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Microsoft Build
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Microsoft Build
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Microsoft Build
Logo since 2011
BeginsMay 19, 2025
EndsMay 22, 2025
FrequencyAnnual
VenueSeattle Convention Center and Digital
LocationsAnaheim, California, Redmond, Washington, San Francisco, California, Seattle, Washington
FoundedSeptember 2011; 14 years ago (2011-09)
Most recentMay 19 to 22, 2025
Participants5,000
Organized byMicrosoft
Websitebuild.microsoft.com
Sign for Microsoft's Build 2013 conference at the Moscone Center entrance in San Francisco

Microsoft Build (often stylised as //build/) is an annual conference event held by Microsoft, aimed at software engineers and web developers using Windows, Microsoft Azure and other Microsoft technologies. First held in 2011, it serves as a successor for Microsoft's previous developer events, the Professional Developers Conference (an infrequent event which covered development of software for the Windows operating system) and MIX (which covered web development centering on Microsoft technology such as Silverlight and ASP.net). The attendee price was (US)$2,195 in 2016, up from $2,095 in 2015. It sold out quickly, within one minute of the registration site opening in 2016.[1]

Format

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The event has been held at a large convention center, or purpose-built meeting space on the Microsoft Campus. The Keynote on the first day has been led by the Microsoft CEO addressing the press and developers. It has been the place to announce the general technology milestones for developers. There are breakout sessions conducted by engineers and program managers, most often Microsoft employees representing their particular initiatives. The keynote on the second day often includes deeper dives into technology. Thousands of developers and technologists from all over the world attend.

Events

[edit]
Microsoft Build events
Year Dates Venue
2011 September 13–16 Anaheim Convention Center
2012 October 30–November 2 Microsoft campus
2013 June 26–28 Moscone Center (North & South)
2014 April 2–4 Moscone Center (West)
2015 April 29–May 1
2016 March 30–April 1 Moscone Center
2017 May 10–12 Washington State Convention Center
2018 May 7–9
2019 May 6–8
2020 May 19–21 Digital
2021 May 25–27
2022 May 24–26
2023 May 23–25 Seattle Convention Center
2024 May 21–23
2025 May 19–22

2011

[edit]

Build 2011 was held from September 13 to September 16, 2011 in Anaheim, California.[2] The conference heavily focused on Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 and Visual Studio 2012; their Developer Preview versions were also released during the conference. Attendees also received a Samsung tablet shipping with the Windows 8 "Developer Preview" build.[3]

2012

[edit]

Held on Microsoft's campus in Redmond from October 30 to November 2, 2012, the 2012 edition of Build focused on the recently released Windows 8, along with Windows Azure and Windows Phone 8. Attendees received a Surface RT tablet with Touch Cover, a Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone, and 100GB of free SkyDrive storage.[4]

2013

[edit]

Build 2013 was held from June 26 to June 28, 2013 at the Moscone Center (North and South) in San Francisco.[5] The conference was primarily used to unveil the Windows 8.1 update for Windows 8.[6][7] Each attendee received a Surface Pro, Acer Iconia W3 (the first 8-inch Windows 8 tablet) with a Bluetooth keyboard, one year of Adobe Creative Cloud and 100GB of free SkyDrive storage.[8]

2014

[edit]

Build 2014 was held at the Moscone Center (West) in San Francisco from April 2 to April 4, 2014. Build attendees received a free Xbox One and a $500 Microsoft Store gift card.[9]

Highlights:

2015

[edit]

Build 2015 was held at the Moscone Center (West) in San Francisco from April 29 to May 1, 2015. Registration fee is $2095, and opened at 9:00am PST on Thursday, January 22 and "sold out" in under an hour[10][11] with an unspecified number of attendees. Build attendees received a free HP Spectre x360 ultrabook.[12]

Highlights:

2016

[edit]

Build 2016 was held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from March 30 to April 1, 2016. The price was $2195, an increase of $100 compared to the previous year. The conference was sold out in 1 minute.[1] Unlike previous years, there were no hardware gifts for attendees.[14]

Highlights:

2017

[edit]

The 2017 Build conference took place at the Washington State Convention Center in Downtown Seattle, Washington from May 10 to May 12, 2017. It had been at Moscone Center for the previous four years. However, Moscone center was undergoing renovations from April through August 2017.[17] The Seattle location brought the conference close to the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The price remained at $2195 for the 2017 conference. There were no devices given away at this conference to attendees.

