VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ 2026 was one of the most energetic events I’ve ever witnessed. The five-day marathon of training and discussions, from July 27 to July 31, brought together thousands of developers eager to explore the future of Visual Studio, .NET, and AI-assisted programming. While many attendees couldn’t be physically in Redmond, all of the keynote sessions were recorded and available on Microsoft’s channels, making these insights relevant to anyone interested in the modern programming ecosystem.
AI is a core topic, not just code completion
AI was an integral part of the discussions throughout the week at VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ. The conversation went beyond code completion – developers talked about the possibilities of AI in planning, debugging, modernization, testing, code review, agent development and workflow automation. Most importantly, these discussions were practical. Developers wanted to learn what works today, how AI can be trusted in real-world development environments, how to responsibly deploy AI solutions and where human judgment is still necessary.
Visual Studio remains a solid foundation
While AI is gaining more and more attention, VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ emphasized that developers are not looking to compromise between innovation and traditional development principles. Speed, stability, predictability, debugging, testing, and ease of use are still the cornerstones. AI only becomes valuable when it further enhances an already robust development experience. This idea explains why Visual Studio remains relevant even in changing technologies.
Highlights of recorded sessions
1. "Improving Performance in .NET Applications"„
Performance is one of the main concerns for developers. The methods and tools presented in this session help optimize the performance of .NET applications, which directly contributes to the quality of the final product.
2. Future of ASP.NET Core & Blazor in .NET 11„
For developers building modern web applications, this session provides insights into future directions for ASP.NET Core and Blazor platforms, anticipating the capabilities of .NET 11.
3. "Everything You Need to Know About the Latest in C#"„
C# is constantly evolving alongside .NET. This session will cover the latest language features and their practical applications to help developers stay competitive.
4. SQL MCP Server: Bringing AI Agents to Your SQL Data„
This topic combines two popular VSLive! elements – AI and MCP. The demo shows how AI agents can work with SQL data, extending the scope of AI from writing code to managing data.
Modernization is a practical challenge
VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ also highlighted the need for modernization. Many developers are working with older .NET Framework 4.7/4.8, Web Forms or WinForms applications that have accumulated a large amount of code over the years. The practical question is how to migrate to .NET 8 or .NET 10 when time and staff are limited, and disruptions need to be avoided? In this context, modernization guidelines and tools that help smoothly migrate old projects to newer platforms were important.
AI and traditional programs are not a contradiction
The event demonstrated that AI is inseparable from existing applications. Developers were actively interested in AI-enabled .NET applications, such as Aspire, Blazor, .NET MAUI, WinForms, and SQL integration. This shows that AI is an additional component, not a replacement, for traditional solutions.
Conclusion
VSLive! @ Microsoft HQ 2026 provided a wide range of insights, from practical applications of AI to the importance of traditional development principles. Recorded sessions, such as Improving Performance, Future Perspectives for .NET 11, What's New in C#, and Integrating AI Agents with SQL, are valuable resources for anyone looking to deepen their knowledge and apply it to their projects. If you missed the live event, we recommend watching these recordings on the Visual Studio YouTube channel and putting the knowledge you learned into practice.
—
