diff --git a/.bazelrc b/.bazelrc
index f4cd26bb00..422fe08f0d 100644
--- a/.bazelrc
+++ b/.bazelrc
@@ -133,6 +133,12 @@ build:v2 --define=tf_api_version=2 --action_env=TF2_BEHAVIOR=1
 
 build:windows --host_cxxopt=/std:c++17
 build:windows --cxxopt=/std:c++17
+# MSVC 14.51+ (VS 2026) raises C5285 ("specializing std::is_signed is forbidden")
+# on TensorFlow/XLA's quantized-type specializations (xla/tsl/framework/type_traits.h).
+# It is benign and upstream (XLA) compiles with /WX, so suppress it to allow building
+# with newer toolsets / Visual Studio 2026.
+build:windows --copt=/wd5285
+build:windows --host_copt=/wd5285
 # TODO Windows: may impact python nodes execution
 build:windows --noenable_bzlmod
 
diff --git a/windows_build.bat b/windows_build.bat
index eac54243e7..842dd1f27b 100644
--- a/windows_build.bat
+++ b/windows_build.bat
@@ -77,11 +77,17 @@ for /f "usebackq eol=# tokens=1,3" %%A in ("%cd%\versions.mk") do (
 )
 
 :: Bazel compilation settings
-set VS_2022_BT="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools"
+:: Auto-detect Visual Studio (BuildTools/Community/Pro/Enterprise; VS2019/2022/2026+) via vswhere.
+set "VSWHERE=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe"
+if not exist "%VSWHERE%" goto :msvc_error
+set "VS_DETECTED="
+for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`"%VSWHERE%" -latest -products * -requires Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 -property installationPath`) do set "VS_DETECTED=%%i"
+if not defined VS_DETECTED goto :msvc_error
+set VS_2022_BT="%VS_DETECTED%"
 IF /I EXIST %VS_2022_BT% goto :msvc_bt ELSE goto :msvc_error
 
 :msvc_error
-echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed
+echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed (need Visual Studio 2019/2022/2026 with the C++ x64 toolset)
 goto :exit_build_error
 :msvc_bt
 echo [INFO] Using MSVC %VS_2022_BT%
@@ -90,7 +96,9 @@ set BAZEL_VS=%VS_2022_BT%
 :: Bazel compilation settings end
 :msvc_end
 set "BAZEL_VC=%BAZEL_VS:"=%\VC"
-set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=14.44.35207"
+:: Auto-detect the latest installed MSVC toolset version (was hardcoded 14.44.35207)
+set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION="
+for /f "delims=" %%v in ('dir /b /ad /o-n "%BAZEL_VC%\Tools\MSVC" 2^>nul') do if not defined BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=%%v"
 
 :: Set proper PATH environment variable: Remove other python paths and add c:\opt with bazel to PATH
 set "PATH=%setPath%"
diff --git a/windows_install_build_dependencies.bat b/windows_install_build_dependencies.bat
index 3ac79c2920..179bba04de 100644
--- a/windows_install_build_dependencies.bat
+++ b/windows_install_build_dependencies.bat
@@ -47,20 +47,35 @@ set "BAZEL_SHORT_PATH=C:\%output_user_root%"
 set "opt_install_dir=C:\opt"
 
 :: Python 312 needs to be first in the windows path, as well as MSYS tools
-set "setPath=C:\opt;C:\opt\Python312\;C:\opt\Python312\Scripts\;C:\opt\msys64\usr\bin\;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\CMake\CMake\bin\;%PATH%;"
+set "setPath=C:\opt;C:\opt\Python312\;C:\opt\Python312\Scripts\;C:\opt\msys64\usr\bin\;%PATH%;"
 set "PYTHONHOME=C:\opt\Python312"
 :: Set proper PATH environment variable: Remove other python paths and add c:\opt with bazel, wget to PATH
 set "PATH=%setPath%"
 