Highlights:

2018

[edit]

The 2018 Build conference took place at the Washington State Convention Center in Downtown Seattle, Washington May 7 to May 9, 2018. The price has increased $300 to $2495 for the 2018 conference. The conference was preceded by the Windows Developer Awards 2018 ceremony.

Highlights:

2019

[edit]

The 2019 Build conference took place at the Washington State Convention Center in Downtown Seattle, Washington from May 6 to May 8, 2019 plus optional post-event learning activities on next two days. The price decreased $100 to $2395 for the 2019 conference. Registration started on February 27.

Highlights:

2020

[edit]

Microsoft announced the dates for Build, and their other large conferences on September 16, 2019, with pricing set at $2395.[18] The physical 2020 Build conference, scheduled to take place in downtown Seattle, Washington from May 19 to May 21, 2020, was initially cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[19] On April 20, 2020, Microsoft opened sign-ups for a replacement, virtual event, held the same date as the originally intended physical event; the virtual event was free of charge.[20]

Highlights:

2021

[edit]

The 2021 conference, once again a free-of-charge virtual event, was held on May 25 to 27, 2021.

Highlights:

2022

[edit]

The 2022 conference, once again a free-of-charge virtual event, was held on May 24 to 26, 2022.

Highlights:

2023

[edit]

The 2023 conference was announced on March 14, 2023. A free online part was held from May 23 to 24, and an in-person part was held in Seattle from May 23 to 25 with workshops on May 22. Tickets for the in-person event are $1525 and workshops are $225. [21]

Microsoft Build 2023 focused heavily on artificial intelligence and its integration across Microsoft's products and services.

  • Microsoft introduced its AI chatbot, Copilot, to Windows 11. Copilot is already integrated into Edge, Office apps, and GitHub. It will be available from June, offering users a range of assistance, from simple to complex tasks.[22][23]
  • Microsoft announced the integration of Bing with OpenAI's ChatGPT, making Bing the default search engine for ChatGPT. This functionality is first available for ChatGPT Plus users and will be enabled for all free ChatGPT users later.[24]

In addition to AI-focused announcements, Microsoft introduced updates to Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge, and Teams. The company also expanded its plugin platform in collaboration with OpenAI, allowing developers to submit their AI experiences to the Microsoft Store on Windows.[25][26]

2024

[edit]

Highlights:

  • Copilot+ PC
    • Windows Copilot Library
  • .NET Aspire: cloud-native stack for building observable, production ready, distributed applications.

Attendee party venues

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Microsoft Build

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Microsoft Build (stylized as //build/) is an annual conference organized by for software engineers, web developers, and professionals, providing insights into new tools, platforms, and innovations across Microsoft's ecosystem, including Windows, Azure, and AI technologies. Launched in 2011 as a successor to earlier events like the Professional Developers Conference (PDC), Microsoft Build has evolved into a gathering that combines presentations, interactive sessions, hands-on labs, and networking opportunities to empower developers in building applications and solutions. The event typically attracts over 200,000 registered participants globally, with a portion attending in person, and emphasizes practical training and announcements on emerging technologies such as AI agents, , and developer productivity tools. Held typically in the spring, the conference features extensive content on AI, with particular emphasis on Azure AI services, Copilot tools, and developer integrations in recent years. Originally held at the in from September 13 to 16, 2011, the conference shifted locations over the years: to Microsoft's Redmond campus in 2012, the in from 2013 to 2016, and starting in 2017, where it remained the host city through 2025 except for fully online formats during the in 2020–2022. has announced that Build will relocate from for 2026 onward, though no new venue has been specified as of June 2025. The event is free to attend virtually and offers a mix of live and on-demand content, including over 300 sessions in recent years, fostering a community-driven focus on open ecosystems and AI integration.

