Power Platform September 2026 Feature Update

Introduction

Microsoft’s September 2026 Power Platform feature update brings a mix of usability improvements, maker productivity enhancements, and broader AI-assisted development capabilities. For organizations building apps and automations at scale, these updates can reduce development time, improve end-user experiences, and support more consistent governance.

What’s new in Power Platform

Power Apps canvas app improvements

• New fluent screen templates help makers build polished canvas apps faster with six additional ready-to-use templates based on Fluent 2 patterns.
• Bulk control updates now let makers update eligible classic controls to modern controls across a screen instead of one at a time.
• New modern controls include a progress bar, avatar, and spinner, along with reliability improvements for date picker, checkbox, rating, and toggle behaviors.

Model-driven app UI modernization

• The header and navigation refresh for model-driven apps is now generally available with version 2609.1.
• A new display density feature enters public preview, giving users comfortable, cozy, and compact layout options.
• These changes are designed to create more working space, reduce navigation friction, and align apps more closely with Microsoft 365 design patterns.

AI-powered development updates

• The canvas authoring agent plugin is now generally available, enabling agent-assisted development workflows for canvas apps.
• The model app-builder skill is also generally available, allowing makers to generate or edit entire model-driven apps from natural language requirements.
• Makers can now embed generative pages directly in model-driven app forms, bringing AI-generated experiences into record-based workflows.

Learning and community

• Microsoft highlighted the Power Platform Community Conference 2026 as a place to see these updates in action.
• The Power Series from the Power CAT team now offers 20 hands-on labs to build practical Power Platform and AI skills.

Why this matters for IT admins and makers

These updates support faster app delivery while giving organizations more flexibility in how they modernize existing apps. The AI-assisted features are especially relevant for teams looking to accelerate development without abandoning standard Power Apps and Dataverse artifacts.

For admins, the model-driven app UI changes and modern control updates may require testing before broad rollout, especially where customizations, formulas, or user training are involved.

Recommended next steps

• Review new canvas templates and modern controls in a test environment.
• Validate the header and navigation refresh before enabling it more widely.
• Pilot the display density preview with targeted user groups.
• Evaluate the canvas authoring agent plugin and app-builder skill for governed AI-assisted development scenarios.
• Use the Developer plan and Power Series labs to upskill makers and admins.