Experiencing SQLBits 2025 in London

This week, I’m in London attending the SQLBits 2025 conference.
Since joining dbi services as a consultant, this is my second time taking part in the event.
The last time was in 2022, but I attended remotely due to the uncertainties surrounding international travel at the time, as COVID-19 was still a concern.
You can actually find the blog post I wrote back then: SQLBits 2022 – Levelling up my Performance Tuning skills.

This year, I’m here in person and fully intend to make the most of the experience.

For context, SQLBits 2025 is one of the largest Microsoft data platform events in Europe. Taking place in London from June 18 to 21, it features dozens of sessions covering SQL Server, Azure, Power BI, AI, and data engineering. The event brings together experts, MVPs, and Microsoft product team members for intense learning and networking. Known for its high-quality content and friendly atmosphere, SQLBits is a must-attend event for anyone working in the Microsoft data ecosystem.

As you can see on my badge, I’ve chosen to attend a wide range of sessions during the first two days, and on Friday I’ll be taking part in a full-day training on “Real-World Data Engineering: Practical Skills for Microsoft Fabric” led by Prathy Kamasani.

On the agenda, agenda, you’ll see that the trending topics stand out. Personally, I’m very interested in sessions on SQL Server 2025, which has just been released in public beta, or sessions on the SQL Server engine in general, but of course these aren’t the majority of sessions.
The trends are now:

• AI and AI Agents, with multiple sessions exploring how AI is being integrated into the Microsoft data ecosystem including intelligent assistants, automation, and real-world use cases.

• Microsoft Fabric is front and center, everywhere.

• Analytics and Power BI continue to be key pillars, with advanced sessions on DAX, large-scale reporting, data modeling, and real-time analytics.

• Data Transformation and DataOps are well represented, especially through practical sessions on orchestration, data pipelines, automation, and governance.

Today I attended the following sessions:

• How Microsoft’s new, open-source Data API builder fits into Solution Architecture

• Unlocking the Power of Open Mirroring in Microsoft Fabric
• AI Agents in Action: Enhancing Applications with Azure AI Services

• Azure SQL Managed Instance Demo Party

• Empower Your Data with Real-Time Intelligence leveraging Data Activator within Fabric
• From B-Trees to V-Order. Told differently than usual

• Resolving Deadlocks in SQL Server: Practical Demo

It’s a huge amount of information, subjects to explore and ideas for solving real-life problems for our customers.

That was only the first day, but I’m already extremely satisfied with the conference: from the quality of the sessions and the content to the expertise of the speakers. I’m looking forward to making the most of the upcoming sessions, and I highly recommend that any Microsoft Data professional consider attending SQLBits. If not this year, then why not next year?