Format

Structure and Sessions

Microsoft Build, typically held in the spring, unfolds over a multi-day agenda, spanning three to four days, featuring a mix of presentations, breakout sessions, and interactive activities designed to equip developers with practical skills in technologies. Breakout sessions, often led by engineers and program managers, provide in-depth explorations of coding techniques, development tools, and platforms such as Azure and .NET, with durations of 45 to 60 minutes to allow for focused learning. Hands-on labs and workshops form a core component, enabling participants to engage directly with technologies through guided, interactive exercises, such as building applications with Azure OpenAI or deploying cloud-native solutions using .NET Aspire. These sessions emphasize practical application, often supported by expert facilitators, and include live demonstrations to illustrate real-world implementations. Demos complement these by showcasing rapid prototypes and tool integrations in shorter formats. The conference supports both in-person attendance at venues like the and virtual participation, with hybrid elements ensuring broad . In-person events offer networking opportunities and physical lab setups, while virtual formats provide high-definition live streams for keynotes and select breakouts, alongside cloud-based environments for remote hands-on labs. All sessions become available on-demand within 24 hours, allowing asynchronous access to recordings and materials. Session tracks organize content thematically, covering areas like AI development with a heavy emphasis on Azure AI services and Copilot tools, Azure cloud services, Windows and , .NET ecosystems, integrations, tools, and security practices, enabling attendees to tailor their agendas to specific interests and explore developer integrations for AI-powered applications. In recent years, tracks have increasingly emphasized AI integration across platforms, reflecting evolving developer priorities.

Keynotes and Announcements

The keynotes at Microsoft Build serve as the conference's flagship events, held over multiple days with the opening typically scheduled for the first day to establish the overarching vision and priorities for developers. These sessions commence in the morning, often around 9:00 AM local time, and last approximately 60 to 90 minutes, drawing thousands of in-person and virtual attendees. Since assumed the role of CEO in 2014, he has led the Day 1 opening , succeeding who helmed them from 2012 to 2013. Keynotes follow a structured format designed to engage developers through a blend of strategic overviews, live demonstrations, and collaborative showcases. Nadella typically begins with a high-level discussion of industry trends and 's strategic direction, followed by on-stage demos illustrating practical applications of . Partner executives and engineering leads often join to highlight integrations and real-world use cases, culminating in a forward-looking vision that ties into the conference's theme, such as empowering developers in an AI-driven era through advancements in Azure AI, Copilot tools, and developer integrations. This format emphasizes interactivity, with elements like real-time coding sessions or reveals to demonstrate feasibility and inspire innovation. Announcements during s are delivered through a deliberate process that previews upcoming updates to operating systems, developer tools, and integrations, often accompanied by immediate access to previews or for attendees. This approach allows to gauge developer feedback early while building momentum for broader rollouts, with details expanded in follow-on sessions. Historically, the keynote focus has evolved from hardware-oriented reveals, such as advancements in Windows devices and touch interfaces under Ballmer, to a primary emphasis on software platforms, cloud infrastructure like Azure, and cross-platform services under Nadella, reflecting Microsoft's pivot toward open, cloud-first development.

Events

2011

The inaugural Microsoft Build conference took place from September 13 to 16, 2011, at the in . This event marked Microsoft's transition to a dedicated annual developer gathering, succeeding the biennial Professional Developers Conference (PDC) and focusing on empowering developers to build applications for the evolving Windows platform. The conference centered on previews of upcoming Microsoft technologies, with keynotes and sessions highlighting innovations in operating systems and development tools. On the opening day, Microsoft announced the Windows 8 Developer Preview, a milestone build that introduced a touch-first interface, the Metro design language, and support for both x86 and ARM architectures to enable apps across desktops, tablets, and emerging devices. Concurrently, the company released the Windows Server "8" Developer Preview, which emphasized virtualization enhancements via Hyper-V, cloud integration, and multi-server management capabilities to support scalable enterprise environments. Additionally, Microsoft unveiled the Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview, featuring improved productivity tools such as asynchronous programming support, enhanced debugging for Windows 8 apps, and better integration with the new app model. To facilitate hands-on development, distributed approximately 5,000 prototype tablets—specifically the Series 7 model with an i5 processor—to registered attendees, each preloaded with the Developer Preview for immediate testing and app prototyping. This giveaway underscored the event's emphasis on practical experimentation with the platform's hardware-software convergence. The 2011 Build conference established the blueprint for future iterations, influencing the annual cadence and developer-centric format of subsequent events.

