Microsoft cancels Inspire conference in-person event due to coronavirus

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Microsoft logo (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft canceled Inspire 2020 as an in-person event due to coronavirus
  • Microsoft states that it could use alternative ways to deliver content.
  • Several Microsoft events have been canceled or moved to a digital format due to coronavirus.

Microsoft canceled Inspire 2020 as an in-person event due to coronavirus (COVID-19). The company updated its Inspire 2020 page recently, stating that it canceled the event based on safety recommendations and health authorities. While the in-person event is canceled, Microsoft might use "alternative ways" to share content and hold parts of the event. The event was set to run from July 19-23, 2020 in Las Vegas.

Earlier this month, Microsoft added statements on its event pages about coronavirus. At the time, Microsoft stated that it would monitor "public health guidance in relation to in-person events." As the coronavirus pandemic has continued, it's not a surprise that another in-person event has been canceled.

Registration for Inspire 2020 was set to open today, so Microsoft made sure to cancel the in-person event before anyone could register.

Below is the full update from Microsoft:

Update, March 23, 2020: The safety of our community is a top priority. In light of health safety recommendations from public health authorities, we will not be holding Microsoft Inspire 2020 as an in-person event. We are exploring alternative ways to bring our partner community together to connect and learn. Stay tuned for more details to come.

Microsoft's MVP Summit was made into a virtual event recently, so Microsoft could use some of the same methods to share content from Inspire 2020. The update on the Inspire 2020 pages asks people to stay tuned for more updates, so it appears that Microsoft is still deciding how to move forward.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.