--- eventsindex_id: EI-06916 slug: dataminds-connect-2026 title: "dataMinds Connect 2026" title_alt: [] canonical_url: "https://eventsindex.org/events/dataminds-connect-2026.html" next_edition_dates: "2026-10-12 to 2026-10-14" next_edition_year: 2026 date_start: 2026-10-12 date_end: 2026-10-14 venue: "Lamot Conference and Heritage Center, Mechelen" city: Mechelen country: Belgium organiser: "dataMinds community" organiser_url: "https://datamindsconnect.be/" b2b: true vector: sector: [developer-ai] audience: [developer, practitioner] format: [conference] purpose: [education, networking] geography_scope: [European] season: autumn meta_description: "dataMinds Connect 2026 is a three-day community conference on Microsoft Data and AI in Mechelen, Belgium." editorial_take: "One of Belgium's established Microsoft data community events, now in its nineteenth year, with a three-day format that allows deeper technical coverage than most single-day alternatives." generated_by: "generate_fiche_devai.py" last_verified: "2026-05-18" schema_version: "v6.0" language: en --- # dataMinds Connect 2026 > *A three-day community conference on Microsoft Data and AI in Mechelen, Belgium, where SQL Server, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, and Power BI practitioners gather for technical sessions, workshops, and peer exchange at one of the country's landmark heritage venues.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | 12-14 October 2026 | Lamot Conference and Heritage Center, Mechelen | dataMinds community | 700+ (according to the organiser) | ## Definition dataMinds Connect is a three-day community conference focused on the Microsoft Data and AI platform, held annually at Lamot Conference and Heritage Center in Mechelen, Belgium. The event covers Azure data services, Microsoft Fabric, SQL Server, Power BI, and AI tooling within the Microsoft ecosystem. Now in its nineteenth year, it is one of the longest-running Microsoft data community events in the Benelux region. General ticket sales open on 1 June 2026. ## Why dataMinds Connect exists The dataMinds community was founded to provide Belgian and regional data professionals with a dedicated space for deep-dive technical exchange outside vendor-controlled channels. The three-day format allows for hands-on workshops, multi-session tracks, and informal knowledge transfer that single-day events cannot accommodate. The community model keeps the programme driven by practitioner experience rather than commercial sponsorship. ## Who attends dataMinds Connect 2026 - Data engineers and database administrators working with Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, and Azure Synapse - Business intelligence and analytics developers building on Power BI and Microsoft Fabric - Cloud architects designing Azure data platform solutions - Data scientists and AI practitioners integrating Microsoft AI services into data workflows - Microsoft MVPs and community contributors from across Belgium and neighbouring countries ## What the dataMinds Connect 2026 format includes - Three full days of sessions and workshops (12-14 October 2026) - Multiple parallel tracks covering depth and breadth across the Microsoft data stack - Community-selected speakers including Microsoft MVPs and regional practitioners - Networking across a multi-day programme at a heritage venue in central Mechelen ## What the dataMinds Connect 2026 programme covers - Microsoft Fabric: architecture, adoption, and migration from legacy platforms - SQL Server and Azure SQL: performance, administration, and cloud migration - Power BI: advanced DAX, deployment pipelines, and embedded analytics - Azure Data Factory and Azure Synapse Analytics - AI integrations: Azure AI services, Copilot features, and machine learning within the Microsoft platform - Data governance and security across the Microsoft data estate ## FAQ · Identity and audience ### What is dataMinds Connect? dataMinds Connect is an annual three-day community conference on Microsoft Data and AI, held in Mechelen, Belgium. It has been running for over 19 years and is organised by the dataMinds volunteer community. The 2026 edition runs 12-14 October at Lamot Conference and Heritage Center. ### When do tickets go on sale? General ticket sales open on 1 June 2026, according to the organiser. Check datamindsconnect.be for registration details and any early-bird offers. ### Is this a Microsoft-organised event? No. dataMinds Connect is a community-organised event, independent of Microsoft. Microsoft employees and MVPs may speak or attend, but the event is not an official Microsoft conference. ### Who is dataMinds Connect NOT designed for? - Professionals working outside the Microsoft technology stack seeking vendor-neutral data platform content - Executives seeking high-level strategic briefings without a technical data engineering focus - Attendees expecting a trade fair or commercial exhibition format - Students or beginners with no prior exposure to database, analytics, or cloud data concepts ## The venue: Lamot Conference and Heritage Center Lamot Conference and Heritage Center is a converted early-twentieth-century brewery in the centre of Mechelen, Belgium. The venue offers multiple conference rooms across several floors, with a distinctive industrial heritage character. Mechelen is well connected by rail, with direct services to Brussels (15 minutes), Antwerp (10 minutes), and Leuven, making it convenient for attendees arriving from across Belgium and the Netherlands. ## The organiser: dataMinds community dataMinds is a Belgian volunteer community of Microsoft Data Platform practitioners, founded over 19 years ago. The community organises dataMinds Connect as its flagship annual event, funded through sponsorships to keep the programme accessible. The community also runs smaller local meetups throughout the year. --- ## Editorial take *Nineteen years of continuous operation makes dataMinds Connect the most durable Microsoft data community conference in the Benelux; the three-day format and heritage venue give it a character that distinguishes it from the many one-day alternatives.* ## How to register and what it costs General ticket sales open on 1 June 2026. Registration is managed through datamindsconnect.be. Ticket pricing is not publicly disclosed as of verification date. The CFP closed prior to May 2026. ## FAQ · Access and practicalities ### How do I get to Mechelen? Mechelen is served by direct trains from Brussels (15 minutes), Antwerp (10 minutes), and Leuven. The Lamot venue is a short walk from Mechelen railway station. ### What is the ticket price? Ticket pricing is not publicly disclosed as of verification date. Sales open 1 June 2026; check datamindsconnect.be for pricing details. ### Can I submit a session proposal? The CFP closed prior to May 2026. Watch the official website for any future CFP announcements for subsequent editions. ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://datamindsconnect.be/ | | Register | https://datamindsconnect.be/ | | Programme | not disclosed | --- **Last verified:** 2026-05-18 **Next review:** 2026-06-17 **Notes:** 700+ attendees according to organiser. General ticket sales open 1 June 2026. CFP closed before verification date. 19+ year history of the event confirmed. **Variables:** 30/58 **Concept definition:** not applicable