2012

The first annual Microsoft Build conference took place from October 30 to November 2, 2012, at the Microsoft campus in . Following the success of the inaugural 2011 event, which featured initial previews of upcoming technologies, Microsoft shifted to an annual cadence for Build to provide ongoing developer resources and updates. The 2012 edition drew thousands of developers to the Redmond campus, emphasizing practical tools and integrations for the newly released operating systems. A central focus was the official developer launch of , which had reached general availability just days earlier on October 26, allowing attendees to explore its Metro-style interface, app development ecosystem, and cross-device capabilities through hands-on sessions. Major announcements included updates to Windows Azure, such as expanded support for and the introduction of Azure Mobile Services with compatibility for , enabling seamless cloud integration for mobile and desktop apps; additionally, the Azure Store was unveiled to simplify service discovery and deployment. The event also highlighted the developer tools for , including new SDK features for building apps across the Windows ecosystem. To encourage adoption, and partners distributed event gifts to all attendees, including a 32 GB Surface RT tablet bundled with a Touch Cover keyboard, a smartphone running , and 100 GB of free SkyDrive storage for one year. These hardware reveals underscored Build's role in showcasing Microsoft's cross-platform vision, bridging tablets, smartphones, and cloud services.

2013

Microsoft Build 2013 was held from June 26 to 28 at the in , , representing the conference's first relocation from Microsoft's Redmond campus to accommodate a larger international developer audience. Building on the momentum from the 2012 Windows 8 launch, the event centered on refinements to the Windows ecosystem, with CEO announcing the immediate availability of the Preview during the opening keynote. This update introduced enhancements such as a customizable Start screen, improved search integration across the system, and better support for smaller devices, aiming to address user feedback on Windows 8's interface while expanding developer tools for app creation. Attendees received complimentary hardware as event gifts, including a 128 GB Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and an 8-inch Acer Iconia W3 tablet, intended to facilitate hands-on testing of the new software previews. Sessions extended discussions to the broader developer ecosystem, highlighting Microsoft Research contributions to Windows innovations and integrations with Windows Azure for cloud-based mobile services, fostering collaboration across hardware, software, and enterprise solutions.

2014

The Microsoft Build 2014 conference took place from April 2 to 4 at the in , , marking a continued from earlier Windows-centric events toward broader developer ecosystems. This edition highlighted the conference's growing emphasis on and enterprise tools, attracting developers interested in cross-platform development and cloud integrations. Major announcements centered on updates to developer tools, including enhancements to 2013 for building universal Windows apps that span PCs, tablets, phones, and consoles, thereby facilitating Xbox integrations for game and app developers. also unveiled a new preview portal for Azure, offering a unified interface for cloud services to simplify enterprise application development. These updates aimed to empower developers with more seamless tools for creating entertainment-focused experiences, such as games leveraging Xbox hardware, alongside robust enterprise solutions. Attendees received notable event gifts, including a free console and a $500 gift card, intended to equip developers for immediate experimentation with the platform. The conference further expanded session diversity for enterprise developers, featuring dedicated tracks on topics like building SaaS web apps and APIs using Azure Active Directory for secure sign-in, alongside hands-on workshops for cloud and cross-device integration. This broadened scope reflected Microsoft's push to support a wider array of professional use cases beyond consumer apps.

