Microsoft has announced a major change to the Microsoft Places licensing model, effective April 1, 2026.
This marks a shift from a user-based to a space-based model, a logical evolution that much better reflects the way organizations actually manage their offices and hybrid environments.
In this article, I’ll give you a clear summary of what’s changing, what’s staying the same and, above all, what you need to anticipate.
From licensing by user to licensing by space
Until now, access to the advanced features of Microsoft Places was mainly linked to a Teams Premium license, allocated on a per-user basis.
As of April 1, 2026, Microsoft is changing its approach:
- The basic functionality of Places becomes widely available without Teams Premium.
- Advanced functionalities will now be unlocked by physical space (office, desk pool, room), via a new license called Shared Space.
This approach aligns costs with the space actually managed, rather than the total number of employees.
What will be included by default for most users
From April 2026, Teams Premium will no longer be required to access basic Microsoft Places experiences.
The following features will be available for the majority of Microsoft 365 licenses including Outlook / Teams calendar:
- Places Finder
- The Microsoft Places application
- Discovering workplaces and spaces
In other words, the majority of users will be able to search and consult spaces, at no additional cost to Teams Premium. 
Features requiring a Shared Space license
The following features will now require a Shared Space license, applied at space level:
- Individual desk booking
- Self-release policies for offices and rooms
- Analytics and statistics based on space usage
Important points to note:
- An office configured as reservable without a Shared Space license will appear as unavailable to users.
- Auto-release policies can be configured by administrators, but will only be applied if the space is licensed.
- Analytical data will only be visible for spaces covered by a Shared Space license.
🗓️ Key date to remember
- General availability: April 1, 2026 (Worldwide)
From this date, Shared Space licenses can be acquired and assigned to Microsoft Places.
