Microsoft 2026 Release Wave 2: The nonprofit readiness guide

Last updated: 24 August 2026

Key dates: when Release Wave 2 is rolling out

The release weekend is set in advance, so we plan testing and validation around it.

If you are operating in more than one region, we validate each on its own timeline.

Why readiness matters

Release Wave 2 is a substantial update, and a little preparation goes a long way. Without it, nonprofits can run into:

• Broken workflows
• Integration failures, especially older Business Central connections
• Licensing surprises on new AI features
• Reporting inconsistencies

Knowing the release weekend in advance is what makes all this manageable. We test in sandbox beforehand, keep a close eye on your test environments in the lead-up, and validate the moment the release lands.

What to be aware of for Release Wave 2 2026

The readiness work sits with us. There is nothing for you to set up or schedule. Two things are worth knowing ahead of the weekend, and we handle both:

• Older Business Central connections. Microsoft is retiring an older way of connecting to Business Central for a more modern method. If any of your integrations still use the old way, they may need updating. We will check and sort out anything affected.
• Licensing for new AI features. A few new Copilot and AI agent capabilities may need specific licensing. If it applies to you, we will flag it early.

Key changes in Release Wave 2 2026 for nonprofits

Here are the areas that matter most:

• Fundraising (Sales). AI agents research prospects and follow up, and predictive scoring flags the opportunities worth your time.
• Supporter services (Customer Service). Copilot drafts replies and summarises cases, and smarter routing sends each query to the right person across more channels.
• Donor data (Customer Insights). A unified view of each supporter, AI segmentation that surfaces lapsing and likely-to-give donors, and better-timed appeals.
• Finance (Business Central 29). The biggest change this wave: more autonomous finance agents and predictive recommendations that speed up everyday accounting and month-end.

One thing to note: this is an early guide. The direction and the release weekend are confirmed, but Microsoft is still filling in the detail feature by feature. We will confirm the specifics for your setup before the weekend.

Common questions about Release Wave 2 2026

When will Wave 2 reach our environment?

For Australia and New Zealand, the release weekend is 16-19 October 2026. For Canada, it is 25-28 September 2026. We focus our testing and validation on that window.

What do we need to do to get ready?

Very little on your side. We test in a sandbox beforehand, monitor your test environments in the lead-up, and validate functionality once the release lands.

Will Wave 2 affect our integrations?

Potentially. Any integration, automation, or customisation is worth a review. Older Business Central SOAP connections need particular attention this wave, as they move to the modern OData REST standard.

Does this include Copilot and AI agent updates?

Yes. AI agents and Copilot are a core focus of the 2026 releases.

How we can support your nonprofit

We manage the readiness around each release weekend, so your systems keep running without the stress. This typically takes around 10 hours.

• Review your setup and integrations ahead of time
• Daily checks on your test environments in the lead-up
• Sandbox testing before the weekend
• Validate once the release lands, and flag anything that needs attention
• Brief your team on what has changed

For more information on the 2026 Wave 2 release plan, see Microsoft's official release plans.