2015

Microsoft Build 2015 took place from April 29 to May 1 at the in , , continuing the location from prior years. The conference demonstrated strong commercial interest, with full-price tickets priced at $2,095 selling out in under one hour upon registration opening on January 22. This rapid sell-out underscored the growing demand among developers for Microsoft's evolving platform ecosystem, particularly as the company pivoted toward and cross-device application development. A key focus of the event was Microsoft's cloud platform, Azure, which received over 500 new features in the preceding year, including the availability of Enterprise on Azure for enterprise-grade code management and Project Oxford's beta APIs and SDKs for cognitive services like facial recognition. Demonstrations highlighted Azure Machine Learning applications, such as the "How Old Do I Look" demo, emphasizing scalable AI and data analytics tools to support developers building cloud-native solutions. The conference also emphasized the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), introducing bridge toolkits to enable developers to port existing Web, .NET, Win32, Android, and applications to across devices like PCs, tablets, phones, and . Announcements included support from partners such as , Shazam, Rdio, and for UWP apps, alongside .NET Core enhancements for cross-platform development on Windows, OS X, and , aiming to unify app experiences and accelerate adoption of . Attendees received an HP Spectre x360 convertible ultrabook as an event gift, pre-configured with and featuring an i5 processor and 8GB of RAM to facilitate hands-on development during and after the conference.

2016

The 2016 edition of Microsoft Build took place from March 30 to April 1 at the in , . This event continued to build on the previous year's emphasis on themes, while shifting greater attention toward enhancing developer through software tooling advancements. Tickets for the , priced at $2,195, sold out in just one minute upon going on sale, underscoring the surging demand among developers for Microsoft's developer-focused gatherings. Unlike prior years, no event gifts—such as hardware incentives—were provided to attendees, reflecting a streamlined focus on content and networking rather than promotional swag. Major announcements centered on updates to core developer tools, including the release of 2015 Update 2, which introduced enhancements for C# and languages to streamline coding workflows and improve integration with modern platforms. Complementing this, Microsoft unveiled updates to .NET, such as .NET Core RC2, aimed at boosting cross-platform development efficiency and performance for cloud-native applications. These productivity-oriented releases highlighted Microsoft's commitment to empowering developers with robust, open-source tools amid growing interest in hybrid and multi-device ecosystems.

2017

The 2017 edition of Microsoft Build marked the conference's return to after four years in , emphasizing a renewed focus on core platforms like Windows and Azure while leveraging high demand from previous sell-outs that had prompted rapid ticket sales. Held from May 10 to 12 at the Washington State Convention Center, the event drew developers seeking in-depth sessions on Microsoft's ecosystem, with full three-day passes priced at $2,195. Key announcements centered on enhancements to , including the preview of the Fall Creators Update, which introduced features like improved Continuum for better mobile-to-desktop transitions and expanded support for mixed reality headsets through the portal. Azure advancements were a major highlight, with the launch of services such as Azure Database Migration Service for seamless third-party and SQL Server database migrations to Azure SQL Database, and Azure Batch for AI training to simplify large-scale workloads. These updates underscored Microsoft's strategy to integrate cloud capabilities more deeply with developer tools, enabling faster innovation in AI, IoT, and hybrid applications. No official event gifts or swag were distributed to attendees.

2018

The 2018 edition of Microsoft Build took place from May 7 to 9 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, continuing the event's tradition of hosting in the city since its inception. This conference was preceded on May 6 by the Windows Developer Awards ceremony, which recognized outstanding contributions in categories such as application creation, mixed reality, and design innovation, integrating developer recognition directly into the Build experience. The full registration fee rose to $2,495, reflecting a $300 increase from the prior year and underscoring the growing value placed on in-person developer networking and announcements. Key sessions and keynotes emphasized emerging technologies, with major previews of mixed reality tools like updates to the Mixed Reality Toolkit for enhanced HoloLens development and AI advancements including Azure's Project Brainwave for deep neural networks and new conversational AI capabilities in Bot Framework. These previews highlighted Microsoft's push toward integrating AI and mixed reality across platforms like Windows and Azure, providing developers with tools to build intelligent, immersive applications.

