A week of live shows, community moments, flexible learning, and fun festival vibes, all to help you build skills that stick.
AI is moving fast, which means a lot of us are trying to keep up in real time.
I keep hearing the same questions: Where do I even start? How do I know what to focus on? Am I too late?
If you’ve been thinking, I should probably work on my AI skills, you’re in the right place.
Microsoft AI Skills Fest is coming. June 8–12, 2026.
It’s free. It’s online. And everyone’s invited. Whether you’re a developer, business leader, student, or somewhere in between, there’s content tailored to your role and your comfort level with AI. That includes everything from deep technical skills for IT, data, and security pros to practical skills for marketing and customer service experts, plus much more.
AI Skills Fest is powered by AI Skills Navigator, your one-stop shop for AI learning. You’ll find quick-hit sessions, expert talks, live shows, and skilling playlists built around real work.
The point of the week? Helping you make real progress with AI—not just building awareness. That means:
- Skills you can use right away, like crafting an effective prompt to write a sales email, using AI in the classroom, or building a customized agent.
- Featured playlists that match your role.
- Progress you can showcase, like a Credly badge.
- Fun extras, including opportunities to win prizes* and qualify for a Microsoft Certification exam voucher* when you complete a playlist.
Yes, I said fun! It’s a festival, after all.
Let’s talk perks
The satisfaction of learning a new skill is always great. But the feeling you get when it all comes together—and you win something, too—is even better.
- Register for AI Skills Fest, and you’re automatically entered into a sweepstakes* for exciting prizes. You might even score a VIP experience at Microsoft Ignite 2026, complete with your very own pair of bedazzled shoes. (If you register before June 8, 2026, you’ll get two entries and double your chances of winning.)*
- Complete an AI Skills Fest featured playlist, and earn a Credly badge you can share.
- Finish an eligible playlist, and receive a voucher for select Certification exams.
* Friendly fine print: Terms and conditions apply. Sweepstakes, prizes, and Certification exam vouchers are subject to eligibility requirements and other restrictions.
The festival vibe is real—find your perfect path
AI Skills Fest is a choose-your-own-adventure week, but it’s not a scavenger hunt. We guide you with clear paths so you don’t have to guess what to do next.
- Kick things off with the Mainstage, featuring global AI experts and real, candid perspectives from around the world.
- Follow your own learning path with role‑based skilling playlists, short on‑demand sessions, daily live shows on LinkedIn, and hands‑on opportunities, including an exciting hackathon. Mix and match the options that work best for you.
- Get Certification‑ready with live, expert-led exam prep sessions.
Depending on where you are, you may also find local skilling activities, designed for different regions, time zones, and languages, delivered by Microsoft Training Services Partners (TSPs).
Our hope is that you leave with skills you can actually use, along with a clearer sense of when to lean on AI and when to lean on those human skills that AI can’t replace.
Start where you are—there’s something for everyone
If you’re a business professional, you don’t just need “extra time.” You need steps that fit real life. Learn simple but powerful ways to use AI in everyday work, like drafting the first version of a brief, making research more efficient, or responding faster to customers.
If you lead a team or a business, you’re setting the tone for others. And you’re trying to lead practical change, not chase hype. Use the week as a jump-start for you and your team. Learn together, build a shared baseline, and turn “we should be putting AI to better use” into something concrete.
If you’re a developer, you’re either already building with AI or you want to build with AI. Dig into AI-assisted coding, create agents, and take on a hackathon-style challenge—perfect if you enjoy friendly competition (and maybe some bragging rights).
If you’re in IT, data, or security, AI is landing on your desk from every direction. Get grounded in the essentials: AI-ready Azure basics, agents, data governance, and fundamentals for securing AI solutions end to end.
If you’re a student or educator, AI is becoming part of your classes and your career. Learn responsible ways to use AI for learning, teaching, and research. And see what AI skills can look like as you figure out and prepare for what’s next.
Don’t sit this one out—mark your calendar today!
If you’ve been meaning to get more hands-on with AI, this is your week.
Register for AI Skills Fest now. Mark your calendar for a couple of sessions. Bring a teammate. Make it a thing.
And, if you like details, we’ve got you. Next week, we’ll share a guide to the different AI Skills Fest moments and opportunities, along with a downloadable calendar so you can find your favorites and block out the time. Plus, we’ll be announcing some of the star speakers who are headlining AI Skills Fest. You won’t want to miss it!
Microsoft