(Updated) Microsoft Teams Town halls: Upload custom backgrounds in Manage what attendees see

Updated September 2, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

To help organizations deliver more polished and branded town hall events, Microsoft Teams is introducing the ability for organizers and presenters to upload custom background images in the Manage what attendees see experience. This enhancement allows teams to replace default backgrounds with branded visuals—such as company logos or event-specific designs—so presenters and shared content appear consistently on brand for attendees. This feature is available for Teams events organizers with a Teams Enterprise license. This update applies to Teams for Windows desktop and Mac desktop.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 561493.

[When this will happen]

• Targeted Release: Rollout begins in early June 2026 (previously late May) and is expected to complete by early June 2026 (previously late May).
• General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins in early June 2026 and is expected to complete by mid-September 2026 (previously end of August).

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected

• Organizers and presenters of Teams town hall events
• Users assigned a Teams Premium license
• Tenants using Manage what attendees see in town halls

What will happen

• Organizers and presenters can upload custom background images directly within the Manage what attendees see experience.
• Uploaded backgrounds appear behind presenters and shared content in supported town hall layouts.
• JPEG and PNG image formats are supported, with recommended resolution guidance shown during upload.
• Custom backgrounds appear alongside existing default background options in the background picker.
• The feature is enabled by default for eligible users and applies only to town hall events where Manage what attendees see is enabled.
• There is no change to standard Teams meetings or webinars.

[What you can do to prepare]

• No admin action is required before rollout.
• Consider notifying users who organize or present town halls about this new capability.
• Prepare branded background images that align with your organization’s visual identity guidelines.
• Update internal documentation or event playbooks if you provide guidance on hosting town halls.
• Optionally, run a test town hall event to familiarize presenters with the upload flow and attendee experience.

Learn more: Customize the event screen - Manage what attendees see in Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Support

[Compliance considerations]