2019

The 2019 Microsoft Build conference occurred from May 6 to 8 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, marking the seventh annual event dedicated to developers. Full registration for the in-person experience cost $2,395, providing access to keynotes, sessions, and networking opportunities without including accommodations. As the last fully in-person gathering before the shift to virtual formats, it emphasized hands-on engagement and skill-building for thousands of attendees. Key announcements centered on browser and developer platform enhancements. Microsoft revealed plans to rebuild its Edge browser on the open-source engine, aiming to improve compatibility, performance, and web standards support while reducing development overhead. Complementing this, the company unveiled deeper integrations with Azure, including authentication using GitHub credentials and streamlined CI/CD pipelines via GitHub Actions previews, facilitating faster deployments for open-source projects. These updates built on Microsoft's 2018 acquisition of , extending its ecosystem into cloud-native workflows. The event significantly expanded learning opportunities through structured deep-dive sessions, hands-on labs, and partner-led workshops, enabling developers to experiment with Azure AI, IoT, and emerging tools in interactive environments. Post-event resources, including on-demand session recordings and extended tutorials on Microsoft Learn, allowed participants to continue exploring topics like mixed reality applications, which built upon 2018's foundational advancements in immersive technologies. This focus on practical, extended education underscored Build's role in fostering developer proficiency amid rapid platform evolutions.

2020

In response to the , canceled the planned in-person conference and pivoted to a fully held from May 19 to 21, 2020. This shift allowed developers worldwide to participate without travel restrictions or venue limitations, marking a departure from the traditional in-person format of previous years. The event was offered free of charge, with registration open to all, enabling broader accessibility compared to prior paid, location-bound gatherings. The virtual format facilitated global online access, resulting in over 245,000 registrations—far exceeding the approximately 7,000 attendees typical of in-person events. Sessions were delivered live over 48 hours starting at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, with on-demand replays available, allowing participants in various time zones to engage fully. This approach emphasized learning, connection, and coding in a digital environment, as highlighted by executives who noted the event's adaptation to "new realities brought on by COVID-19." Key announcements centered on hybrid cloud and collaboration tools. Azure Arc was introduced in public preview, enabling the management of clusters across on-premises datacenters, multicloud environments, and Azure Stack Hub from a unified Azure portal. This extension of Azure's to external resources aimed to simplify and operations at scale for hybrid setups. Microsoft saw significant platform enhancements to support developer integration and user experience. New and extensions were released, alongside single sign-on capabilities for one-click in apps. The Activity Feed was added to improve app notifications, while the Bookings app became generally available for virtual appointment scheduling. Additionally, one-click integration for Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents into was announced, rolling out starting June 2020, to streamline low-code development within the collaboration platform.

2021

Microsoft Build 2021 took place from May 25 to 27, 2021, continuing the fully digital and free format established in response to the ongoing . This built on lessons from the 2020 setup by enhancing and engagement for a broader . Attendees accessed content through livestreams and on-demand sessions, with the conference spanning 48 continuous hours to accommodate global time zones. Key announcements centered on developer tools and platforms, including the release of .NET 6 Preview 4, which introduced features like .NET MAUI for cross-platform app development and performance optimizations for unified development experiences. In the keynote, Microsoft CEO teased the "next generation of Windows," describing it as one of the most significant updates in the platform's history and noting his personal self-hosting of early builds, which later materialized as Windows 11. The event featured improvements in online interactivity, such as an interactive for easier navigation of sessions and built-in translation capabilities to support multilingual participation. These enhancements, combined with the all-digital delivery, expanded global reach by enabling developers worldwide to join without travel barriers, fostering broader collaboration and knowledge sharing.

2022

Microsoft Build 2022 occurred from May 24 to 26 as a fully digital event offered at no cost to participants, building on the virtual format introduced in to reach a broader amid ongoing global challenges. The conference delivered keynotes, interactive sessions, and on-demand content focused on developer tools and open-source innovations, with over 540 sessions presented in eight languages across seven solution areas to support continued global online participation. A highlight was the announcement of general availability for , an AI pair programmer providing context-aware code suggestions, now integrated into , , Neovim, and IDEs, marking a significant advancement in AI-assisted coding for open-source and proprietary projects. Visual Studio 2022 received key updates emphasizing productivity tools, including Template Studio for WinUI 3 to accelerate Windows app prototyping and the .NET Upgrade Assistant for migrating legacy applications to modern .NET 6 and WinUI 3 frameworks. Additional enhancements covered Azure DevOps integrations for improved collaboration in open-source workflows and previews of features like port tunneling in for secure development, underscoring Microsoft's commitment to robust, accessible tools for developers.

