January 26 is coming fast. I’ve lost count of how many messages I’ve received that start with some version of: “The DP-700 is changing… should I panic?”

Short answer? No.
Honest answer? You do need to adjust.

Microsoft officially labels the DP-700 2026 update as minor. Structurally, that’s true. But skill emphasis quietly shifted in ways that can absolutely catch you off guard if you’re still studying like it’s mid-2025.

Who I Am and Why You Can Trust This Analysis

I’m Dorothy R. Boyd. I passed the old DP-700 at the end of 2025 with a strong score, and I didn’t cram my way through it. I work daily with Microsoft Fabric—building lakehouses, orchestrating pipelines, and dealing with the kind of data problems that never show up in marketing demos.

 » Read more about: 2026 DP-700 Update Explained: What Really Changed and How I’d Prepare If I Were You  »