The Power BI world is on the brink of a major transformation. Microsoft is setting the Power BI Enhanced Report Format (PBIR) as the default for all new reports beginning January 2026. This upcoming shift is designed to supercharge collaboration, streamline development processes, and bring modern best practices to the forefront of Power BI report creation and management.
Key Takeaways
- PBIR becomes the required Power BI report format in January 2026
- It brings stronger support for source control, automation, and collaboration
- Organizations should act now to ensure a smooth transition and maximize PBIR’s benefits
- Adoption of PBIR is the first step toward leveraging the upcoming PBIP format
Understanding PBIR and Its Impact
PBIR is a decisive move toward a more developer-friendly and collaborative Power BI ecosystem. Compared to the older PBIX format, PBIR introduces a suite of features that cater to today’s dynamic analytics teams, including:
- Source control integration for improved versioning and collaborative development
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) support, making DevOps practices seamless
- Programmatic management via automation tools, AI agents, and scripts
- Enhanced metadata structure that is detailed and code-accessible
These enhancements mean teams can work more efficiently, automate repetitive tasks, and maintain confidence in their reporting assets.
The Transition Timeline
PBIR has been available as an optional preview in Power BI Desktop, but starting January 2026, it becomes the default format for new reports. Here's what you need to know:
- All new reports will be created in PBIR format by default in both Power BI Service and Desktop
- Existing reports will convert to PBIR automatically when edited and saved
- PBIR-Legacy will be retired after the General Availability (GA) release
Organizations may temporarily opt out during the preview period by toggling settings in Power BI Desktop or via an admin tenant setting in the Power BI Service but these options will be phased out once PBIR reaches GA.
How to Prepare for PBIR
With PBIR soon to be the sole supported format, proactive preparation is essential. Microsoft encourages organizations to:
- Test PBIR with current reports and processes to uncover any compatibility gaps
- Update training resources and documentation to reflect PBIR workflows
- Review source control and CI/CD pipelines to harness PBIR’s full potential
- Leverage the official PBIR documentation for best practices and technical guidance
Early engagement ensures a smooth migration and positions teams to capitalize on PBIR’s modern capabilities.
The Road Ahead: PBIR Paves the Way for PBIP
This transition to PBIR is a strategic foundation for the forthcoming Power BI Project (PBIP) file format. Expected in 2026, PBIP will enable even more modular, code-centric project management for large-scale Power BI initiatives. PBIR’s adoption ensures organizations are prepared to leverage PBIP’s advanced features as soon as they become available.
PBIP promises to streamline artifact management, introduce more granular version control, and further empower team-based development. Teams that embrace PBIR now will find themselves ready for the future of Power BI development.
Adopting PBIR now means your team will be ready for the future of Power BI - faster, more collaborative, and built for modern analytics. Start your migration strategy today to stay ahead of the curve.
Source: Microsoft Power BI Blog
Get Ready: PBIR Set to Become the Default Power BI Report Format