KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 is heading back to Amsterdam from 23–26 March, 2026! As the flagship event for the cloud native community, it’s an unmissable opportunity to connect with project maintainers, end users, and technologists building the future of infrastructure. Following a record-setting event in London this year and a memorable gathering in Amsterdam in 2023, this return to the Netherlands is set to deliver even more momentum.
Why Attend in 2026
The Netherlands: An Emerging Tech Powerhouse
The Netherlands is quickly establishing itself as a hub for cloud native and digital innovation in Europe. The country hosts several CNCF projects, 21 member organizations, and 14 certified partners and providers.
In 2024, Dutch venture funding reached €3.1 billion—a 47% year-over-year increase—placing the Netherlands as the fourth-largest destination for VC investment in Europe, behind only the UK, Germany, and France (Techleap). The nation’s innovation infrastructure is anchored by campuses like High Tech Campus Eindhoven, Amsterdam Science Park, and the Jantina Tammes School for Digital Society, Technology and AI at the University of Groningen, supporting digital society, technology, and AI.
Amsterdam in particular is one of the leaders in applied AI, housing renowned institutions like the University of Amsterdam’s Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI) and the Amsterdam Data Science network. The city’s tech sector benefits from strong digital infrastructure, an internationally diverse talent pool, and public-private collaboration focused on responsible innovation (I amsterdam).
Hosting KubeCon + CloudNativeCon in Amsterdam offers direct engagement with one of Europe’s most dynamic and future-facing tech ecosystems.
Built with End Users in Mind
This event isn’t just for contributors; it’s shaped by and for end users. From breakout sessions featuring case studies to lightning talks by practitioners running Kubernetes at scale, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe offers perspectives from real-world operations. If you’re an engineer or architect solving cloud native challenges in production, this is your community.
Key Themes: Platform Engineering, AI, Observability, and More
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 will spotlight critical themes that matter to developers, operators, platform engineers, and open source contributors: from GitOps and service mesh patterns to real-world AI integration and cost-aware observability strategies.
Whether you’re managing multi-cluster Kubernetes deployments, scaling internal platforms, securing workloads, or contributing upstream, this event offers content tailored to your day-to-day challenges.
What to Expect in 2026
| Co-located Events | Dedicated events for Platform Engineering, Observability, and AI—emphasizing real-world deployments and integrations of generative AI and ML pipelines |
| Project Pavillion | Projects and working groups under the CNCF umbrella have the opportunity to engage, network, and collaborate with peers and like-minded people in the cloud native community. |
| Keynotes & Vision Talks | Deep dives into the intersection of AI and cloud native, with maintainers, researchers, and end users sharing what’s working now—and what’s next |
| Maintainer Summit | An exclusive event for the people behind our projects to gather face-to-face, collaborate, and celebrate the projects that make “Cloud Native.” |
| Certifications and Education | Expanded CNCF training, exams, and programs for developers, SREs, and platform teams, with growing emphasis on AI operations and observability skills |
Who Should Attend
- Cloud architects, SREs, and platform teams seeking practical guidance on multi-cluster ops and platform delivery
- Developers and security professionals contributing to CNCF projects or securing Kubernetes environments
- End users looking to optimize operations, improve observability, and embrace sustainability
- Project maintainers, SIG leads, and working group contributors driving roadmap alignment
- Newcomers entering cloud native with support from beginner content, tutorials, and mentoring programs
Plan Your Trip
- Mark your calendar: 23–26 March, 2026
- CFPs and sponsorship opportunities are open
- Get involved in CNCF community groups and SIGs that shape AI, observability, and platform engineering
- Watch for travel tips, venue details, and event sustainability updates on the event site
How to Get Involved Now
Want to help shape the event? You don’t need to wait until March. Join a CNCF Working Group or TAG today to collaborate on standards, share feedback, or contribute content. Whether you’re an end user with production insights or a contributor passionate about tooling, your voice helps guide what’s featured at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon.
You can also:
- Follow CNCF on GitHub and LinkedIn
- Sign up for the CNCF newsletter
- Explore the CNCF community calendar for upcoming meetups and project calls
See You There!
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 returns to Amsterdam with deeper technical content, stronger contributor engagement, and broader community impact. Whether you’re deploying production-grade Kubernetes, building observability stacks, securing supply chains, or scaling platforms, this conference is your opportunity to learn, connect, and shape the future of cloud native.
Bookmark the event site, subscribe for updates, and get ready to meet us in Amsterdam!