Agenda | SQLBits 2026

09:00

Auditorium • 09:00 - 10:20

The Roadmap for One SQL: Edge to PaaS to SaaS

Priya Sathy, Shiva Gurumurthy, Bob Ward, Anna Hoffman

NewAnalyticsDatabasesKeynoteBeginnerMicrosoft

10:40

Auditorium • 10:40 - 18:00

Dev-Prod Demon Hunters: Finding the Real Cause of Production Slowness

Brent Ozar

2 years +SQL ServerTSQLDatabasesApplication DevelopmentSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseOptimisingDemo Led SessionFull day training sessionAdvanced

Living Lounge • 10:40 - 11:00

The Power of F2: What You Can (and Can’t) Do with Microsoft Fabric’s Smallest Capacity

Daniel Patkos

2 years +FabricToolingFabric – How to SucceedPresentationShort 20 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1A • 10:40 - 11:00

Introduction to Microsoft Fabric Variable Library: Simplifying CI/CD Automation

Kevin Arnold

6-24 monthsFabricDataOps and AutomationFabric – How to SucceedDeploymentDevelopmentDemo Led SessionShort 20 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1B • 10:40 - 11:00

Unit Testing & Code Style: Enhancing Database Code Quality with SQLCop and tSQLt

Malcolm Smith

2 years +SQL ServerTSQLDatabasesApplication DevelopmentDataOps and AutomationOptimising Your Data PlatformMaximising Personal and Team StrengthsTestingDevelopmentPresentationShort 20 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1C • 10:40 - 11:00

Dredging the Data Lake: Empowering Modern Data Analytics with AI

Will Martin

6-24 monthsLakehouseData LakeDelta LakeAnalyticsAIData Transformation and IntegrationAI and you – Developing Faster With AIAI and Your Data PlatformArchitectureDeploymentStrategyPresentationShort 20 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2A • 10:40 - 11:00

Architecting AI Workloads with Cosmos DB: Azure vs Fabric

Felicity Nyan

6-24 monthsAzureFabricCosmos DBAIDatabasesApplication DevelopmentAI and Your Data PlatformArchitecturePresentationShort 20 minute sessionIntermediate

Room 2B • 10:40 - 11:00

5 Design Patterns for Better Looking Reports

James McGillivray

2 years +Power BIReporting and VisualisationCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataDevelopmentPresentationShort 20 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2C • 10:40 - 11:00

Cost Effective In-Memory Analytics at Scale: Using DuckDB as Application-Layer Offload

James Saull

2 years +PythonAWSIn Memory OLTPAnalyticsReporting and VisualisationApplication DevelopmentOptimising Your Data PlatformInspirational Data SolutionsArchitectureDevelopmentPresentationShort 20 minute sessionBeginner

Room 3A • 10:40 - 11:00

Untangling dbt Dependencies with Knowledge Graphs and AI

Egor Tarasenko, Alex Selkirk

6-24 monthsDBTAIDatabasesAI and you – Developing Faster With AIAI and Your Data PlatformArchitectureDeploymentDemo Led SessionShort 20 minute sessionIntermediate

Room 3C • 10:40 - 18:00

Becoming a Master Builder: Creating the Ultimate BI Developer Toolbox

Reid Havens, Steve Campbell

6-24 monthsFunctionsFabricDAXPower BIPower QueryAIReporting and VisualisationToolingData Transformation and IntegrationCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataOptimising Your Data PlatformFabric – How to SucceedOptimisingDevelopmentModellingWorkshopFull day training sessionIntermediate

Room 4A • 10:40 - 18:00

Turning insights into action: The art of data communication

Valerie Junk, Alexander Arvidsson

2 years +DAXPower BISoft SkillsReporting and VisualisationCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataOptimisingStrategyDevelopmentSuccessful DeliveryWorkshopFull day training sessionIntermediate

Room 4B • 10:40 - 18:00

Understanding DAX Pillars

Francesco Bergamaschi, David Kofod Hanna

2 years +DAXPower BIAnalyticsReporting and VisualisationData Internals – Blow Your MindDevelopmentModellingWorkshopFull day training sessionIntermediate

