Microsoft has released the May 2026 Feature Summary for Microsoft Power BI, introducing a new wave of updates across Copilot, reporting, modeling, and data connectivity experiences. The latest release focuses on helping users explore data more efficiently, generate insights faster, and create more polished reports. Several enhancements also continue Microsoft’s push toward AI-assisted analytics and streamlined business intelligence workflows.
Here are some of the standout updates:
Copilot and AI: Set Perspectives for Explore
Make large data models easier to navigate by setting an Exploration perspective for reports. This gives report consumers a more focused list of tables and fields when using Explore, improving usability and reducing complexity.
Reporting: Visual Calculations and Custom Totals (Generally Available)
Create running sums, moving averages, percent of parent, and more directly inside visuals — without adding DAX measures to your semantic model. Visual calculations now provide greater flexibility and faster insights right where you need them.
Modeling: Faster Access to Web Modeling for Semantic Model Authors
Power BI is streamlining the semantic model authoring experience by taking users with edit permissions directly into web modeling instead of the model details page, helping reduce extra navigation and speed up iteration.
Data Connectivity: New Get Data Experience in Power BI Desktop (Preview)
The redesigned Power Query Get Data experience introduces a more unified and accessible way to discover and connect to data sources across Microsoft Fabric, Power BI Desktop, and Excel.
Visualizations: Card with States
The popular Card with States visual by OKVIZ is back with a fully modernized experience, updated for the latest Power BI APIs and ready for the future of KPI storytelling.
See the full list of Power BI’s May 2026 updates!
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