{"id":2796,"date":"2026-03-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/microsoft-fabric\/blog\/?p=2796"},"modified":"2026-03-30T10:12:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T17:12:40","slug":"highlights-from-fabcon-and-sqlcon-2026-where-databases-and-fabric-come-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/microsoft-fabric\/blog\/2026\/03\/30\/highlights-from-fabcon-and-sqlcon-2026-where-databases-and-fabric-come-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights from FabCon and SQLCon 2026: Where databases and Fabric come together"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FabCon is back for its third year, and this time it’s different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time, SQLCon joined the event, bringing the Microsoft Fabric and SQL<\/a> communities together in Atlanta for an unforgettable week of learning,\u00a0growing,\u00a0and connecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 8,000 attendees gathered across nearly 300 sessions to explore the latest in Fabric and SQL. Some of the most valuable moments did not happen on stage. They happened through conversations and shared experiences across the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bird's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That is what makes FabCon special. It is not just what you learn. It is who you learn it with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From packed sessions to impromptu discussions in the hallways, FabCon and SQLCon 2026 reflected the growing energy and momentum behind the Fabric and SQL ecosystems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the highlights from this year\u2019s event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t already, check out Arun Ulag\u2019s hero blog \u201c<\/em>FabCon and SQLCon 2026: Unifying databases and Fabric on a single, complete platform<\/em><\/a>\u201d for a complete look at all of our FabCon and SQLCon announcements across both Fabric and our database offerings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore Fabric and database announcements<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A week of learning and collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The week began with pre-conference workshops that allowed attendees to dive deeper into Microsoft Fabric and SQL through hands-on learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sessions covered topics ranging from data engineering and real-time analytics to governance, AI, and advanced SQL scenarios. Participants worked directly with product teams and community experts to explore best practices and build new skills that they could bring back to their organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For many attendees, the workshops set the tone for the entire conference. They offered not only technical depth, but also early opportunities to meet peers, exchange ideas, and start conversations that continued throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the main conference kicked off, keynotes and breakout sessions explored how databases, analytics, real-time data, semantic intelligence, BI, and AI are coming together on Microsoft Fabric, and how organizations are using the platform to turn insights into action faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Expo Hall experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the center of the Expo Hall, the Microsoft booth became a natural gathering point throughout the week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a place to connect, explore, and take a break between sessions. Attendees grabbed coffee served by a robot, sampled custom Fabric and SQL-themed Coca-Cola flavors dispensed\u00a0from Freestyle machines, and spent time with engineers and product teams while picking up a bit of conference swag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mix of hands-on experiences and casual conversations made it one of the most active and engaging spaces at the event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nearby, the Ask the Experts area gave attendees the chance to connect directly with Microsoft engineers, product managers, and community leaders. These one-on-one discussions helped participants get guidance on everything from Fabric workloads and SQL optimization to governance, security, and AI strategy. Not to mention the wealth of partners<\/a> also represented in the Expo Hall allowing attendees to engage with the expertise gathered across the ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These moments of direct engagement often turned into some of the most valuable conversations of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Competition, creativity, and hands-on challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FabCon wouldn\u2019t be complete without a little friendly competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the week, attendees tested their skills in Fast at Fabric, a timed analytics challenge where participants worked through real-world scenarios using Microsoft Fabric. Competitors analyzed data, validated assumptions, and generated insights while climbing a live leaderboard. The experience blended learning with competition in an engaging format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Trivia Challenge in the Microsoft booth also kept the energy high. Attendees tested their knowledge of Fabric and SQL in a fast-paced game that mixed learning with plenty of laughs. Interactive dashboards showcased Fabric capabilities while participants competed for prizes and bragging rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These experiences turned technical learning into something interactive and memorable while encouraging attendees to dive deeper into the platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrating creativity and storytelling with data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The DataViz World Championships delivered one of the most anticipated and electric moments of the week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the live finale of an international Power BI<\/a> competition, the event brought four finalists to the stage to build visualizations in real time using a brand-new dataset. In front of a live audience, they combined creativity, technical skill, and storytelling to turn raw data into compelling insights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Excited<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By the end of the session, one finalist earned the title of 2026 Power BI DataViz World Champion, closing out the competition with one of the most memorable moments of the conference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community at the center of the experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of FabCon was the Community Lounge, a welcoming space dedicated to connection and community-led experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the week, the lounge hosted meetups, community theater sessions, certification guidance, and informal gatherings where attendees could exchange ideas and build relationships. It became a natural meeting point where conversations continued long after sessions ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event also featured a Women in\u00a0Data\u00a0luncheon and a DEI luncheon, which created space for discussions around leadership, resilience, and inclusive growth within the technology community. These sessions encouraged thoughtful dialogue and helped strengthen connections among attendees from diverse backgrounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, these experiences reinforced what makes the Fabric community unique: a culture of openness, collaboration, and shared learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unforgettable moments from the week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FabCon is known for creating memorable experiences, and this year delivered plenty of them. Power Hour, a fan-favorite event, brought together Microsoft product teams and community leaders for an energetic session filled with creative demos, storytelling, and unexpected surprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Attendee<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Attendee<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, FabCon TV broadcast live episodes from the Expo Hall throughout the event. Interviews with speakers, community members, and product experts captured the excitement of the conference and will continue to reach audiences through recordings shared after the event. Be sure to catch these episodes as they\u2019re released on the Fabric YouTube channel<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Attendees<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To celebrate the week, attendees gathered at the world-famous Georgia Aquarium to take in the unique surroundings and connect. Conversations flowed easily between admiring the unique marine ecosystem and the next Fabric and SQL project, offering a memorable backdrop for new ideas and relationships to take shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on the energy of FabCon and SQLCon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FabCon and SQLCon 2026 highlighted the incredible momentum behind the global data community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the course of the week, thousands of attendees learned new skills, built connections, and explored how Fabric and SQL technologies are shaping the future of data and AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, the event celebrated the people who make this ecosystem so vibrant. The ideas, insights, and collaborations that began in Atlanta will continue long after the conference ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to everyone who joined us this year. We look forward to seeing what the Fabric and SQL communities build next and we\u2019re already excited to see everyone at the next FabCon SQLCon in Spring 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore additional Fabric resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n