11:30

Living Lounge • 11:30 - 12:20

Databricks vs Fabric: When to choose, when to combine, and why it’s confusing

Sandy May, Richard Conway

6-24 monthsLakehouseDatabricksFabric WarehouseData Management and GovernanceToolingOptimising Your Data PlatformFabric – How to SucceedDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1A • 11:30 - 12:20

Performance monitoring for SQL, from ground to cloud

Zlatko Knezevic, Uros Milanovic

6-24 monthsManaged InstanceTSQLDatabase engineAzure SQL DatabaseAnalyticsDatabasesData Internals – Blow Your MindManagingArchitectureDevelopmentDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediateMicrosoft

Room 1B • 11:30 - 12:20

Elevate SQL development with VS Code, GitHub Copilot and Microsoft SQL drivers

Bogdan Gavrilovic, Zoran Rilak

0-6 monthsToolsPythonSQLAnalyticsDatabasesAI and you – Developing Faster With AIOptimisingManagingArchitectureDevelopmentDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedMicrosoft

Room 1C • 11:30 - 12:20

Microsoft Fabric and the mess of SharePoint

Laura Graham-Brown, Lewis Baybutt

6-24 monthsFabricPythonExcelToolingData Transformation and IntegrationFabric – How to SucceedInspirational Data SolutionsDevelopmentDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionAdvanced

Room 2A • 11:30 - 12:20

dbatools - Wheel of Fortune

Cláudio Silva, Jess Pomfret

2 years +SQL ServerPowerShellDatabasesDataOps and AutomationOptimising Your Data PlatformSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseManagingPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2B • 11:30 - 12:20

From Chaos to Control: Orchestrating Lakehouse Workloads in Microsoft Fabric Part 1

Ásgeir Gunnarsson

6-24 monthsLakehouseFabricSparkAnalyticsToolingData Transformation and IntegrationOptimising Your Data PlatformFabric – How to SucceedOptimisingArchitectureDevelopmentDemo Led Session50+50 minute sessionAdvanced

Room 2C • 11:30 - 12:20

Hosting SQL Server on AWS - What is the right choice for my workload?

Christopher J Hutchings, Reut Almog Talmi

2 years +SQL ServerAWSDatabasesSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseOptimisingDeploymentStrategyPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

12:30

Living Lounge • 12:30 - 13:20

Batteries included: SQL DevOps with SQL projects

Anna Hoffman

6-24 monthsAzure SQLFabricSQL ServerAnalyticsDatabasesAI and you – Developing Faster With AIManagingArchitectureDevelopmentDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediateMicrosoft

Room 1A • 12:30 - 13:20

Running Code Clubs

Justin Bird, Sarah Roberts

2 years +Soft SkillsCareer and Personal DevelopmentMaximising Personal and Team StrengthsInclusionPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1B • 12:30 - 13:20

Build Secure, Scalable AI Applications with Azure SQL Database Hyperscale

Borko Novakovic, Bob Ward

0-6 monthsAzure SQL DatabaseAnalyticsDatabasesAI and Your Data PlatformManagingArchitectureDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedMicrosoft

Room 1C • 12:30 - 13:20

From Dashboards to Dialogue: Transforming BI at Lloyds Banking Group with Power BI Copilot

Andrew Herman, Sean Hughes

6-24 monthsFabricPower BIDecision Makers and LeadershipSoft SkillsAnalyticsAIReporting and VisualisationCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataAI and you – Developing Faster With AIManagingDeploymentStrategySuccessful DeliveryInspiring TeamsPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2B • 12:30 - 13:20

From Chaos to Control: Orchestrating Lakehouse Workloads in Microsoft Fabric Part 2

Ásgeir Gunnarsson

6-24 monthsLakehouseFabricSparkAnalyticsToolingData Transformation and IntegrationOptimising Your Data PlatformFabric – How to SucceedInspirational Data SolutionsOptimisingArchitectureDevelopmentDemo Led Session50+50 minute sessionAdvanced

Room 2C • 12:30 - 13:20

Deep dive into SQL HA/DR architectures on AWS

Ondrej Stavinoha, Marcelo Fernandes

2 years +SQL ServerAWSDatabasesSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseArchitecturePresentationRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedAWS

