Data on Kubernetes Day (DoK Day) began as a virtual event in 2021 and became an official co-located event for KubeCon + Cloud Native Con in 2023. Since then, it has been a staple at both the European and North American events, so we’re excited to bring it back for our community in Atlanta.
Running stateful workloads like databases, streaming, AI/ML, and analytics on Kubernetes is no longer a fringe practice—it’s becoming the standard for modern infrastructure. Organizations like Etsy, Grab, and Chick-fil-A have demonstrated what’s possible. Our goal for DoK Day is to provide you with the real-world resources, best practices, and use cases you need to confidently run data workloads on Kubernetes and accelerate your journey.
What is new and different this year?
This year, we have seen a significant increase in content submissions focusing on AI and LLMs, reflecting the industry trend of Kubernetes becoming the foundation for AI infrastructure. Our schedule will feature several new talks on this topic, from leveraging GPUs to managing AI data pipelines on Kubernetes. We are also proud to have our most diverse group of speakers and submissions to date, representing a wide range of backgrounds and experiences from the community.
What will the day look like?
DoK Day is for practitioners and decision-makers who are pushing Kubernetes beyond stateless applications. Platform engineers, SREs, data engineers, architects, and CTOs who want to understand how to run stateful workloads at scale will find immense value. Whether you’re just starting to explore running DoK or are already operating mission-critical workloads in production, you’ll walk away with practical knowledge and a stronger network of peers facing similar challenges.
Should I do any homework first?
No formal prep is required, but we recommend attendees familiarize themselves with the Data on Kubernetes Community (DoKC) resources—such as our white papers, recorded talks, and Slack discussions. If you already run workloads on Kubernetes, bring your questions and challenges; if you’re new, come ready to absorb and connect. The more you engage with the community beforehand, the more you’ll get out of the event.
Find your community!
The Data on Kubernetes Community is an open and inclusive community. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just starting, we welcome you to join our Slack channel, attend our monthly virtual meetups, and contribute to our projects. This event is a celebration of the community’s hard work and a chance to connect face-to-face.
A note from the program chairs
We’re most excited about the energy of bringing thousands of cloud native practitioners together under one roof. For us, the highlight is seeing how data has become central to Kubernetes conversations—whether through AI/ML use cases, next-gen databases, or streaming workloads. Beyond the talks, we’re looking forward to the serendipitous hallway chats, reconnecting with old friends in the community, and welcoming new faces into the DoK ecosystem.