Introduction

Every year, the European Power Platform Conference brings together thousands of makers, developers, architects, consultants, Microsoft experts and business leaders from across the continent. As Europe’s only dedicated Microsoft Power Platform conference, EPPC has become much more than a place to hear product announcements. It’s where the Power Platform community comes together to learn from one another, share ideas, solve problems and build connections that continue long after the event has finished.

EPPC26 was no different. Across four days of keynotes, technical sessions, workshops and conversations in the exhibition hall, a number of clear themes emerged. Unsurprisingly, AI dominated many of the discussions, but the conference also highlighted something just as important: the future of the Power Platform isn’t only about technology – it’s about the people building it, supporting it and helping one another succeed.

AI has moved beyond experimentation

Artificial intelligence was woven through almost every keynote, but this year’s conversation felt noticeably different. The focus has shifted from asking whether organisations should be using AI to understanding how they can use it responsibly and at scale.

Ryan Cunningham opened the conference by exploring how makers are transforming the way they work with Microsoft AI, using everything from personal productivity tools to intelligent business processes that connect people, data, applications and agents. One statistic perfectly illustrated the scale of adoption: Microsoft now has more than one million Power Automate flows running internally. Watch Ryan Cunningham’s keynote on YouTube.

That theme continued throughout the week. Nirav Shah explored what happens after organisations begin building AI agents, while Leon Welicki demonstrated how Power Apps and the wider platform continue to evolve with AI at their core. Chris O’Brien challenged attendees to think beyond today’s tools and consider how AI is reshaping entire industries and careers.

The message was clear. Building AI is only the beginning. The real challenge now is deploying it responsibly, managing it effectively and ensuring it delivers meaningful value.

You can watch all keynotes on our YouTube channel.

Governance is becoming just as important as innovation

One of the biggest takeaways from EPPC26 was that organisations need to think just as carefully about governing AI as they do about building it.

With Copilot Studio making it easier than ever to create intelligent agents, low-code development has become even more accessible. That creates incredible opportunities, but it also raises important questions. Who owns these agents? How are they secured? How do organisations know they’re creating value?

Nirav Shah shared a statistic that sparked plenty of conversation throughout the conference. While 91% of organisations are already using AI agents, only 10% have a strategy to manage them. Watch Nirav Shah’s keynote on YouTube.

It reinforced an important point. Success with Microsoft AI isn’t simply about creating more agents. It’s about having the visibility, governance and confidence to use them across an organisation.

The best solutions aren't always the most complicated

One of the biggest laughs of the week came during Leon Welicki’s keynote when he asked the audience, “You wouldn’t send people to the moon with Power Apps… would you?”

Moments later, Chris Blakeley from NASA walked onto the stage.

The audience quickly discovered that NASA does in fact use a Power Apps Canvas App as part of the pre-launch process for the Artemis mission.

It was a brilliant reminder that the value of a solution isn’t measured by how complex it is or how many AI features it contains. The best solutions are the ones that solve the problem in front of you, reliably and consistently. Sometimes simplicity wins.

Watch Leon Welicki’s keynote on YouTube.

Staying valuable means continuing to learn

Technology evolves quickly, but people remain at the centre of every successful transformation.

Chris O’Brien’s keynote challenged attendees to think beyond technology and consider how AI is changing business itself. One story that particularly resonated compared Microsoft’s long-running efforts to compete with Google Search.

His point wasn’t about search engines – it was about momentum. Once industries shift, catching up becomes increasingly difficult. The same applies to AI.

Rather than waiting for AI to reshape industries, organisations and careers, today’s professionals have an opportunity to become part of that change by continuously learning, adapting and developing new skills.

Watch Chris O’Brien’s keynote on YouTube.

Some of the most valuable conversations happen outside sessions

One of the reasons EPPC continues to be recognised as a leading Microsoft Power Platform conference in Europe is that some of the most valuable learning happens outside the session rooms.