 :: Bazel compilation settings
-set VS_2022_BT="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools"
+:: Auto-detect Visual Studio (BuildTools/Community/Pro/Enterprise; VS2019/2022/2026+)
+:: via vswhere, instead of hardcoding a single edition/path.
+set "VSWHERE=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe"
+if not exist "%VSWHERE%" goto :msvc_error
+set "VS_DETECTED="
+for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`"%VSWHERE%" -latest -products * -requires Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 -property installationPath`) do set "VS_DETECTED=%%i"
+if not defined VS_DETECTED goto :msvc_error
+set VS_2022_BT="%VS_DETECTED%"
+:: Major version (17, 18, ...) -> CMake generator string "Visual Studio <major> <year>"
+for /f "usebackq tokens=1 delims=." %%m in (`"%VSWHERE%" -latest -products * -property installationVersion`) do set "VS_MAJOR=%%m"
+set "VS_YEAR="
+if "%VS_MAJOR%"=="16" set "VS_YEAR=2019"
+if "%VS_MAJOR%"=="17" set "VS_YEAR=2022"
+if "%VS_MAJOR%"=="18" set "VS_YEAR=2026"
+if not defined VS_YEAR ( echo [ERROR] Unsupported Visual Studio major version %VS_MAJOR% - add it to the VS_YEAR map & goto :msvc_error )
+set "CMAKE_GEN=Visual Studio %VS_MAJOR% %VS_YEAR%"
 IF /I EXIST %VS_2022_BT% goto :msvc_bt ELSE goto :msvc_error
 
 :msvc_error
-echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed
+echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed (need Visual Studio 2019/2022/2026 with the C++ x64 toolset)
 goto :exit_build_error
 :msvc_bt
-echo [INFO] Using MSVC %VS_2022_BT%
+echo [INFO] Using MSVC %VS_2022_BT% (generator: %CMAKE_GEN%)
 set BAZEL_VS=%VS_2022_BT%
 
 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
@@ -225,7 +240,7 @@ IF /I EXIST %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\%genai_dir% (
 IF /I EXIST %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\openvino (
     rmdir /S /Q %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\openvino
 )
-mklink /d %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\openvino %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\%genai_dir%
+mklink /j %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\openvino %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\%genai_dir%
 if !errorlevel! neq 0 exit /b !errorlevel!
 
 echo [INFO] GenAI installed: %BAZEL_SHORT_PATH%\%genai_dir%
@@ -264,7 +279,7 @@ IF /I NOT EXIST build (
 )
 cd build
 set "TBB_DIR="
-cmake -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -DENABLE_SAMPLES=OFF -DENABLE_INTEL_NPU_PROTOPIPE=OFF ..
+cmake -G "%CMAKE_GEN%" -DENABLE_SAMPLES=OFF -DENABLE_INTEL_NPU_PROTOPIPE=OFF ..
 if !errorlevel! neq 0 exit /b !errorlevel!
 cmake --build . --config Release --verbose -j
 if !errorlevel! neq 0 exit /b !errorlevel!
@@ -621,7 +636,7 @@ if "%ENABLE_INTEGRITYCHECK%"=="1" (
 )
 
 :: Expected compilers in CI - -G "Visual Studio 16 2019", local -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" as default
-cmake -T v142 .. -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=%opencv_install% -D OPENCV_EXTRA_MODULES_PATH=%opencv_contrib_dir%\modules %opencv_flags% %SDL_OPS%
+cmake .. -D CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=%opencv_install% -D OPENCV_EXTRA_MODULES_PATH=%opencv_contrib_dir%\modules -D PYTHON3_EXECUTABLE=C:\opt\Python312\python.exe -D BUILD_opencv_python3=OFF -D BUILD_opencv_python2=OFF -D BUILD_opencv_python_bindings_generator=OFF %opencv_flags% %SDL_OPS%
 if !errorlevel! neq 0 exit /b !errorlevel!
 cmake --build . --config Release -j %NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%
 if !errorlevel! neq 0 exit /b !errorlevel!
diff --git a/windows_setupvars.bat b/windows_setupvars.bat
index 543eaa45e2..09a2575669 100644
--- a/windows_setupvars.bat
+++ b/windows_setupvars.bat
@@ -26,11 +26,17 @@ set "setPythonPath=%cd%\bazel-out\x64_windows-opt\bin\src\python\binding"
 set "BAZEL_SH=C:\opt\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe"
 
