Overview
Data Saturday Chicago is a two-day, in-person event for anyone interested in the Microsoft Data Platform. This event is for the data community, by the community, and brought to you by the team who has been bringing you SQL Saturday Chicago since 2010!
Schedule
47 events • 6 concurrent events
Day 1 - Mar 13, 2026
Pre-Conference Session
9:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Modern Data Warehousing with Microsoft Fabric: Patterns, Practices, and Pitfalls
Pre-Conference Session
9:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Advanced T-SQL Triage: The Art of Fixing Terrible Code
2 concurrent sessions
Day 2 - Mar 14, 2026
Registration
1:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Registration
W101
Session
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Business Continuity in Azure SQL Databases
W201
Session
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Data on Fire: A Hands-On Intro to Spark in Fabric
W101
Session
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Tools in your AI's Toolbox : An introduction to MCP Servers
W102
Session
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
From Xbox to Insights: Real-Time Data in Action
W120
Session
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Diving Deep into Data with Azure Data Explorer and Kusto Query Language
W214
Session
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
What No One Tells You About Going Independent
W216
6 concurrent sessions
Break
2:30 pm to 2:45 pm
Break
W101
Session
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Modernizing workloads from SQL Server to PostgreSQL with Flexible Server for PostgreSQL
W102
Session
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Unlocking the Power of Data Agents and Copilot in Microsoft Fabric
W214
Session
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Azure Storage: You want to put what where?
W101
Session
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
SQL Server vs Azure Cosmos DB
W201
Session
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
A Fistful of Parameters: Take Care and Control of Unstable Plans
W120
Session
2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
From Concert Hall to Code Review, Symphony to Software
W216
6 concurrent sessions
Break
3:45 pm to 4:00 pm
Break
W101
Session
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
How to Manage Your Azure Infrastructure Like an Expert: Top Best Practices
W120
Session
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
High Concurrency Table Hijinks
W216
Session
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Power BI Storage Modes: The Ultimate Showdown
W101
Session
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Mastering PostgreSQL Range Partitioning: A Strategic Approach to High-Volume Transaction Management
W201
Session
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
AI-Powered Search in SQL Server 2025
W102
Session
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Decoding Fabric Licensing
W214
6 concurrent sessions
Lunch
5:00 pm to 5:20 pm
Grab Lunch!
W101
Sponsor Session
5:20 pm to 6:05 pm
Redgate Sponsor Session - Placeholder
W101
Sponsor Session
5:20 pm to 6:05 pm
Platinum Sponsor Session - Placeholder
W102
Panel
5:20 pm to 6:05 pm
Women in Tech (WIT) Panel
W120
3 concurrent sessions
Session
6:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Demystifying Microsoft Fabric: Architecture and Organization 101
W102
Session
6:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Moneyball – Build a killer Fantasy Football Team with Power BI
W214
Session
6:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Python for SQL Professionals: Hands‑On with the mssql‑python driver
W101
Session
6:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Window Functions in SQL
W201
Session
6:15 pm to 7:15 pm
From Legacy to Modern: Your Data Platform Migration Strategy Guide
W120
Session
6:15 pm to 7:15 pm
Intro to PowerShell with dbatools for the DBA
W216
6 concurrent sessions
Break
7:15 pm to 7:30 pm
Break
W101
Session
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
AI for DBAs: Copilot, ChatGPT, and the Future of Database Work
W120
Session
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Strengthen Your Speaking Skills
W101
Session
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
The Curated Data Platform
W201
Session
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Wait Wait Do Tell Me: A Look At SQL Server Wait Stats
W102
Session
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Unlocking T-SQL Surface Area in Microsoft Fabric: Where It Works, Where It Doesn't and Why
W214
5 concurrent sessions
Break
8:30 pm to 8:45 pm
Break
W101
Session
8:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Trust, but Verify: Data Quality in Microsoft Fabric
W216
Session
8:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Meet Azure Document DB - new OpenSource Mongo-compartible NoSQL database
W102
Session
8:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Get Started with tSQLt
W214
Session
8:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Revenge: The SQL!
W101
Session
8:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Mastering PostgreSQL: Advanced Techniques for SQL Server DBAs
W201
Session
8:45 pm to 9:45 pm
Reworking Indexes to Support an Evolving Application
W120
6 concurrent sessions
Closing
9:45 pm to 10:15 pm
Closing & Sponsor Raffles
W101
Session Details
Modern Data Warehousing with Microsoft Fabric: Patterns, Practices, and Pitfalls
9:00 pm to 10:00 pm