Microsoft Build 2025 – Your Ultimate Guide to Microsoft’s Premier Developer Event

Are you ready to shape the future of technology at Microsoft’s flagship developer conference? Microsoft Build 2025 brings developers together at the Seattle Convention Center from May 19-22, 2025.

This year’s event is structured around four key pillars: Connect with fellow developers, Code in hands-on sessions, Learn about new technologies, and Grow your skills with cutting-edge innovations.

Microsoft Build isn’t just a conference—it’s where Microsoft shows its vision for the future of technology. With new announcements, practical sessions, and networking opportunities, it’s your chance to improve your development skills and connect with the global Microsoft community.

As a Microsoft partner with over 10 years of experience, we created this guide to help you plan your Build experience. Whether you’re joining in person or online, we’ll help you prepare for the event.

---

---

What to Expect at Microsoft Build 2025 – The Four Pillars Experience

Microsoft Build 2025 builds on previous years’ events with more hands-on sessions and deeper technical content. The event is organized around four key pillars that create a complete experience for developers.

As Satya Nadella noted at Build 2024:

“Developer conferences are always most exciting when there’s these fundamental changes that you can sense in the air.”

This year’s event continues the AI transformation focus while giving developers a clear roadmap for Microsoft’s technology direction.

Note: While this structure reflects Microsoft’s approach to Build 2025, the final format and specific offerings for this year may be adjusted as the event date approaches. Check the official Microsoft Build website and our news for the most current information.

Connect: Building a Global Developer Community

The Connect pillar helps you build relationships with other developers and Microsoft experts.

• Developer networking sessions where you can meet others working on similar projects
• Microsoft expert meetups for direct conversations with the engineers who build your tools
• Community gatherings based on specific technologies or interests
• Evening celebrations for casual networking
• Tech influencer interactions with industry leaders

These connections often lead to problem-solving partnerships and stronger professional networks that last well beyond the conference dates.

Code: Hands-On Development Experiences

The Code pillar focuses on practical skills with less theory and more actual coding.

• Interactive labs where you work alongside Microsoft engineers
• Deep coding sessions that tackle complex development challenges
• Engineering-led workshops focused on real implementation
• Live demos showing practical applications
• Code samples you can use in your projects right away

Learn: Latest Technologies and Platform Updates

The Learn pillar gives you first access to new Microsoft technologies and updates.

• Microsoft certification opportunities available on-site
• Technical skill development covering basic and advanced topics
• Platform update announcements for core development technologies
• Microsoft Learn Challenge with special rewards
• Professional development paths for different career stages

These sessions are typically led by the Microsoft engineers who built the technologies, giving you direct insight into how things work and how to use them effectively.

Grow: AI Innovation and Future Technologies

The Grow pillar helps you prepare for emerging technologies, especially AI.

• AI development sessions exploring Microsoft’s latest tools
• The AI for Good lab showing responsible AI development
• Next-gen technology previews of future development tools
• AI ethics discussions about responsible approaches
• Innovation showcases from Microsoft and partners

This year’s event expands on last year’s AI content with more practical examples of how to use AI in everyday development work rather than just theory.

---

Keynote from Satya Nadella and Sessions with Microsoft’s Technical Leadership

The opening keynote at Microsoft Build is always a highlight, setting the tone for the entire conference. Satya Nadella‘s presentation typically reveals Microsoft’s strategic vision and major announcements that will shape the developer landscape.

Based on previous Build events, we can expect Microsoft Chairman and CEO’s keynote in 2025 to build on themes from 2024, when he discussed how “every layer of the tech stack is changing” due to AI workloads and technological advances (you can check out the whole session here). The keynote often includes live demonstrations of new technologies and surprise product reveals.

Beyond the opening session, Microsoft’s technical leadership team delivers more specialized presentations:

• Kevin Scott, CTO and Executive VP of AI, typically dives into technical details of Microsoft’s AI strategy
• Scott Guthrie, Executive VP of Cloud and AI, focuses on Azure and server-side development
• Other key executives cover specialized areas like Windows, Microsoft 365, and developer tools

Microsoft often invites special guests to join these sessions. In 2024, Sam Altman from OpenAI appeared to discuss AI partnerships and future directions. Similar high-profile guests are likely for 2025.

---

In-Person vs Online – Choosing Your Build Adventure

Microsoft Build 2025 offers two ways to participate: attend in person in Seattle or join online. Each option has its own benefits depending on your goals, budget, and preferences.

In-Person Experience ($1,125 early-bird rate until April 9, 2025, then $1,525)

The Seattle experience includes live keynotes, breakout sessions, hands-on labs, and certification opportunities. You’ll get access to Microsoft experts and partners, plus exclusive perks like event swag and an evening celebration. In-person attendees also get all the online features, including the session scheduler and on-demand content.

