MC1243553 - Microsoft Teams: Changes to Teams Events licensing

Introduction

Microsoft is introducing licensing updates that simplify access to advanced collaboration, workplace coordination, and events capabilities across Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Places. These updates expand access to capabilities previously available only with Teams Premium, helping organizations scale intelligent collaboration for hybrid work, large meetings, and in‑office coordination.

When this will happen

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCCH, and DoD): These changes will go into effect in early April 2026.

How this affects your organization

Who is affected

• Organizations with users licensed for Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Places, or Microsoft 365 suites that include Outlook and Teams calendars
• Admins who manage Teams events, shared devices/spaces, or workplace coordination features in Places

What will happen

• Advanced Teams events features included with Teams Enterprise
  • Advanced event capabilities will be available to all users with a Teams Enterprise license (previously required Teams Premium).
  • Users can organize and run events with up to 3,000 concurrent attendees.
  • Included capabilities:
    • Streaming chat
    • Interactive reactions
    • Real-time insights
    • Theme and email customization
    • eCDN
    • Immersive events
    • Additional organizer and attendee enhancements
• New attendee capacity pack licenses
  • Capacity packs will allow events larger than 3,000 attendees.
  • Sizes include: 5k, 10k, 25k, 35k, 50k, 75k, and 100k attendees.
• Teams Shared Space license (formerly Teams Shared Device)
  • One license can now manage up to:
    • Four desks
    • A common area phone
    • A Teams panel
    • A shared meeting room
    • A hot-desking device
  • Adds:
    • Advance desk reservations
    • Space Analytics
  • No admin action is required for the transition; additional spaces require assignment of a no‑cost license.
• Expanded workplace coordination capabilities in Microsoft Places
  • Users with licenses that include Outlook and Teams calendars will gain access to:
    • Places Finder
    • Places Explorer
  • Applies to licenses such as:
    • Microsoft 365 E3/E5
    • Business Basic, Standard, and Premium
    • Outlook 365 E1/E3/E5
    • Exchange Online
    • Various Teams and Microsoft 365/Office 365 licenses
• Teams Premium continues to offer advanced value
  • You will still have access to Teams Premium capabilities including:
    • Advanced communication features
    • Meeting protection
    • Advanced Collaboration Tools for admins
    • Intelligent recap
    • Queues app for Teams Phone
    • Enhanced Bookings and virtual appointment capabilities

What you can do to prepare

No immediate admin action is required.

To prepare, you can:

• Review your current Microsoft Teams, Teams Premium, and Microsoft Places licensing allocations.
• Determine whether upcoming events require new attendee capacity packs.
• For Shared Space usage, assign no‑cost licenses if you plan to manage multiple desks under the expanded four-space entitlement.
• Update internal documentation that refers to Teams Premium dependencies for events, shared devices, or Places features.
• Communicate upcoming changes to:
  • Teams event organizers
  • Facilities or workplace experience teams

Learn more

• Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Places licensing update - Licensing updates extend access to advanced capabilities in Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Places | Microsoft Teams blog
• For a full list of current Teams Premium features - Microsoft Teams Premium - Overview for admins
• Teams' events announcement - Microsoft Teams events: A new unified experience makes it easier to discover, create, and manage events | Microsoft Teams blog

Compliance considerations

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.