As we kick off a new fiscal year, we’re renewing our commitment to enabling partners to lead in the era of agentic AI. Your role as a trusted advisor has never been more vital, and the opportunities ahead have never been greater. At MCAPS Start for Partners, we shared how the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is evolving to accelerate growth, expand AI-powered solutions, and position you to meet changing customer needs with confidence.
From expanded benefits and new Solutions Partner designations and specializations to refreshed partner benefits packages, expanded incentives, AI-enhanced tools, and streamlined skilling, we’re delivering more ways than ever for partners to build, market, and sell with impact.
Unlock new AI-powered benefits in FY26
Beginning in February 2026, we will roll out new and enhanced benefits designed to reflect partner feedback and enable further growth—starting with Microsoft AI and Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- Microsoft Azure credits for Copilot Studio: Build agents with our low-code platform, Copilot Studio, using Azure credits to access the platform and explore the potential of agentic AI.
- Additional Copilot seats: Expand Copilot usage across business functions to accelerate adoption productivity gains.
Expand your reach with new Solutions Partner designations
Later in FY26, four new Solutions Partner designations will be introduced to enable partners to differentiate in high customer-demand areas and unlock new growth opportunities.
- Support services-focused Solutions Partner designation: Demonstrates capability to provide customers with a tailored support experience for Microsoft products.
- Distributor-focused Solutions Partner designation: Recognizes distributors (formerly known as indirect providers) who deliver technology and services worldwide, providing resellers a way to navigate the ecosystem and work with distributors offering the highest value-add.
- Two device-focused Solutions Partner designations: One recognizes partners who sell and deploy Windows commercial devices, including Copilot+ PCs, delivering value across the full deployment lifecycle. The other recognizes partners building modern, hybrid-ready Windows devices. Both designations create opportunities to support the Windows 10 refresh cycle, drive Microsoft 365 adoption, and strengthen customer relationships through secure, AI-ready devices.
Create custom go-to-market materials with our new AI-powered studio
In early 2026, a new AI-powered experience will enable partners in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program to create custom go-to-market materials in just minutes. Access campaigns in a box, click-through demos, and other marketing resources, then activate the AI agent to quickly tailor them with your branding.
Improve your Partner Center experience with the AI assistant
The Partner Center AI assistant, currently in preview, uses generative AI to deliver tailored insights and intelligent suggestions about growth-oriented actions to take, provide quick answers to your questions, and optimize your day-to-day workflows.
The AI assistant is built into Partner Center and is continually updated for a better user experience. From managing subscriptions to checking program eligibility, it’s designed to simplify tasks, answer questions, and guide you through each workspace in Partner Center when and where you need it. For example, you can:
- Use AI assistant in the incentives workspace to make sure you’re claiming everything you have earned.
- Instantly check your co-op balance, claimed amounts, and claim status, or have the AI assistant quickly surface where action is needed to avoid denial or expiration of customer claims.
- Save time by using AI assistant in the customer workspace to resolve duplicate subscriptions from mid-term upgrades with automated cancellations. What previously took a week of back-and-forth with Support now takes just minutes, reducing cancellation and refund time by 90%.
Check out these videos to learn how it works.
Drive growth with SPARK Propensity data
Solution Play Propensity Accelerate Revenue and KPIs (SPARK) Propensity data is now available in Partner Center. SPARK uses customer signals to identify accounts with a high likelihood of purchasing specific Microsoft solutions and connects these opportunities with designated transaction partners of record and co-sell-ready partners best positioned to close the deal. This ensures high-value opportunities reach partners with proven capability and readiness.
Visit the SPARK Propensity Learn page to find out how to prioritize high-impact accounts and accelerate revenue.
Gain visibility and find connections as a Microsoft Ignite sponsor
With Microsoft Ignite 2025 just around the corner, sponsorship offers a powerful way to reach qualified audiences, strengthen your brand alignment with Microsoft, and drive measurable business impact. Sponsors benefit from high visibility, increased brand awareness, easier lead generation, and greater revenue potential.
Even if sponsorship is not your path this year, attending Microsoft Ignite—which takes place November 17–21—offers direct access to the latest product announcements, hands-on technical sessions, and networking opportunities with Microsoft experts and industry peers.
Invest, accelerate, and differentiate in FY26
The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program empowers you to invest, accelerate growth, and capitalize on market opportunities in the era of AI. With enhanced benefits, smarter tools, and clear paths to differentiation, you will move faster and achieve more.
Review current benefits and compare partner offers to ensure you are capturing the full range of opportunities available in FY26.
Join the conversation in our Partner community benefits discussion board.