Free Microsoft Certification Voucher: AI Skills Fest 2026
By Vlad Catrinescu Microsoft MVP and MCT · Pluralsight Author
Want to get certified in 2026 without paying for the exam? You can earn a free Microsoft certification voucher at the Microsoft AI Skills Fest, running June 8 to 12, 2026, just by completing one learning playlist. On top of that, Microsoft is giving away 28 additional prizes worth $25,000, including VIP trips to Microsoft Ignite 2026.
Key takeaways
- Complete one eligible learning playlist on the AI Skills Navigator between June 8 and 12, 2026, and you earn a voucher for 100% off a Microsoft certification exam.
- The voucher is not automatic: you must fill out a claim form after finishing your playlist, or you get nothing.
- The voucher works on almost any Microsoft certification exam, including beta and GitHub exams, and must be used by August 11, 2026.
- 28 additional prizes worth $25,000, including 3 VIP trips to Microsoft Ignite 2026, are reserved for residents of 7 countries.
- Register before June 8 and you get 2 prize entries instead of one.
What is the Microsoft AI Skills Fest?
The Microsoft AI Skills Fest is a free online event running all week from June 8 to 12, 2026. Everything lives on the Microsoft AI Skills Navigator website, and it does not cost you a single dollar. The content is for everyone: developers, IT pros, business users, and students all have dedicated material.
During the week, you will find a main stage with global experts on AI and the human skills that go with it, role-based playlists matched to your job, daily live shows on LinkedIn, a hackathon where you build an agent and climb a leaderboard, and live expert-led exam prep sessions.
For the free voucher, however, the playlists are the part that really matters. Registration is already open, and as you will see below, registering early comes with a real benefit.
How to get your free Microsoft certification voucher
Earning the free Microsoft certification voucher takes three steps:
- Register on the AI Skills Navigator website.
- Complete one eligible playlist anytime during the event, between June 8 and 12, 2026.
- Claim your reward: a voucher for 100% off a Microsoft certification exam, plus a Credly badge you can show off on LinkedIn.
So far, it looks easy, right? Unfortunately, this is exactly where people do the hard work and still walk away with nothing. There are a few catches you need to know about.
Do not skip the claim form
This is the big one. The voucher does not show up automatically. After you finish your playlist, you have to fill out a form to actually claim it, and if you skip that form, you get nothing. Microsoft has not published the form URL yet; I will add it to this post and the video description as soon as it is available.
More rules that can disqualify you
Additionally, do not edit or customize your playlist in the AI Skills Navigator, because that can disqualify you. Just leave it the way it is.
There is also a one reward per person rule. Finishing 5 playlists still gets you exactly one voucher, although you are welcome to keep learning all week.
Finally, the voucher expires. You have 60 days to use it, with a hard redemption deadline of August 11, 2026. As a result, you should schedule your exam as soon as you can.
What exams the voucher covers
The answer here is surprisingly generous. The voucher is 100% off, so a genuinely free exam, and it works on basically any Microsoft certification exam, including beta exams and even GitHub certification exams. The only two exclusions are exams delivered by Certiport and the Microsoft Office Specialist exam.
In other words, whether you are going for an Azure certification, Microsoft 365, security, or an AI one, you are good to go. The free voucher is also open worldwide, to everybody.
If you are still picking a target, my Microsoft credential study guides cover the most popular certifications, and these 15+ free Microsoft certification practice tests will help you check whether you are exam-ready before burning the voucher.
The $25,000 in additional prizes
Beyond the voucher, Microsoft is giving away 28 prizes with a total value of $25,000. The top prize is one of 3 VIP trips to Microsoft Ignite 2026 in San Francisco, worth up to $5,000 each, including airline credits, hotel, and even custom Ignite shoes. On top of that, there are 25 technology packages worth around $400 each. Microsoft has not confirmed exactly what is in them; winners will get to choose from options that could include an Xbox, cameras, or a Surface device.
Here is the catch: these prizes are only open to legal residents of 7 countries. The free certification voucher is available worldwide, but the $25,000 in additional prizes is limited to residents of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, India, and Mexico.
One quick tip if you live in one of those countries: register before June 8 and you get 2 entries instead of one, doubling your chances. Registering early costs you nothing, so there is no reason to wait.
What this means for you
A 100% off voucher that covers nearly every Microsoft and GitHub certification exam is rare; most promotions cap out at 50% off or limit you to fundamentals exams. After years of helping IT professionals prepare for Microsoft certifications, this is the kind of offer I tell people never to skip, even if the exam they want is months away on their roadmap.
To make the most of it, pick a playlist that matches the certification you are aiming for, so the time you spend learning doubles as exam prep. Then mark the three dates that matter: register before June 8 for double prize entries, finish your playlist by June 12, and take your exam before August 11, 2026.
Even if you are outside the 7 prize-eligible countries, the free certification voucher alone is well worth the effort. One playlist in exchange for an exam that normally costs up to $165 is a trade most of us should take.
Ready to get certified for free? Registration takes a couple of minutes, and doing it before June 8 doubles your prize entries. Register for the Microsoft AI Skills Fest (opens in a new tab) and pick the playlist that matches your target certification.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to live in one of the 7 prize countries to get the free voucher?
No. The free Microsoft certification voucher is open worldwide. Only the additional prizes, the Ignite trips and technology packages, are restricted to legal residents of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, India, and Mexico.
Can I complete the playlist before the event starts?
No. The playlist must be completed during the event window, between June 8 and 12, 2026. You can and should register early, but the learning itself counts only during that week.
Can I get more than one voucher by finishing multiple playlists?
No. There is a one reward per person rule, so finishing 5 playlists still gets you a single voucher. You are welcome to complete as many playlists as you want for the learning value.
Which exams does the voucher not cover?
The voucher excludes exams delivered by Certiport and the Microsoft Office Specialist exam. Everything else, including beta exams and GitHub certification exams, is covered at 100% off.
