FabCon and SQLCon 2026 brought Microsoft Fabric and SQL communities together in two co-located events: Atlanta, March 16–20, and Barcelona, September 28–October 1. Their shared focus connected data platforms and databases with analytics, modernization, governance and AI. Both 2026 events have now taken place, so this guide explains their format and the themes they covered rather than offering current registration advice.
What is FabCon and SQLCon 2026?
FabCon is Microsoft’s Fabric-focused community conference; SQLCon centers on SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL-related tools and workloads. In 2026, Microsoft co-located SQLCon with FabCon, making it possible for attendees to move between data-platform and database sessions at the same event.
For the Atlanta program, Microsoft’s SQL Server Blog described the arrangement this way: “One registration, double the value: Register for either conference and get full access to both – mix and match sessions, keynotes, and community events to fit your interests.” The events shared an expo hall, registration desk, conference app and community lounge. Keynotes were held at State Farm Arena, and the attendee party was at the Georgia Aquarium.
The Europe program used the same combined-event approach in Barcelona. Across its program, Microsoft reported more than 130 expert-led sessions, more than 100 speakers and more than 10 hands-on tutorials, according to the Microsoft Fabric Blog.
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When and where is FabCon SQLCon 2026?
| Program | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | March 16–20, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia. The announcement identifies State Farm Arena for keynotes and the Georgia Aquarium for the attendee party; it does not specify a separate general conference-venue address. |
| Europe | September 28–October 1, 2026 | Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. |
These were the 2026 dates, not upcoming dates. The Atlanta announcement described 50 SQLCon breakout sessions and four expert-led workshops. The Europe announcement gave totals for the combined FabCon and SQLCon Europe program: 130+ expert-led sessions, 100+ speakers and 10+ hands-on tutorials.
What sessions should I attend at FabCon?
There is no single best route through a combined program. Choose based on the skills or decisions you need to take back to work. The following guide reflects the event’s published subject areas; it does not imply that a particular session title or time slot was available.
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| If your priority is… | Look for sessions on… | Why that route fits |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric and analytics | OneLake, analytics, governance, data agents and platform unification | These topics address how Fabric brings data and analytical work into a shared platform. |
| SQL engineering | T-SQL, SQL Server, Azure SQL, performance, database security and SQL tools | These sessions are more directly relevant to database development, operations and optimization. |
| Modernization planning | Migration from on-premises SQL to Azure or Fabric, plus hybrid approaches | Comparing deployment paths helps teams connect existing database estates to cloud and analytics plans. |
| Practical implementation | Expert-led workshops and hands-on tutorials | Prioritize these when you need guided build experience rather than a conceptual overview. |
| AI application development | SQL for AI apps, data agents, semantic or vector search, and production governance | Separate high-level AI briefings from implementation sessions that address how an application works with data and how it is governed. |
The Atlanta SQLCon announcement specifically listed sessions spanning SQL Server, Azure SQL, SQL in Fabric, SQL tools, migration and modernization, optimization, database security, and AI apps with SQL. Its 50 breakout sessions and four expert-led workshops made SQL depth a substantial part of that program. For the Europe program, the published totals establish its scale but do not, on their own, identify a best session or a specific SQL-versus-Fabric session count.
For a professional-development goal, weigh technical depth against community networking and partner or consulting discussions. Partner Day programming covered Microsoft AI and data priorities, practice growth, Fabric apps, co-selling, migration to Fabric, and customer AI-plus-data value propositions. Those subjects are especially relevant to people building services or helping customers plan adoption; they are not a substitute for hands-on technical sessions.
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What is new in Microsoft Fabric and SQL?
The event material points to a platform direction, not a single definitive release list. Microsoft’s Fabric SQL Future Ready Digital Summit emphasized unified data foundations, OneLake, Fabric IQ, Fabric Real-Time Intelligence, data agents, governance and secure AI execution. These themes position Fabric as a place to connect data, analytics and AI workloads while keeping governance part of the architecture.
On the database side, Microsoft Reactor’s recap described a SQL roadmap extending from on-premises systems to Azure and Fabric. It presented SQL as a unified, AI-ready relational foundation for next-generation applications. Read together, the Fabric and SQL themes suggest continuity as much as change: organizations can modernize where their data runs while retaining SQL’s role in relational application workloads.
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That distinction matters when evaluating “what’s new.” The cited event coverage establishes the themes above, but it does not establish that each theme was a newly launched product or feature at the conference. Treat them as strategic and technical directions, and verify individual capabilities against current Microsoft product documentation before making architecture or procurement decisions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do Fabric and SQL support Copilot and AI agents?
The event material does not identify one product announcement titled “Copilot” as the defining feature of FabCon or SQLCon 2026. Instead, it describes the data and database foundations that can support Microsoft’s broader AI and Copilot story.
Fabric provides a governed data foundation
OneLake and Fabric’s unified-data direction connect with analytics and real-time intelligence, while governance and secure execution address how data and AI activity should be controlled. Fabric IQ and data agents were part of the summit’s stated platform themes. In practical terms, these topics matter when an organization wants AI experiences to work with governed enterprise data rather than treating an assistant as separate from its data platform.
SQL remains a relational foundation for applications
SQL Server, Azure SQL and SQL in Fabric represent database paths discussed across the event programs. Microsoft Reactor’s recap framed SQL as AI-ready and connected its roadmap to on-premises, Azure and Fabric deployments. That makes SQL relevant to AI applications that depend on relational data, alongside the migration, performance and security concerns that come with operating databases.
Agent concepts and production readiness are different questions
A briefing about what data agents could do is not the same as an implementation session on connecting an agent to data, using semantic or vector search, or governing its behavior in production. When comparing sessions or evaluating a design, look for the latter details if you need an actionable build plan. The event themes support discussing secure, governed AI use; they do not by themselves establish a particular Copilot feature, configuration, or deployment guarantee.
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