KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe: Amsterdam 2026 Guide

KubeCon is the largest event for Kubernetes and cloud-native technology, influencing trends, best practices, and industry standards. It also hosts co-located events like OpenTofu Day, where experts discuss open-source alternatives for infrastructure as code and the future of cloud automation.

Join Spacelift at KubeCon! We’ll be at booth #796 — drop by to say hello, grab some swag, and chat with our team about how we can help streamline your workflows.

In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026.

KubeCon is the flagship conference for Kubernetes and cloud-native computing, organized by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). It serves as a global gathering for developers, IT professionals, and industry leaders to discuss innovations, best practices, and advancements in Kubernetes and related technologies.

The event features keynote sessions, technical deep dives, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities, making it a central hub for learning and collaboration in the cloud-native ecosystem.

Here are a few things to know before attending this year’s edition:

When and where is KubeCon 2026 taking place?

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 is scheduled for 23–26 March 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, at RAI Amsterdam. The event’s published schedule includes 224 keynotes, lightning talks, maintainer track sessions, and CFP breakout sessions.

Pricing and access types

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 offers two primary registration options:

1. All-Access Pass: Includes access to all CNCF-hosted co-located events on Monday, 23 March 2026, plus the main conference 23–26 March (keynotes, breakouts, and the Solutions Showcase).
2. KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Only Pass: Includes the main conference program, but does not include CNCF-hosted co-located events (it does include Project Lightning Talks on Monday, 23 March).

Registration is available in different pricing tiers: Corporate, Individual, and Academic registration. The Corporate All-Access Pass for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 costs $2,278 USD, excluding the 20% VAT.

Accommodation

The official venue is RAI Amsterdam, and the Linux Foundation lists official room blocks at nearby hotels (the list changes, so it’s worth booking via the event’s “Venue + Travel” page if you want conference rates).

A few options from the official list include nhow Amsterdam RAI, NH Amsterdam Zuid, and Novotel Amsterdam City.

Transport

To get to KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026, you have multiple travel options: 

• From Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS): RAI is reachable in about 10 minutes by train (RAI also notes ~8 minutes by car in ideal conditions).
• By train: RAI has its own station (Amsterdam RAI), about a 3-minute walk to the venue.
• From Amsterdam Centraal: RAI states metro 52 takes you to Europaplein near RAI, and tram 4 also stops at Europaplein.

More details on routes, transport updates, and accommodations can be found on the KubeCon event page.

Co-located events

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 features a series of CNCF-hosted co-located events on Monday, 23 March. These events provide attendees with focused sessions on specific projects and topics within the cloud native ecosystem.

Event name	Focus area	Description
Agentics Day: MCP + Agents	AI / agentic systems	Agent workflows, MCP, and cloud-native patterns for agents.
ArgoCon	GitOps & Continuous Delivery	Covers best practices for Argo Workflows, Rollouts, and CD for Kubernetes automation
BackstageCon	Developer Portals & DX	Explores Backstage’s role in internal developer platforms, service catalogs, and improving developer experience
CiliumCon	eBPF & Cloud Networking	Deep dive into Cilium’s eBPF-powered networking, security, and observability
Cloud Native AI + Kubeflow Day	AI/ML in Kubernetes	Discusses deploying AI/ML workloads in Kubernetes, optimizing models, and GPU orchestration
Cloud Native Telco Day	5G, Edge & Telco Kubernetes	Focuses on how Kubernetes is transforming telecommunications, NFV, and 5G infrastructure
Cloud Native University	Learning & Certification	Offers beginner-to-advanced training sessions on Kubernetes, cloud-native tech, and CNCF certifications
Data on Kubernetes Day	Databases & Stateful Apps	Examines running databases and stateful applications on Kubernetes, addressing challenges and solutions
FluxCon	GitOps	Flux and GitOps operations at scale.
KeycloakCon	IAM	Keycloak identity and access management in cloud native environments.
Kubernetes on Edge Day	Edge Computing & IoT	Explores Kubernetes applications in IoT, edge devices, and remote locations
KyvernoCon	Policy as code	Kubernetes policy, governance, and automation using Kyverno.
Observability Day	Monitoring & Tracing	Discusses OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, and best practices for cloud-native observability
Open Source SecurityCon	Security	Cloud native security practices, tooling, and operational readiness.
Open Sovereign Cloud Day	Sovereign cloud	Sovereign cloud topics and open-source approaches.
OpenTofu Day	Infrastructure as Code (IaC)	Dedicated to OpenTofu, discussing infrastructure as code and related tooling. See us there!
Platform Engineering Day	Internal Developer Platforms	Discusses building scalable internal platforms, improving developer experience, and measuring platform maturity
WasmCon	WebAssembly	Wasm in cloud native: runtimes, tooling, and deployment models.

