Microsoft Build Is Leaving Seattle, and the City’s Downtown May Be Part of the Reason

If you’ve walked downtown Seattle lately, especially around 8th Street, you’ve probably noticed a few things: tent clusters, open drug use, and streets that feel more neglected than they should. Now, that street-level reality might be costing the city one of its biggest tech events.

Microsoft is planning to move its annual Build developer conference out of Seattle after 2025, according to a message from Visit Seattle spotted by journalist Jonathan Choe. The company hasn’t said so publicly yet, but the decision seems pretty far along behind the scenes.

Visit Seattle’s note lays out a few key reasons. Internally, Microsoft leadership thinks Build has lost some of its post-pandemic energy. The timing doesn’t help either—Google I/O happens in the same week, and that’s been pulling some of the developer crowd away.

But here’s where it gets more specific. During this year’s Build, execs and attendees walked between venues and were reportedly unhappy with what they saw. The walk between the Hyatt and the Arch building was lined with tents and drug activity. That, plus the city’s general condition, seems to have weighed in on the decision.

So, what’s next? According to the email, Microsoft may shift Build to San Francisco or Las Vegas starting in 2026. Both cities are better positioned for big industry events and, frankly, have less visible urban decay right outside the venue doors.

Seattle stands to lose a lot more than just a marquee name. Build brings over 9,000 hotel nights a year, not to mention food, transport, and local buzz. Losing it could be a wake-up call for how the city’s street-level issues are now shaping big business decisions.