 :: Bazel compilation settings
-set VS_2022_BT="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools"
+:: Auto-detect Visual Studio (BuildTools/Community/Pro/Enterprise; VS2019/2022/2026+) via vswhere.
+set "VSWHERE=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe"
+if not exist "%VSWHERE%" goto :msvc_error
+set "VS_DETECTED="
+for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`"%VSWHERE%" -latest -products * -requires Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 -property installationPath`) do set "VS_DETECTED=%%i"
+if not defined VS_DETECTED goto :msvc_error
+set VS_2022_BT="%VS_DETECTED%"
 IF /I EXIST %VS_2022_BT% goto :msvc_bt ELSE goto :msvc_error
 
 :msvc_error
-echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed
+echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed (need Visual Studio 2019/2022/2026 with the C++ x64 toolset)
 goto :exit_build_error
 :msvc_bt
 echo [INFO] Using MSVC %VS_2022_BT%
@@ -38,7 +44,9 @@ set BAZEL_VS=%VS_2022_BT%
 
 :: Bazel compilation settings end
 set "BAZEL_VC=%BAZEL_VS:"=%\VC"
-set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=14.44.35207"
+:: Auto-detect the latest installed MSVC toolset version (was hardcoded 14.44.35207)
+set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION="
+for /f "delims=" %%v in ('dir /b /ad /o-n "%BAZEL_VC%\Tools\MSVC" 2^>nul') do if not defined BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=%%v"
 
 :: Set proper PATH environment variable: Remove other python paths and add c:\opt with bazel to PATH
 set "PATH=%setPath%"
diff --git a/windows_test.bat b/windows_test.bat
index f00948a18e..f3a297e058 100644
--- a/windows_test.bat
+++ b/windows_test.bat
@@ -53,15 +53,21 @@ for /f "usebackq eol=# tokens=1,3" %%A in ("%cd%\versions.mk") do (
 
 :: Setting PATH environment variable based on default windows node settings: Added ovms_windows specific python settings and c:/opt and removed unused Nvidia and OCL specific tools.
 :: When changing the values here you can print the node default PATH value and base your changes on it.
-set "setPath=C:\opt;C:\opt\Python312\;C:\opt\Python312\Scripts\;C:\opt\msys64\usr\bin\;C:\opt\curl-!curl_version!-win64-mingw\bin;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools\Common7\IDE\CommonExtensions\Microsoft\CMake\CMake\bin\;%PATH%;"
+set "setPath=C:\opt;C:\opt\Python312\;C:\opt\Python312\Scripts\;C:\opt\msys64\usr\bin\;C:\opt\curl-!curl_version!-win64-mingw\bin;%PATH%;"
 set "setPythonPath=%cd%\bazel-out\x64_windows-opt\bin\src\python\binding"
 set "BAZEL_SH=C:\opt\msys64\usr\bin\bash.exe"
 
 :: Bazel compilation settings
-set VS_2022_BT="C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\BuildTools"
+:: Auto-detect Visual Studio (BuildTools/Community/Pro/Enterprise; VS2019/2022/2026+) via vswhere.
+set "VSWHERE=%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\vswhere.exe"
+if not exist "%VSWHERE%" goto :msvc_error
+set "VS_DETECTED="
+for /f "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`"%VSWHERE%" -latest -products * -requires Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Tools.x86.x64 -property installationPath`) do set "VS_DETECTED=%%i"
+if not defined VS_DETECTED goto :msvc_error
+set VS_2022_BT="%VS_DETECTED%"
 IF /I EXIST %VS_2022_BT% goto :msvc_bt ELSE goto :msvc_error
 :msvc_error
-echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed
+echo [ERROR] Required MSVC compiler not installed (need Visual Studio 2019/2022/2026 with the C++ x64 toolset)
 goto :exit_build_error
 :msvc_bt
 echo [INFO] Using MSVC %VS_2022_BT%
@@ -69,7 +75,9 @@ set BAZEL_VS=%VS_2022_BT%
 
 :: Bazel compilation settings end
 set "BAZEL_VC=%BAZEL_VS:"=%\VC"
-set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=14.44.35207"
+:: Auto-detect the latest installed MSVC toolset version (was hardcoded 14.44.35207)
+set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION="
+for /f "delims=" %%v in ('dir /b /ad /o-n "%BAZEL_VC%\Tools\MSVC" 2^>nul') do if not defined BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION set "BAZEL_VC_FULL_VERSION=%%v"
 
 :: Set proper PATH environment variable: Remove other python paths and add c:\opt with bazel to PATH
 set "PATH=%setPath%"