Enhanced Azure Sponsorship Flexibility for Marketplace Rewards Partners
Microsoft has simplified how partners can use Azure Sponsorship credits with Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA) billing profiles. This update removes friction for partners managing MCA billing profiles and maximizes the value of Azure Sponsorship benefits.
What's Changing
For Global Cloud, partners can now redeem their Azure Sponsorship credits on an MCA billing profile that had any Azure Credit Offer (ACO) credits applied. Previously, the presence of current or past ACO on the billing profile prevented sponsorship credit redemption—a significant blocker for many partners.
Key improvements:
- Removed ACO blocking rule for Marketplace Rewards sponsorship
- Expanded eligibility for partners managing complex billing scenarios
- Streamlined redemption process with fewer restrictions
Important Considerations
While this update expands eligibility significantly, the following rules remain in effect:
- This change applies specifically to partners and customers receiving Azure sponsorship through Marketplace Rewards
- A billing profile cannot have more than one active sponsorship redeemed simultaneously
- The change does not alter other Azure sponsorship eligibility requirements or limitations
Why This Matters
Partners have consistently raised challenges with redeeming sponsorship credits on MCA billing profiles, particularly for Marketplace Rewards. This improvement directly addresses those pain points by streamlining benefit delivery and helping partners make the most of their Azure sponsorship with fewer billing profile constraints.
Next Steps
If you're receiving Azure Sponsorship from Marketplace Rewards:
- Review your current MCA billing profiles
- Check for any applied Azure Credit Offer credits
- Begin redeeming sponsorship credits on eligible profiles
- Contact your support team if you encounter any issues
Source: Microsoft Partner Center Announcements - February 2026