Key takeaways
- The September 2026 update is a landmark one — agentic experiences and PBIP both reached General Availability.
- Authoring is moving to the browser: DirectQuery and composite models can now be built on the web, with a Power Query editor in preview.
- Semantic models gain String Indexing and Full-Text Search to speed up text searches.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot is coming to Power BI (preview), and Power BI data answers are GA in Microsoft Copilot Chat.
The Power BI September 2026 update, unveiled around the Microsoft Fabric & SQL Community Conference in Barcelona, is one of the most significant in a while. Two long-running previews went Generally Available, a lot of authoring moved to the browser, and AI moved deeper into the product. Here is what matters.
Agentic experiences are now GA
The headline: Power BI agentic experiences are generally available. AI agents can now help BI developers build and refine semantic models and reports — generating, editing and validating solutions — as a supported part of the product rather than an experiment. It is exactly the shift we have been writing about in agentic development, now official. If your team wants to work this way, our Power BI in the Age of AI course covers the whole workflow.
PBIP is generally available
Power BI Projects (PBIP) reached GA. The text-based project format — semantic model as TMDL, report as PBIR — is the foundation for source control, code review and AI-assisted development. Moving from preview to GA is a strong signal that Power BI as code is now a first-class way to work. We covered the why and how in our guide to Power BI Projects (PBIP).
Authoring moves to the browser
September earned the nickname “the month Desktop became optional,” and it is easy to see why:
- DirectQuery and composite models can now be built in the browser — not just import models.
- A Power Query editor is in preview on the web.
- A new web report ribbon and improved controls on Power BI Home streamline web authoring.
You can increasingly build end to end without opening Power BI Desktop at all.
Modeling: faster text search
Semantic models gain String Indexing and Full-Text Search, which accelerate text searches across your data — useful for large models where users search descriptions, names and free-text fields.
Copilot and AI go deeper
- Microsoft 365 Copilot is coming to Power BI (preview), bringing AI directly into the experience.
- Power BI data answers are GA in Microsoft Copilot Chat, grounded by Fabric IQ for trustworthy, governed insights.
Reporting and connectivity
- Live visual sharing in Outlook — share a live Power BI visual straight into an email.
- A mobile-layout icon on page tabs makes it easy to see which pages have a phone layout.
- A new Microsoft Outlook Mail connector for getting data.
What it means for your team
Two themes stand out: AI is now a supported way to build, and the browser is becoming a real authoring surface. Together they lower the barrier to building Power BI well — but they raise the premium on judgement: directing agents, reviewing their output, and owning the model and design. That is exactly what we teach.
Catching up? See the Power BI August 2026 update too.
Planning a move to Fabric? Explore our Microsoft Fabric consulting in the UAE — strategy, adoption & architecture, migration and end-to-end implementation.
Source: the Power BI September 2026 Feature Summary and Microsoft Learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is new in the Power BI September 2026 update?
Power BI agentic experiences and Power BI Projects (PBIP) reached General Availability, DirectQuery and composite models can now be built in the browser, semantic models gained String Indexing and Full-Text Search, and Microsoft 365 Copilot in Power BI entered preview.
What are Power BI agentic experiences?
AI agents that help build and refine semantic models and reports by generating, editing and validating solutions. As of September 2026 they are generally available and a supported part of Power BI.
Is PBIP now generally available?
Yes. Power BI Projects (PBIP) — the text-based project format for source control and code-based development — reached General Availability in September 2026.
Can I build DirectQuery models in the browser now?
Yes. DirectQuery and composite models can now be built in the browser, part of a broader move of Power BI authoring to the web, alongside a Power Query editor in preview.
What are String Indexing and Full-Text Search?
New semantic-model capabilities in Power BI that accelerate text searches across your data, which is especially useful for large models with lots of descriptive or free-text fields.
