KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 is coming to Amsterdam, and Merge Forward is one of several groups bringing community, conversation, and a full lineup of sessions and events.
Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a KubeCon + CloudNativeCon regular, Merge Forward could be your destination for community, empowerment, and fun. Stop by to chat with volunteers about community, careers, and contribution, and learn how we’re empowering contributors in the cloud native ecosystem. Find your people and build a resilient support network at one of our Community Hub sessions for underrepresented groups and allies.
What’s Merge Forward
Merge Forward is a CNCF Technical Community Group focused on empowering cloud native contributors from underrepresented groups. Not yet a year old, we provide a platform for networking and collaboration around careers, contribution, and especially diversity and inclusion. At KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, we’ll host community gatherings, including Women in Cloud Native, Neurodiversity, and the LGBTQ+ community, and more.
Where to Find Us: Kiosk P-17B on Monday
Our home base at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon is Kiosk P-17B in the Project Pavilion (Halls 1–5).
When: Monday, all day
Stop by to:
- Chat with Merge Forward volunteers and speakers about community, careers, and contribution
- Learn how we’re empowering contributors in the cloud-native ecosystem
- Meet fellow community builders and get the inside scoop on what’s happening
We’ll be there the full day. Come say hi.
What’s on: The Community Hub and Merge Forward gathering
Merge Forward will be hosting various interactive Community Hub sessions focused on diversity and inclusion. Don’t miss a thing—add all sessions to your schedule. Merge Forward is also co-hosting its first gathering during KubeCon + CloudNativeCon. Join us to meet the team, make new connections. Add everything to your schedule today.
Community Hub session
Tuesday
- 11 am: Merge + Meet: Kickoff Meeting for Underrepresented Groups and Allies
- 12:30 pm: Deep Roots: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Community Gathering
- 4 pm: Women’s Community Gathering
Wednesday
- 11:45 am: Designing Slides You Can’t See (But Can Still Understand)
- 1:15 pm: 🤟 Sign Language Crash Course
- 2:30 pm: LGBTQ+ Community Gathering
- 3:45 pm: Neurodiversity at Work: Practical Tools, Open Source Paths, and Inclusive Community Building
- 5 pm: When Speaking Is Not Linear: What “Effective Communication” Really Means
Thursday
- 12:15 pm: Your Voice on Stage: The Iterative Pitch Lab
- 1:15 pm: Non-Code Contribution Crash Course
Your Cheat Sheet
| What | When | Where |
| Kiosk P-17B | Monday, all day | Project Pavilion, Halls 1–5 |
| Community Hub sessions | Tue through Thur | G104 – 105Check out the full program |
| Community Gathering | March 25, 8 pm | Register here |
See You in Amsterdam
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 is shaping up to be a big week for the cloud-native community. Merge Forward will be there — at the kiosk, in the Community Hub, and at the gathering.
Add these to your calendar. Come find us. And if you see us around, say hi.
Connect with Merge Forward
The conversation doesn’t stop in Amsterdam. Keep up with Merge Forward’s mission to empower cloud native contributors by joining our community online.
- Slack: CNCF #merge-forward
- LinkedIn: Merge Forward
We look forward to connecting with you at the kiosk, throughout the week at the Community Hub sessions, and especially at the party. Add everything to your calendar today, and we’ll see you in Amsterdam!