2023

Microsoft Build 2023 marked the conference's return to a hybrid format, combining in-person attendance at the with digital access worldwide. Held from May 23 to 25, 2023, the event built on the virtual foundations established during the pandemic years from 2020 to 2022, offering free online streaming and on-demand sessions for global participants. In-person tickets were priced at $1,525, while pre-day workshops on May 22 cost an additional $225, providing hands-on sessions to deepen developer skills. This hybrid approach enabled broader engagement, with keynotes and sessions accessible virtually in multiple languages. A central theme of the conference was the integration of into Microsoft's ecosystem, positioning developers at the forefront of AI innovation. CEO emphasized AI's transformative potential during the opening , highlighting tools to empower creators. The event showcased over 50 updates, with a strong focus on making AI accessible through developer platforms and integrations. Among the major announcements was the introduction of Copilot for , a built-in AI assistant that integrates into the operating system's for seamless productivity support, entering preview in June 2023. This feature leverages generative AI to assist users directly within the Windows environment, drawing on Bing Chat capabilities. Another key reveal was the integration of Bing as the default in , enabling OpenAI's model to access real-time web information via Bing, initially rolling out to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and soon to free users. This partnership aimed to enhance search accuracy and relevance in conversational AI. Microsoft also unveiled AI builder tools to streamline development, including the preview of Azure AI Studio, a unified platform for building, customizing, and deploying AI applications with support for models like those from . Additionally, the Semantic Kernel SDK became generally available, offering an open-source orchestration framework for integrating large language models into applications. These tools, combined with a new plugins platform compatible across Bing, , and Microsoft services, empowered developers to extend AI functionalities without rebuilding from scratch.

2024

Microsoft Build 2024 took place from May 21 to 23, 2024, at the , with a hybrid format offering both in-person and digital participation. The event attracted over 200,000 registered participants worldwide, including approximately 4,000 attendees in , where hands-on demos highlighted practical applications of new technologies. Building on the AI momentum established in 2023, the conference emphasized the convergence of AI hardware and developer tools to empower creators. A key highlight was the announcement of Copilot+ PCs, a new category of Windows devices featuring dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) with at least 40 of performance for on-device AI processing. These PCs integrate the Windows Copilot Runtime, enabling developers to build AI-accelerated experiences using APIs for models like Phi-3, and introduce features such as for intelligent content retrieval and Cocreator in for generative image editing. In developer frameworks, Microsoft launched .NET Aspire as generally available, a stack designed to streamline the creation of observable, production-ready cloud-native applications. It provides integrated tools for orchestration, service discovery, health monitoring, and telemetry, reducing boilerplate code and supporting deployment to Azure or other environments. Windows AI advancements included the Semantic Index, which enables search across personal data using vector embeddings, and the Windows Copilot Library for integrating AI models into apps with optimized performance on Copilot+ hardware. These features prioritize on-device inference to enhance privacy and responsiveness, with in-person sessions demonstrating real-time prototyping.