Online Experience (Free)

The digital option gives you access to livestreamed keynotes and select sessions, plus the Microsoft Learn Challenge and digital swag. You can use the session scheduler, browse the Featured Partner directory, and watch on-demand content after the event.

What to choose?

In-person attendance offers better networking and direct access to Microsoft’s team. These face-to-face interactions often create deeper connections and provide immediate help with technical questions.

The online option gives you the flexibility to participate from anywhere without travel costs. Many developers find this convenient for focused learning, as you can rewatch sessions at your own pace.

Maximizing Your In-Person Experience in Seattle

If you’re attending in Seattle, book your hotel through the registration system before April 21, 2025, to get conference rates. Consider arriving a day early to get settled before the busy schedule starts.

Conference Navigation & Schedule Tips

• Download the Build mobile app to create your personal schedule
• Plan for travel time between sessions at the Seattle Convention Center
• Choose sessions that offer hands-on experiences not available online
• Schedule breaks to avoid burnout from back-to-back sessions

Take advantage of on-site certification options and instructor-led labs for direct help from Microsoft engineers. Don’t miss the evening celebration for casual networking or the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with Microsoft experts.

Getting the Most from the Online Experience

For the best online experience, create a quiet space where you can focus without distractions and test your internet connection before important sessions.

How To Stay On Top Of It

• Join or organize watch parties with colleagues or local developer groups
• Participate actively in chat discussions during livestreams
• Use event hashtags on social media to connect with other online attendees
• Schedule virtual meetups with others following the same topics

Use the session scheduler to plan your agenda and save sessions as favorites for later viewing if times conflict. The digital format lets you quickly switch between sessions and rewatch complex technical content as needed – a major advantage for learning complex topics.

---

What’s New for Microsoft Build 2025 – Innovation & AI?

Microsoft Build 2025 will likely build on the foundations laid in previous years, with several expected focus areas based on Microsoft’s current direction.

AI Development Evolution

• Next steps for the Copilot platform, expanding on the 2024 announcements
• New AI tools for developers that simplify model creation and deployment
• Updates to Azure AI services with improved performance and accessibility
• Deeper AI integration into traditional development workflows

Developer Tools and Platforms

• Visual Studio and GitHub updates with enhanced AI-assisted coding features
• New capabilities for Windows developers, building on the Windows Copilot Runtime revealed in 2024
• Cross-platform development improvements spanning Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Enhanced security tools for developers to build safer applications

Cloud and Infrastructure

• New Azure services for application deployment and management
• Updates to Microsoft’s database and data platform offerings
• Improvements to containerization and serverless computing options
• Enhanced DevOps tooling for continuous integration and delivery

Build 2024 featured major announcements like Copilot+ PCs and significant AI platform updates. For 2025, we expect Microsoft to show the evolution of these technologies alongside new tools that help developers create more powerful, secure applications more easily.

Previous Build Attendees Tips To Get The Most From the Conference

Getting advice from past Build attendees can help you make the most of your experience. Here’s what previous participants recommended.

Session Selection

“Invest time in choosing your sessions carefully. Have backups as some sessions will be booked up. Focus on the main sessions like ‘The Future of C#’ or ‘.NET Core Roadmap’ – they’re usually the most valuable. Don’t get trapped in overly specific topics unless they directly relate to your work.”

—Experienced Build Attendee

Networking Priority

“The sessions are nice, but networking is what you might not get the chance to do again. Talk with product managers and other attendees. Prepare questions you want answered, then find the right people on the conference floor.”

—Microsoft Cloud Advocate

A developer who attended last year shared: 

“The connection I made with an Azure architect helped me solve a deployment issue that had been blocking our project for weeks. That 15-minute conversation was worth the entire trip.”

Practical Tips

• Download the app as early as possible to plan your schedule
• Visit the expo booths to talk directly with developers and creators
• Balance technical sessions with broader strategy presentations
• Don’t forget to enjoy the food, drinks, and evening events

Time Management 

“Don’t try to attend everything. Pick sessions that align with your current projects and leave time for spontaneous conversations. Some of my best takeaways came from casual discussions between sessions.”

—Full Stack Developer

As Microsoft specialists with more than a decade of hands-on experience in the ecosystem (in Power BI, Azure, SharePoint, and other tools), we highly recommend Build for any development team looking to master Microsoft’s latest technologies. Year after year, we’ve seen how the insights and relationships from this conference directly improve the quality and innovation of solutions we deliver to our clients.