We asked our engineers which KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 sessions are at the top of their lists. Here are a few they’re most excited about:

1. OpenTofu Day | OpenTofu Innersource: Building a Collaborative Infrastructure Community | Aideen Kilkelly, Director of Engineering, Fidelity Investments | Monday, March 23, 2026 14:10 – 14:35 CET
2. OpenTofu Day | Debugging Slow Infrastructure Runs With OpenTelemetry in OpenTofu | James Humphries, Spacelift / OpenTofu | Monday, March 23, 2026 15:20 – 15:45 CET
3. API is the New SSH: Forging a Zero-Trust VM Platform on Kubernetes | Evangelista Tragni, Lead DevOps Engineer, Devoteam | Tuesday, March 24, 2026 12:00 – 12:30 CET| Hall 7, Room C
4. What LLMs Do, and Don’t, Know About Securing Kubernetes | Rory McCune, Senior Security Researcher & Advocate, Datadog | Tuesday, March 24, 2026 14:30 – 15:00 | Hall 11
5. Keynote: Riding the Waves: Around the World in an Electric Glider – Powered by Nature, Data, and Open Science | Ricardo Rocha, Lead Platforms Infrastructure, CERN | Wednesday, March 25, 2026 10:15 – 10:25 CET| Hall 12
6. Building Cloud Native Culture in a Bank: With Open Source as a Compass | Marcy Paramonova, DevOps Engineer and Product Owner, The Pictet Group & Stéphane Cusin, Principal Platform Engineer, Banque Pictet & Cie SA | Wednesday, March 25, 2026 11:00 – 11:30 CET | Hall 7, Room B
7. Freedom Through Boundaries: Building Configurations That Age Well | Bogdan Nicolae Stancu, Senior Software Engineer, Adobe | Thursday, March 26, 2026 14:30 – 15:00 CET Forum
8. Is the Agent in the Room with Us Right Now? | Nick Rutigliano, Senior Site Reliability Engineer, Netflix & Andrew Halaney, Senior Software Engineer, Netflix | Thursday, March 26, 2026 15:15 – 15:45 CET | Hall 7, Room C

If you’re working with Kubernetes or cloud-native tech, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon is where you need to be. It’s the ultimate hub for learning, networking, and staying ahead of the curve — whether you’re deep into open-source contributions, scaling production workloads, or just getting started. 

You’ll hear firsthand from the people building the tools you use daily, pick up real-world strategies from companies solving complex challenges, and connect with a global community that’s shaping the future of cloud-native innovation.

KubeCon can be intense for first-timers, but a little preparation will help you get the most out of it. With so many sessions, networking opportunities, and vendor booths, it’s important to have a strategy. Here’s how to make your experience more productive:

• Plan your sessions – Use the KubeCon schedule builder to prioritize keynotes, breakout sessions, and workshops. Workshops and labs fill up fast, so register early.
• Engage with the community – Join CNCF Slack channels, attend Special Interest Groups (SIGs) meetups, and connect with industry experts.
• Explore the expo hall – Instead of just collecting swag, engage vendors on how their tools solve real Kubernetes challenges. Some offer hands-on labs or free training.
• Follow unconference tracks and hallway chats – Many insightful discussions happen outside scheduled sessions. Talk to fellow attendees between sessions and explore hallway tracks.
• Pace yourself – Hydrate and wear comfortable shoes—KubeCon involves a lot of walking.

Spacelift is the Platinum Sponsor for OpenTofu Day! You can find us all day in the Co-Located Events Hall with plenty of swag.

For the rest of the event, visit us at booth #796! We’ll have awesome swag and the friendliest, most knowledgeable team ready to chat about how our product helps platform teams, DevOps practitioners, SREs, and application developers free up time to focus on work that truly adds value.

KubeCon is where the Kubernetes and cloud-native community gathers to discuss the latest innovations, best practices, and real-world challenges. It’s a mix of deep technical sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking with top engineers, maintainers, and decision-makers. Beyond the scheduled talks, some of the best insights come from SIG meetups, hallway discussions, and after-hours events. 

Whether you’re looking to contribute to open-source projects, explore production use cases, or connect with like-minded professionals, KubeCon is the place to do it.

Missed KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026? Don’t worry, we keep an up-to-date list of DevOps conferences and events – there’s something happening somewhere almost every week. In the meantime, check out IaCConf, the first community-driven virtual IaC conference that we’re hosting!