Dynamics 365 2026 Release Wave 1 — What is it and how often does Microsoft update?

A Dynamics 365 Release Wave is a cyclical update model used by Microsoft for the entire Dynamics 365 ecosystem and Power Platform. Each wave includes a set of new functionalities, enhancements and technological changes that are planned and published in advance in the form of a detailed release plan.

Release Wave 1 for 2026 covers the period from April to September. På den nytt funktioner som tilbygget i kundrapporter, första som en preview och följande i produktionsversionen.

What exactly is a release wave?

A Release Wave is not an update, but a collection of changes that spans several system duties, including:

• CRM applications (Sales, Customer Service, Marketing)
• ERP applications (Finance, Supply Chain Management, Commerce)
• Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI)
• functionalities based on artificial intelligence (Copilot)

As part of a wave, Microsoft introduces both mandatory (automatically deployed) and optional (requiring administrator decisions) functions. This model allows you to implement changes in a controlled manner without the need for one-time, large system updates.

How often does Microsoft launch a Release Wave?

Microsoft releases two major waves of updates per year:

• Release Wave 1 — from April to September
• Release Wave 2 — from October to March of the following year

This means an update cycle approximately every 6 months.

In addition:

• Quality fixes and optimization are implemented on an ongoing basis
• related functions are relevant in preview mode
• The deployment schedule may vary by region and environment

Why is this model relevant?

The Release Wave model eliminates the need for major upgrades every few years. The system develops continuously, which means:

• constant access to new features
• Shorter time to implement innovations
• il necessario di analisi regulari di modifiche e la impacta a l'organizzazione

In practice, this requires IT and business teams to systematically monitor publishing plans and test new features before production deployment.

Relaterade artikler

• Dynamics 365 Finance 2026 Release Wave 1
• Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management 2026 Release Wave 1
• Dynamics 365 Commerce 2026 Release Wave 1
• Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations — cross-app capabilities 2026 Release Wave 1

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