How to watch Microsoft Ignite 2026: keynote time and free livestream
The Microsoft Ignite 2026 opening keynote is on Tuesday, November 17, 10:00-11:30 PT. Here is the time in your zone and how to watch free online.
Microsoft Ignite 2026 runs November 17-20 in San Francisco, and the opening keynote is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 PT (13:00-14:30 ET, 18:00-19:30 UTC). You can watch it online for free by registering for a digital pass on the official Ignite site. Details below are as of October 2026, based on Microsoft's event pages.
Keynote time in your time zone
Microsoft's session listing shows the opening keynote (session KEY01) as a 90-minute slot on Tuesday, November 17. The Ignite site's event time zone is Pacific. Because the US has already returned to standard time by then, the offsets below apply.
- Pacific (PT): 10:00-11:30, Tuesday, November 17
- Eastern (ET): 13:00-14:30, Tuesday, November 17
- UTC / London (GMT): 18:00-19:30, Tuesday, November 17
- Central Europe (CET): 19:00-20:30, Tuesday, November 17
- India (IST): 23:30 on November 17 to 01:00 on November 18
The listing was last updated on October 30, 2026, and Microsoft can still adjust it, so check the agenda a few days before the event.
How to watch the Ignite 2026 keynote online
- Register for the free digital pass through the registration link on the Ignite homepage. Microsoft describes the digital pass as free access to keynotes, sessions and technical content, with no travel needed.
- Sign in on the day and open the Ignite site. Microsoft says online attendees get keynotes and other livestreaming sessions, but it has not published the exact player page yet, so look for the keynote in the session list.
- Add the keynote to your favourites or calendar so you do not miss the start.
We found no announcement of a public stream on YouTube or other platforms as of October 30, 2026, so the Ignite site is the one source to rely on.
Who is speaking and where it takes place
Microsoft's session listing names Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive, and Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft's commercial business, as the speakers of the opening keynote. The site says the keynote is held at Chase Center, with shuttles for attendees. The rest of the conference is based at Moscone Center in San Francisco, with a digital experience online. Microsoft lists the online event as November 17-19.
Attending in person costs more: the in-person conference pass was listed at $2,325 as of October 2026, while the digital pass is free. A pre-day with training sessions and labs runs on Monday, November 16.
What to expect
Microsoft describes the opening keynote as a look at its latest announcements and what is coming across AI, cloud, security and data. Its event pages also stress agentic business applications. Those are the themes Microsoft itself names; the actual product news is not public until the keynote, so treat anything beyond that as speculation.
Microsoft's Ignite site also lists a Book of News, a written digest of announcements. No 2026 edition is available as of October 2026; check the Ignite site on and after the keynote. For context on the spending behind these products, see our Big Tech AI capex tracker.
Why it matters for IT teams
Ignite is where Microsoft tends to set its roadmap for Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows and security products. If you manage Windows fleets, keep in mind the support deadlines already on the calendar, such as Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise and Education updates ending on November 10. More coverage sits in our Conferences, Big Tech and Software sections.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Microsoft Ignite 2026 keynote?
Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 10:00-11:30 PT, which is 18:00-19:30 UTC, per Microsoft's session listing as of October 30, 2026.
Is the Ignite 2026 livestream free?
Yes. Microsoft lists the digital pass as free and says it covers keynotes and sessions. Registration is required.
Where is Microsoft Ignite 2026?
In San Francisco, November 17-20, 2026. The opening keynote is at Chase Center and the main event is at Moscone Center. A digital option is available.
Can I watch the keynote after it ends?
Microsoft has not published on-demand details for 2026 as of October 2026. Check the Ignite site once the event starts.