Power BI Roadmap 2026
6 phases · 10 weeks · build one project in every phase.
Step-by-step plan
- Excel pivots and lookups
- SQL SELECT, JOIN and GROUP BY
- BI concepts and KPIs
- Power BI Desktop interface
- Connecting to data sources
Project: Build a first sales report from an Excel file with basic charts and slicers
- Merge and append queries
- Unpivot and data types
- Folder and SharePoint sources
- Parameters and custom functions
- Query folding
Project: Automate a monthly report by combining twelve Excel files from a folder in Power Query
- Star schema design
- Relationships and cardinality
- Date table and fiscal calendar
- Role-playing dimensions
- Hiding keys and organising fields
Project: Remodel a flat 60-column export into a star schema with a fiscal date table
- CALCULATE and filter context
- Iterators like SUMX
- YTD, PY and YoY measures
- Ranking and top N
- Calculation groups
Project: Create a finance dashboard with YTD, previous year, YoY growth and top products measures
- Chart selection and layout
- Drill-through and tooltips
- Bookmarks and field parameters
- Conditional formatting
- Mobile layout
Project: Design an executive one-page dashboard with drill-through detail pages and RAG status indicators
- Workspaces, apps and audiences
- Dynamic row-level security
- Gateways and scheduled refresh
- Incremental refresh
- DAX Studio and Performance Analyzer
Project: Publish a secured regional sales app with dynamic RLS, scheduled refresh and tuned page performance
Practise each topic
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn Power BI?
Following this roadmap takes about 10 weeks with regular practice. Working professionals usually need a little longer.
What should I learn first in Power BI?
Start with phase 1: Excel pivots and lookups, SQL SELECT, JOIN and GROUP BY, BI concepts and KPIs. Build the phase project before moving on.
How do I know I am job-ready in Power BI?
When you can finish all phase projects on your own, solve the medium questions in the topic sheets and clear the mock interview comfortably.