Technical sessions are essential, but it’s often the conversations over coffee, during lunch or while exploring the Expo Hall that attendees remember most. Someone mentions a problem they’ve solved. Another shares a new approach to governance. A Microsoft MVP offers advice that saves hours of trial and error. Those informal conversations often prove just as valuable as the presentations themselves.

That sense of openness is what makes the Power Platform community so special. People genuinely want to help each other, whether they’re meeting for the first time or catching up with colleagues they’ve known for years.

Networking is one of the biggest reasons people come back

When people think about conferences, they often think about speakers and sessions first. Ask returning attendees what keeps them coming back to EPPC and many will give the same answer: networking.

Power Platform networking has always been one of the defining features of EPPC. Throughout the week there were dedicated meet-ups for first-time attendees, solo attendees, Scandinavian Power Platform enthusiasts, Women in Power and even football fans during the World Cup, alongside expo drinks, networking breaks and community gatherings.

These events aren’t simply social activities added to fill the agenda. They’re designed to help people feel part of the community. They create opportunities to meet future collaborators, discover new career opportunities, exchange ideas and build relationships with people facing the same challenges.

In a world where so much work happens remotely, there is still enormous value in meeting people face to face. Many attendees arrive knowing very few people and leave with a network they’ll continue speaking to throughout the year. That’s something virtual events simply can’t recreate.

Ask the Experts remains one of EPPC's most valuable experiences

If there is one feature that perfectly demonstrates the value of an in-person conference, it’s Ask the Experts.

During the morning break, lunch and afternoon break, Microsoft MVPs, Microsoft product experts and industry specialists make themselves available to answer questions from attendees. Whether it’s a complex Power Automate flow, a licensing challenge, a governance question or advice on building better Power Apps, people can speak directly with those who have the knowledge and experience to help.

It’s easy to spend days searching documentation or posting questions online. At EPPC, attendees can walk over, explain the challenge they’re facing and often leave with a practical solution they can take straight back to their organisation. That kind of direct access is incredibly difficult to replicate anywhere else and remains one of the biggest benefits of attending in person.

The community continues to grow stronger

One of the standout moments of the week was the Women in Power lunch, which brought together an impressive group of leaders for an inspiring discussion about leadership, visibility and influence in the age of AI.

The room was full, the conversations were thoughtful and the atmosphere reflected what makes the Power Platform community so welcoming. It wasn’t simply about discussing careers. It was about creating meaningful connections, sharing experiences and encouraging more people to step into leadership roles. One piece of advice from the session summed it up perfectly: “Take your position before others align.”

The same community spirit was evident throughout the week, right up until the Community Prize Draw on the final afternoon. Watching hundreds of people celebrate one another’s wins, cheer every prize announcement and end the conference together felt like the perfect way to close another successful EPPC.

Where next? Dublin!

If EPPC26 proved anything, it’s that the biggest value of the conference isn’t found solely in a single keynote or product announcement. It’s also found in the conversations between sessions, the networking that happens throughout the week, the willingness of experts to share their knowledge and the sense of belonging that defines the Power Platform community.

That journey continues next year as the European Power Platform Conference heads to Dublin from 14 to 17 June 2027. As one of Europe’s leading technology hubs and home to many of the world’s largest technology companies, Dublin is the ideal setting for Europe’s only dedicated Microsoft Power Platform conference.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical knowledge, explore the latest developments in Power Apps, Power Automate and Copilot Studio, meet Microsoft MVPs, grow your professional network or simply become part of one of the most welcoming technology communities anywhere in the world, we look forward to welcoming you to EPPC27.

Why attend the European Power Platform Conference?

The European Power Platform Conference is Europe’s only dedicated Microsoft Power Platform conference, bringing together Microsoft product teams, Microsoft MVPs, community leaders and thousands of professionals for four days of learning, networking and collaboration. Whether you’re a developer, consultant, architect, business analyst or IT leader, EPPC offers a unique opportunity to stay ahead of the latest developments in Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio and Microsoft AI while building valuable connections with the wider Power Platform community.