Microsoft has announced a series of updates for May 2026. This blog covers changes to products, solutions, services, partner programs, and other key information. Here is a summary of the latest updates.
Reminder: Microsoft 365 pricing and packaging updates coming in July 2026
- As announced by Microsoft in December 2025 a global pricing update will take effect across all purchasing channels on 1st July, 2026.
- Security and management capabilities across Microsoft 365 suites will be expanded empowered by AI.
- Review Microsoft’s previous announcement about the pricing updates HERE.
- Learn more about upcoming Microsoft 365 price changes HERE.
Partner-led momentum, broader availability for SMB: Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot
- Starting on the 1st July, 2026, Microsoft are transitioning promotional bundles into two durable SKUs, available at the current promotional price point.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot: $23.50/user/month (1–300 seats, annual subscription with annual billing)
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot: $32/user/month (1–300 seats, annual subscription with annual billing)
- Microsoft are also launching a new 25% promotional offer on Microsoft 365 Business Basic plus Microsoft 365 Copilot Business ($21/user/month, 1–300 seats, for annual subscription with annual billing), available through to the 31st December, 2026.
- The current 15% promotional offer on Microsoft 365 Copilot Business ($18/user/month, 1–300 seats, for annual subscription with annual billing) has also been extended through 31st December, 2026.
- For all the full details review the latest Microsoft Blog HERE
May monthly Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program update
- This month’s updates further strengthen partner differentiation and readiness in key solution areas. Highlights include AI-integrated specialization changes, updated skilling and performance requirements, and simplified qualification frameworks to support partner growth and agility.
- Review Microsoft’s Monthly update for more information.
Important updates to the Teamwork Deployment specialisation
- Effective 29th April, 2026, Microsoft is renaming the Teamwork Deployment specialisation to the Secure AI Productivity specialization to better reflect the secure foundations needed for successful AI adoption.
- The performance, skilling, and Solutions Partner designation requirements will also be updated to better reflect Microsoft 365 E3 foundational workloads and the needs of modern AI adoption.
Business Applications designation update
- Microsoft have added Dynamics 365 Contact Center and Microsoft Copilot Studio as eligible workloads to qualify/maintain the Solution Partner Designation for Business Applications.
Changes to Azure Reserved VM Instances
- Beginning 1st July, 2026, Microsoft Azure will discontinue new purchases and renewals of Reserved Virtual Machine Instances (RIs) for select VM series.
- One-year RIs ending: Av2, Amv2, Bv1, D, Ds, Dv2, Dsv2, F, Fs, Fsv2, G, Gs, Ls, Lsv2
- One-year and three-year RIs ending: Dv3, Dsv3, Ev3, Esv3
- Existing reserved instances are unaffected. Any RIs already purchased will continue to receive reservation discounts for the rest of their term.
Mandatory multifactor authentication (MFA) for Partner Centre APIs
- Microsoft is now enforcing multifactor authentication (MFA) across all Partner Center app+user APIs.
Oracle‑to‑PostgreSQL AI‑assisted migration tooling expands partner opportunity on Azure
- The Oracle-to-PostgreSQL AI-assisted migration tool is now available in the PostgreSQL extension for Visual Studio Code to simplify and accelerate database migration from Oracle to PostgreSQL on Azure.
- Review the Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migration tooling.
Microsoft Marketplace Terms of Use is being updated, effective 27th May, 2026
- Review the updated Microsoft Marketplace Terms of Use
- The updated terms will take effect automatically, and partners do not need to take any action, sign anything, or provide acknowledgment.
Updated Microsoft Partner Agreement (MPA)
- Microsoft are updating the Microsoft Partner Agreement (MPA) the changes will automatically take effect on 1st December, 2026.
- Indirect resellers will be able to review the updated MPA during June 2026 in Partner Centre HERE (sign-in required).
Windows 365 Business – End of Sale for Windows Hybrid Benefit (WHB)
- Beginning 1st May, 2026, Windows 365 Business WHB SKUs are being retired from sale.
- Existing Windows 365 Business WHB subscriptions can continue unchanged and still be renewed, as this is an end-of-sale change only, not an end of support.
- There will be no automatic move to non-WHB SKUs. Existing subscriptions will stay on their current WHB SKU at renewal unless the customer decides to change them.
Updated! Secure AI Productivity Practice Development Guide
- Use this guide to build, scale, and bring differentiated Secure AI Productivity service offers to market in line with this solution play.
- Explore the latest version of the Secure AI Productivity practice development guide.
- Visit the Secure AI Productivity page on Partner Hub to access the latest partner assets.
Key FY27 GTM Microsoft Events
- Microsoft has two key upcoming events: MCAPS Start for Partners on 22nd July, covering demand, Microsoft priorities, and investment focus areas for the new fiscal year; and the Microsoft Partner FY27 GTM Kickoff on 28th July, which will explore FY27 priorities across AI Business Solutions, Commercial Cloud and AI, and Security.
- Register for MCAPS Start for Partners
- Register for Microsoft Partner FY27 GTM Kickoff
Scheduled and Recent Events:
- 2nd -3rd June – Microsoft Build 2026
- 9th -10th June – Microsoft Teams Partner Technical Bootcamp
- 10th June – What’s New in Modern Work June
- 10th June – Frontier Transformation Engineer Summit
- 16th -17th June – Cloud & AI Endpoints Partner Technical Bootcamp
- 24th -25th June – Microsoft Fabric Workshops
- 22nd July – MCAPS Start for Partners
- 28th July – Microsoft Partner FY27 GTM Kickoff Event
- On-demand – Converged Communications Partner Sales Bootcamp
- On-demand – Agentic AI + Copilot, Partner Skills Accelerator
- On-demand – Level UP Sales & Technical CSP bootcamps
For more information
If you would like to discuss any of the above, please speak to your Business Development Manager, call us on 0345 249 3303 or email us at partners@infinigate.cloud and we’ll be happy to chat through any of your questions.