are released free on Microsoft Learn within hours of the live broadcast.

Ignite, held in mid-November, is Microsoft's enterprise IT conference, drawing customer and partner audiences around Azure infrastructure, Microsoft 365, security, compliance, hybrid cloud, and Copilot deployment. The event spans four days and combines in-person sessions in a major US convention venue with a robust digital component. Satya Nadella delivers the opening keynote, with Charlie Bell, Scott Guthrie, Jared Spataro, and other product leaders covering specific tracks.

The Xbox Games Showcase, held in June each year, is Microsoft's annual gaming presentation, delivered as a pre-recorded global livestream and frequently paired with a follow-up Direct on a single tentpole title. The 2026 edition, on June 7, will be paired with a Gears of War: E-Day Direct. Microsoft also runs Surface launches via press releases or pre-recorded films, typically in the autumn, and uses CES for Surface Copilot+ PC partner announcements. Microsoft's keynote philosophy emphasises platform breadth, partner ecosystem, and cross-portfolio integration: Azure, Copilot, Windows, Xbox, and the Office stack are presented as parts of a single fabric rather than discrete products.

Microsoft events throughout the year

• Microsoft Build (May-June): Annual developer conference held at Fort Mason in San Francisco.
• Xbox Games Showcase (June): Annual gaming presentation streamed globally.
• Surface launches (variable): Pre-recorded films or press releases throughout the year.
• Microsoft Ignite (November): Annual enterprise IT and developer conference.
• Windows ecosystem moments: Press releases and partner announcements throughout the year.

Past milestone announcements

• Build 2025 unveiled the GitHub Copilot coding agent, Azure AI Foundry agents, the NLWeb open standard, and the Windows AI Foundry runtime.
• Ignite 2025 introduced Azure AI Foundry agent orchestration, Microsoft Discovery, Windows 365 Link, and new Copilot agent skills.
• Xbox Games Showcase 2025 revealed The Outer Worlds 2, Fable, State of Decay 3, and the ROG Xbox Ally handheld.
• Build 2024 launched Copilot+ PCs, the Phi-3 small language model family, and Recall on Windows.
• Build 2023 detailed Azure OpenAI Service expansion, Microsoft Fabric general availability, and the original Windows Copilot.
• Build 2022 unveiled .NET MAUI general availability and Azure Container Apps GA.
• Ignite 2022 detailed the Microsoft Cost Management updates and Azure ARM expansion.
• Build 2021 announced Windows 11's developer story and Microsoft Loop.

How to watch Microsoft events

Microsoft keynotes stream free on build.microsoft.com, ignite.microsoft.com, news.xbox.com, the Microsoft Developer YouTube channel, and Microsoft Learn. A 09:00 PT start equates to 12:00 ET, 17:00 BST, 18:00 CEST, 21:30 IST, and 01:00 JST. Build and Ignite keynotes typically run 90-120 minutes, with sessions catalogued on Microsoft Learn for free on-demand replay. The Xbox Games Showcase is released on the Xbox YouTube channel, Twitch, and the Xbox app.

Related brand calendars

For Microsoft's principal competition, see the Apple keynote hub, the Google keynote hub, and the gaming keynote hub for the broader gaming industry calendar.

FAQ

When is Microsoft Build? Late May or early June each year at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. When is Microsoft Ignite? Mid-to-late November, at a rotating major US convention venue. When is the Xbox Games Showcase? Early-to-mid June each year, typically alongside Summer Game Fest week. Where can I watch Microsoft events live? build.microsoft.com, ignite.microsoft.com, and the Microsoft Developer YouTube channel. Does Microsoft hold Surface keynotes? Surface launches are typically delivered via press release or pre-recorded film rather than live keynote since the original Build/Ignite consolidation.