Room 3A • 12:30 - 13:20

Python In Microsoft Fabric: Execution Options And Scaling

Matt Collins

6-24 monthsSparkPythonAnalyticsToolingData Transformation and IntegrationOptimising Your Data PlatformFabric – How to SucceedOptimisingDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

14:20

Living Lounge • 14:20 - 15:10

Copilots, Chaos and Control: Getting Real About AI Productivity

Claire Edgson, Laura Graham-Brown

NewFabricPurviewPower AutomatePower BIExcelAnalyticsAIAI and you – Developing Faster With AIAI and Your Data PlatformSecuringStrategyDevelopmentDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1A • 14:20 - 15:10

Panel Debate: Real-World Microsoft Fabric Administration - Lessons from the Trenches

Ásgeir Gunnarsson, Benni De Jagere, Just Blindbæk, Lars Andersen

6-24 monthsFabricData Management and GovernanceAnalyticsFabric – How to SucceedInspirational Data SolutionsOptimisingManagingGoverningMonitoringSecuringStrategyPanel DiscussionRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1B • 14:20 - 15:10

Unlocking AI Potential: Leveraging Your Data with Microsoft Fabric

Kasper de Jonge

6-24 monthsAI and data scienceFabricCopilotAnalyticsDatabasesCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataManagingArchitectureMonitoringDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginnerMicrosoft

Room 1C • 14:20 - 15:10

AWS fundamentals for the accidental SQL Server DBA

Baris Furtinalar, Ondrej Stavinoha

2 years +FunctionsSQL ServerTSQLAWSAIDatabasesDataOps and AutomationOptimising Your Data PlatformSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseAI and Your Data PlatformOptimisingManagingArchitectureSecuringPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedAWS

Room 2A • 14:20 - 15:10

Creative GitHub Strategies for the Modern Database Professional

Amy Abel, Rob Volk

NewAzureDatabase engineReporting and VisualisationToolingDataOps and AutomationCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataInspirational Data SolutionsManagingStrategyDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediate

Room 2B • 14:20 - 15:10

Everything you need to know about Temporal Tables

Magnus Ahlkvist

2 years +SQL ServerTSQLDatabasesApplication DevelopmentSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2C • 14:20 - 15:10

Questioning My SQL Server Faith… So You Don’t Have To

Gianluca Sartori

2 years +SQL ServerPostgresOracleDecision Makers and LeadershipDatabasesApplication DevelopmentToolingCareer and Personal DevelopmentInspirational Data SolutionsSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseStrategyDevelopmentInspiring TeamsPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 3A • 14:20 - 15:10

Meeting DBAs Where You Are: Simplifying SQL Server Migration with SSMS and Azure Arc

Dr. Dani Ljepava, Neel Ball

0-6 monthsSQL ServerAzure ArcDatabase engineAzure SQL DatabaseAnalyticsDatabasesOptimising Your Data PlatformManagingArchitectureDevelopmentDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedMicrosoft

15:20

Living Lounge • 15:20 - 16:10

Future-Proofing SQL Server: High Availability, Performance, and Key Innovations from 2022 to 2025

Marcelo Adade, Fabiano Amorim

6-24 monthsSQL ServerDatabasesToolingOptimising Your Data PlatformSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseOptimisingManagingArchitecturePresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediate

Room 1A • 15:20 - 16:10

When AI meets your database: Securing sensitive data in Azure SQL in an AI-driven world

Borko Novakovic, Pieter Vanhove, Zoran Rilak

0-6 monthsOpenAIAzure SQL DatabaseAnalyticsDatabasesAI and Your Data PlatformSecuringPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediateMicrosoft

Room 1B • 15:20 - 16:10

SQL database in Fabric: The unified database for AI apps and analytics

Anna Hoffman

6-24 monthsFabricAzure SQL DatabaseAnalyticsDatabasesFabric – How to SucceedManagingArchitectureModellingPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediateMicrosoft

Room 1C • 15:20 - 16:10

Microsoft SQL and AMD in the era of AI

Bob Ward, David Harmon

SQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabasePresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginnerMicrosoft and AMD