2025

Microsoft Build 2025 took place from May 19 to 22 at the , complemented by a global digital experience for broader accessibility. The conference centered on empowering developers to build intelligent applications in an era of advanced AI agents and interconnected ecosystems. The opening keynote, delivered by CEO on May 19, underscored the transformative potential of AI-driven development, highlighting seamless data integration across tools and platforms to foster innovation. Building on 2024's emphasis on Copilot+ hardware integrations, the event pivoted to software-centric advancements in agentic AI. Key announcements revolved around enhancing Copilot capabilities, with the introduction of Copilot Tuning enabling organizations to train AI models using proprietary company data and workflows through a low-code interface in Copilot Studio; this feature rolled out in June 2025 for eligible Copilot customers. Complementing this, Copilot Studio added multi-agent orchestration in preview, allowing AI agents created with , Azure AI, and Microsoft Fabric to collaborate on complex tasks dynamically. Microsoft unveiled the Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol in preview, a standard for secure, decentralized communication between AI agents, initially integrated into to enable interoperable agent interactions without centralized intermediaries. To promote an open agentic web, the company launched NLWeb as an open-source project, which equips websites with conversational interfaces so AI agents can discover, interpret, and engage with content more intuitively. Azure AI received significant updates, including the general availability of Azure AI Foundry's Agent Service for streamlined agent deployment and access to over 10,000 open-source models; these enhancements were part of more than 50 announcements designed to accelerate AI development at scale.

Attendee Party Venues

Microsoft Build conferences have traditionally featured official attendee parties as a key social component, providing opportunities for networking, relaxation, and entertainment following intensive sessions on developer technologies. These events have evolved from intimate gatherings in dedicated spaces during the conference's early years to expansive, multi-zone celebrations in iconic landmarks, reflecting the event's growth in scale and its shift toward hybrid formats post-2020. Early parties emphasized themed music and local flavor, while recent iterations incorporate interactive elements like gaming and sports-themed activities to foster community among thousands of developers. In 2011, the inaugural Build conference in Anaheim concluded with an attendee party at The Grove of Anaheim, a mid-sized that hosted live performances by bands such as , allowing around 1,500 developers to unwind with concerts and casual mingling after previews of Windows 8. By 2017, after the conference relocated to , the party moved to the expansive CenturyLink Field (now ), where attendees enjoyed a large-scale mixer with food, drinks, and entertainment tailored for exhibitors and developers, marking a transition to stadium-level events capable of accommodating over 5,000 participants. The 2018 edition highlighted a multi-venue format at , transforming cultural sites into interactive zones: the (MoPOP) featured live music and exhibits like the Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes display in its Sky Church theater; the Next 50 Plaza offered a with headsets and open-air gaming; and provided art installations, , and live glass-blowing demonstrations. This setup emphasized diverse, themed networking mixers, blending with for approximately 6,000 in-person attendees. Post-pandemic, the return to in-person events in 2023 amplified the social scale at , where the celebration included field access for activities like sports challenges, alongside food stations and live entertainment, serving as a "grand finale" for the AI-focused conference and drawing thousands for post-session connections. Similarly, the 2024 wrap-up party at incorporated live music, arcade games, and interactive experiences such as kicking, reinforcing networking through relaxed, high-energy formats amid announcements on AI agents. In 2025, the Microsoft Build and co-hosted celebration returned to on May 21, featuring an Combine-inspired challenge, stadium lounge areas, and 80s-themed dancing, evolving the tradition into a hybrid-friendly spectacle that extended virtual access via live streams for global participants. This progression from boutique venues like San Francisco's AMC Metreon in 2014-2015—where parties focused on urban nightlife and mixers near the —to Seattle's waterfront and stadium events underscores Build's adaptation to larger crowds and inclusive social programming, prioritizing developer camaraderie without overshadowing technical content.

References

  1. https://news.microsoft.com/en-ph/2018/06/01/microsoft-build-2018-the-forces-that-will-shape-the-future/
  2. https://www.theverge.com/news/684313/microsoft-build-conference-2026-location
  3. https://news.microsoft.com/build-2025-book-of-news/
  4. https://meetings.skift.com/2025/07/03/microsoft-build-joins-wave-of-tech-conferences-leaving-longtime-host-cities/
  5. https://news.microsoft.com/build-2024-book-of-news/
  6. https://developer.microsoft.com/blog/a-developers-guide-to-build-2025
  7. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/dotnet/join-us-at-build-2025/
  8. https://www.infoq.com/news/2018/05/Keynote-Microsoft-BUILD-2018/
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIfSova3JNE
  10. https://news.microsoft.com/build-2025/
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