The speaker bench Microsoft names
Microsoft publishes its featured speakers on the Ignite home page. The list opens with Satya Nadella, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Judson Althoff, CEO, Microsoft Commercial Business.
Five of the published names carry their titles beside them. Scott Guthrie is EVP, Cloud + AI. Hayete Gallot is EVP, Microsoft Security. Nicole Dezen is Chief Partner Officer, CVP.
The wider bench sits in the organiser's numbers block: 2,100+ speakers across 830+ sessions.
Free certification testing on site
The agenda carries the credential line in the organiser's own words: "Reserve your spot for free onsite certification testing and turn your Microsoft Ignite experience into a recognized credential."
The line sits under the item headed "Sessions, Labs, & Certifications", published at 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM Pacific on Tuesday 17 November.
Two further lines from the organiser support the path. One reads "Work hands-on in expert-led labs and proctor-supported experiences designed to help you build and apply practical skills." Another reads "Build your expertise through hands-on challenges, curated skilling playlists, and onsite certification opportunities."
The pre-day is the early credential window
Monday 16 November carries "Pre-day sessions & labs" from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Pacific. Badge pick-up runs 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM Pacific on the same day.
The pre-day is an add-on. The organiser's cost answer publishes "Add-on Pre-day pass: $325" and adds "The option to add a Pre-Day Pass to your Conference Pass will be available closer to the event." The pre-day booking window is not open.
Sessions, labs and certifications across the week
Each published programme day carries a session, lab or certification item, with the clocks listed in Pacific time. Wednesday 18 November runs 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM. Thursday 19 November runs 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Friday 20 November runs 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
The Hub's own last published day is Thursday 19 November. The Thursday item headed "Hub open" carries the line "Last day to connect with experts, explore solutions, and discover what's new in the Hub." Late night labs run on Tuesday 17 November from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM.
What shapes a schedule
The organiser lists the learning formats in its own FAQ: keynotes, breakout sessions, innovation sessions, labs, demos, table talks and lightning talks.
Two details shape a schedule. Labs run as RSVP-only, expert-led sessions with proctor support. Lightning talks are "15-minute discussions held in mini theaters" and "are not available on demand".
The FAQ also publishes the access rules. A session available to in-person attendees only during the event is marked "In San Francisco Only". A session recorded for digital and in-person attendees after the event is marked "Will Be Recorded".
Booking the trip around the credential
The Conference pass costs $2,325 and covers the Moscone Center campus, the digital venue, and lunches, snacks and beverages. The Hub-only pass costs $1,625 on a 17-19 November window and covers Hub experiences, including booths, theater sessions and lunch service. The Digital pass is free.
Two clocks govern the booking. Hotel reservations secured through the registration page must be booked by 3:00 PM Pacific on Friday 16 October 2026. In-person registrations must be completed by 5:00 PM Pacific on Friday 13 November 2026. A registration can be transferred to another attendee, with the transfer initiated by the original registrant by the same 13 November clock.
The conference runs four programme days from Tuesday 17 to Friday 20 November, with the pre-day on Monday 16.
What the credential record leaves open
No certification exam list is published. No count of available certifications is published. No exam schedule is published beyond the Tuesday agenda item and the pre-day heading.
The published topic list names agentic business applications, agent platform, cloud and AI platform, Copilot, data and AI platform, frontier transformation, security and the Windows ecosystem. No hospitality technology track appears on it.