Room 2A • 15:20 - 16:10

The Right Database for the Right Job: A Practical Framework for Database Selection

Reut Almog Talmi, Mo Kamioner

2 years +AWSData Management and GovernanceDecision Makers and LeadershipServicesDatabasesOptimising Your Data PlatformInspirational Data SolutionsArchitectureStrategyModellingSuccessful DeliveryPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediateAWS

Room 2B • 15:20 - 16:10

Databricks Asset Bundles: Putting the Engineering into Data Engineering

Gavin Campbell

6-24 monthsDatabricksDataOps and AutomationOptimising Your Data PlatformDeploymentDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediate

Room 2C • 15:20 - 16:10

Shine bright like a star, without burning out!

Gloria Georgieva Clare

NewSoft SkillsMaximising Personal and Team StrengthsPersonal SuccessMental HealthHealth and WellbeingPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 3A • 15:20 - 16:10

Choosing the Right Incremental Load Strategy in Fabric

Tom Van de Velde

NewPipelinesData FactoryDataflowsFabricSparkData Transformation and IntegrationOptimising Your Data PlatformFabric – How to SucceedDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediate

16:40

Living Lounge • 16:40 - 17:30

Amplify Your Experience: How to Start Writing and Speaking

Tonie Huizer, Tony Davis

Preview/BetaSoft SkillsCareer and Personal DevelopmentMaximising Personal and Team StrengthsSuccessful DeliveryInspiring TeamsPersonal SuccessPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 1A • 16:40 - 17:30

HA/DR in Action: Application Resiliency with SQL Server 2025 and Azure SQL

Uros Milanovic, Mladen Andzic

0-6 monthsSQL ServerTSQLDatabase engineAnalyticsDatabasesSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabaseManagingPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedMicrosoft

Room 1B • 16:40 - 17:30

Building the Backbone of Agentic AI: A Unified Data Strategy with Microsoft Fabric

Strahinja Rodic, Bogdan Gavrilovic

6-24 monthsAI and data scienceFabricSQL Database in FabricAnalyticsDatabasesInspirational Data SolutionsManagingArchitectureModellingPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionAdvancedMicrosoft

Room 1C • 16:40 - 17:30

Contained Availability Groups – Best Practices from Real-World Projects

Andreas Wolter

2 years +SQL ServerData Management and GovernanceOptimising Your Data PlatformSQL Server, the Ground to Cloud DatabasePresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2A • 16:40 - 17:30

When Good Queries Go Bad: Fixing Performance with Query Store

Deepthi Goguri

2 years +Query StoreSQL ServerAzure SQL DatabaseDatabasesOptimising Your Data PlatformOptimisingMonitoringDemo Led SessionRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 2B • 16:40 - 17:30

Data Storytelling in Power BI: From Reports to Narratives

Rishi Sapra

2 years +Power BIAnalyticsReporting and VisualisationCutting Edge Visualisation and Delivery of DataStrategyDevelopmentPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionIntermediate

Room 2C • 16:40 - 17:30

Cross-Stitch Your Career: Level Up from DBA to Fabric Administrator

Nico Botes

2 years +FabricSQL ServerPythonTSQLPowerShellPower BIData Management and GovernanceAnalyticsAIDatabasesToolingCareer and Personal DevelopmentDataOps and AutomationFabric – How to SucceedAI and you – Developing Faster With AIMaximising Personal and Team StrengthsInspirational Data SolutionsManagingMonitoringSecuringPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner

Room 3A • 16:40 - 17:30

Under the Hood of Transparent Data Encryption: Securing Data at Rest in Azure SQL and SQL Server

Pieter Vanhove

2 years +AzureSQL ServerAzure SQL DatabaseDatabasesData Internals – Blow Your MindManagingSecuringPresentationRegular 50 minute sessionAdvanced

19:00

Room 4A • 19:00 - 20:30

Code Club Experience

Justin Bird

2 years +Soft SkillsCareer and Personal DevelopmentMaximising Personal and Team StrengthsInclusionPersonal SuccessHealth and WellbeingWorkshopRegular 50 minute sessionBeginner