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Microsoft Licensing Newsletter – March 2026

Microsoft 365 E7

Microsoft has now confirmed the upcoming release of Microsoft 365 E7, the most significant licensing development since the launch of Microsoft 365 E5. E7 is scheduled for general availability in May 2026, introducing a unified package tailored for organisations ready to operationalise AI at scale.

E7 will incorporate Microsoft’s highest‑value services into one premium bundle, consolidating E5, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Agent 365, Entra Suite, and advanced security and management capabilities into a single SKU. UK pricing has not yet been released, though global pricing is expected to land at $99 per user per month.

Microsoft 365 E7 – What’s Included?

E7 is designed to simplify how organisations license AI‑ready capabilities across productivity, security, endpoint management and identity. Although Microsoft has not yet published a final UK commercial model, the bundle is expected to include:

Core Foundation

  • Microsoft 365 E5 – full productivity and security suite
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot – organisation‑wide AI assistant
  • Agent 365 – governance and lifecycle control plane for AI agents
  • Microsoft Entra Suite – identity, permissions, and network access governance
  • Advanced Defender, Intune & Purview capabilities – unified security, compliance and device management

This represents a natural evolution of the cloud security and AI stack, moving organisations beyond add‑on models toward integrated, AI‑native licensing.

Take a look at our webinar with Trustmarque to learn more.

Act Now – Adoption of M365 E5 and Promos

Microsoft has extended incentive programmes for organisations stepping up to Microsoft 365 E5, with promotions running until 30 June 2026.

Available CSP Promotions

  • 10% discount on Microsoft 365 E3/E5 (three‑year term, CSP – new‑to‑offer customers)
  • 15% discount on Microsoft 365 E5 (annual term)

These represent the last window for many organisations to secure discounted E5 pricing before Microsoft shifts momentum toward the E7 suite.

Ultima Recommendation

If your organisation is evaluating a move to E5 — particularly for Copilot, advanced security, or Zero Trust alignment — between now and June 2026 is the ideal time to upgrade.
Once E7 launches, Microsoft is expected to reduce promotional emphasis on E5 as E7 becomes the flagship premium SKU.

Teams Live Events Retirement – June 2026

Microsoft has confirmed the following timeline:

  • New Live Events end-of-life: 30 June 2026
  • Grace period for existing events: Supported until 28 February 2027
  • Replacement: Teams Town Hall, which becomes the primary platform for large‑scale events
  • Feature changes:
    • Advanced Town Hall features currently tied to Teams Premium will be included with Teams Enterprise from 1 April 2026
    • This gives wider access to broadcast‑grade event features without a Premium licence

Customers using Live Events should begin planning migration activities now.

Teams Licensing Updates – Effective April 2026

Key Changes

  • Microsoft Places enhancements: Core and some premium features now included in all licences with Teams + Outlook access
  • Teams Shared Devices → Teams Shared Space licence:
    • One licence can now manage up to four shared desks
  • Expanded Town Hall capabilities in Teams Enterprise:
    • Capacity increases to 3,000 interactive attendees
    • View‑only up to 10,000
    • Add‑on packs available for up to 100,000 view‑only attendees

This supports organisations with hybrid workspace and large‑audience requirements.

Teams Premium Adjustments – April 2026

Teams Premium will retain security, AI, and personalisation features but will lose event‑hosting capabilities as these move to Teams Enterprise.

Retained capabilities include:

  • Advanced meeting security (e.g., watermarking, verification)
  • Intelligent recap & AI‑powered meeting features
  • Custom meeting templates & branded experiences
  • Virtual appointments & advanced bookings

Kathryn Reeves
Microsoft Marketing Manager