Azure

SQLCon 2026 Atlanta: What IT and Data Teams Need

3 min read

Summary

SQLCon 2026 will debut in Atlanta on March 16–20 alongside FabCon, with one registration granting access to both events and 50 SQL-focused sessions spanning SQL Server, Azure SQL, Fabric SQL, security, performance, modernization, and AI. It matters because IT and data teams managing hybrid Microsoft data estates can get hands-on training, direct engineering insights, and clearer product roadmap guidance in a single trip, helping them align database, analytics, and AI strategies more efficiently.

Need help with Azure?Talk to an Expert

Introduction: why this matters

SQLCon is launching as a new, SQL-focused event co-located with FabCon (Microsoft Fabric Community Conference) on March 16–20 in Atlanta. For IT pros and data platform admins managing mixed estates (SQL Server, Azure SQL, and emerging Fabric SQL), this is a rare opportunity to get hands-on technical guidance and roadmap clarity in the same week—without splitting budget across separate conferences.

What’s new / key highlights

One registration unlocks two conferences

A single pass covers SQLCon + FabCon, enabling attendees to move between deep SQL sessions and broader Fabric/Power BI/data engineering/AI content. This is especially valuable for cross-functional teams that need a shared language across database, analytics, and AI initiatives.

Large SQL track with hands-on learning

SQLCon includes 50 SQL sessions covering:

  • SQL Server and Azure SQL technical guidance
  • SQL database in Fabric and Fabric SQL experiences
  • Performance tuning and operational best practices
  • Security and governance considerations
  • Migration and modernization patterns
  • Building AI-powered experiences with SQL

The format is designed for applied outcomes:

  • Monday–Tuesday: hands-on workshop days (bring a laptop; leave with scripts/patterns/demos)
  • Wednesday–Friday: conference sessions to broaden strategy and implementation plans

Roadmap and engineering insight

Microsoft indicates 30+ members of the SQL product team will attend, with expected:

  • First-look announcements and engineering updates
  • Demos of upcoming capabilities across SQL tooling and drivers
  • Updates related to SSMS and VS Code extensions
  • Emerging Copilot integrations and Fabric SQL directions

Community access: experts and peer problem-solving

The event includes Ask-the-Experts opportunities with engineers, MVPs, and product teams, plus shared keynotes and community spaces designed for real-world troubleshooting and architecture discussions.

Impact for IT administrators and platform owners

For administrators, the biggest value is reducing uncertainty in planning:

  • Modernization planning: Validate timelines and patterns for SQL Server to Azure SQL/Fabric options.
  • Security/governance: Bring back updated guidance for access controls, data protection, and operational guardrails.
  • Tooling readiness: Track changes in management and developer tooling (SSMS/VS Code extensions, drivers) that may affect standard builds and supportability.
  • Skills development: Workshops can translate directly into repeatable runbooks and internal enablement.
  • Review your 2026 priorities (migration, performance, governance, Fabric adoption) and map them to sessions/workshops.
  • If sending a team, split coverage: one group deep-dives SQL operations; another covers Fabric/AI to align end-to-end architecture.
  • Check registration pricing for early-bird/team offers; the article also notes coupon code SQLCMTY200 for $200 off (availability may vary).
  • Prepare a shortlist of “blockers” to bring to Ask-the-Experts (e.g., HA/DR patterns, security model, migration tooling, Fabric SQL fit).

Need help with Azure?

Our experts can help you implement and optimize your Microsoft solutions.

Talk to an Expert

Stay updated on Microsoft technologies

Read the original article by Anna Hoffman
Azure SQLSQL ServerMicrosoft Fabricdatabase modernizationdata governance

Related Posts

Azure

Microsoft The Shift Podcast on Agentic AI Challenges

Microsoft has launched a new season of The Shift podcast focused on agentic AI, with eight weekly episodes exploring how AI agents use data, coordinate with each other, and depend on platforms like Postgres, Microsoft Fabric, and OneLake. The series matters because it highlights that deploying agents in enterprises is not just about models—it requires rethinking architecture, governance, security, and IT workflows across the full Azure and data stack.

Azure

Azure Agentic AI for Regulated Industry Modernization

Microsoft says Azure combined with agentic AI can help regulated industries modernize legacy systems faster by automating workload assessment, migration, and ongoing operations while maintaining compliance. The update matters because it positions cloud migration as more than a cost-saving exercise: for sectors like healthcare and other highly regulated industries, it is increasingly essential for resilience, governance, and readiness to deploy AI at scale.

Azure

Fireworks AI on Microsoft Foundry for Azure Inference

Microsoft has launched a public preview of Fireworks AI on Microsoft Foundry, bringing high-throughput, low-latency open-model inference to Azure through a single managed endpoint. It matters because enterprises can now access models like DeepSeek V3.2, gpt-oss-120b, Kimi K2.5, and MiniMax M2.5 with Azure’s governance, serverless or provisioned deployment options, and bring-your-own-weights support—making it easier to move open-model AI from experimentation into production.

Azure

Azure Copilot Migration Agent for App Modernization

Microsoft has introduced new public preview modernization agents in Azure Copilot and GitHub Copilot to help organizations automate migration and application transformation across discovery, assessment, planning, deployment, and code upgrades. The announcement matters because it aims to turn complex, fragmented modernization work into a coordinated AI-assisted workflow, helping enterprises move legacy infrastructure and applications to Azure faster and with clearer cost, dependency, and prioritization insights.

Azure

Azure IaaS Resource Center for Resilient Infrastructure

Microsoft has introduced the Azure IaaS Resource Center, a centralized hub for infrastructure teams to find design guidance, demos, architecture resources, and best practices for compute, storage, and networking. The launch matters because it reinforces Azure IaaS as a unified platform for building resilient, high-performance, and cost-optimized infrastructure, helping organizations better support everything from traditional business apps to AI workloads.

Azure

Microsoft Foundry ROI Study Shows 327% Enterprise AI Gains

A Forrester Total Economic Impact study commissioned around Microsoft Foundry found that a modeled enterprise could achieve 327% ROI over three years, break even in about six months, and realize $49.5 million in benefits from productivity and infrastructure savings. The results matter because they highlight how much enterprise AI costs are driven by developer time and fragmented tooling, suggesting that a unified platform like Foundry can help IT teams accelerate AI delivery while improving governance and efficiency.