KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026 takes over Amsterdam from 24–27 March, but the real action starts days earlier. Below is a curated, date-sorted rundown of every side event, party, and meetup happening around the conference. Bookmark this page — I’ll keep it updated as new events drop.
Pro tip: Most events are free but cap attendance fast. Register now — don’t wait until you’re in Amsterdam.
Kick off the KubeCon week early with the Amsterdam Platform Engineering community. Great way to ease into the week and meet local practitioners.
RSVP on Meetup →The beloved “unconference” for talks that didn’t make the KubeCon cut — often some of the most interesting, unfiltered content of the week. A must-attend.
Visit Website →Why fly when you can ride? KubeTrain brings the cloud-native community together before KubeCon even starts — boarding shared trains from Zürich, London, and Paris, all converging on Amsterdam. Think of it as the conference hallway track, but at 300 km/h with better scenery. You’ll make friends, swap war stories, and shrink your carbon footprint — all before you check into your hotel. Past rides have become legendary for the connections made between stations. Don’t just arrive at KubeCon — arrive together.
A full-day gathering for the OpenShift community — expect deep-dive sessions, customer stories, and hands-on demos. Starts early, so set your alarm!
RSVP →Panoramic views of Amsterdam while chatting Kubernetes cost optimisation. Cast AI runs this activation across multiple days — check below for additional time slots.
Enter Raffle →Hands-on workshop for platform engineers and engineering leaders. Learn how to transform a traditional IDP into an Agentic Engineering Platform — building AI agents that can release features autonomously with human-in-the-loop oversight.
RSVP on Luma →Late-night vibes with three strong communities under one roof. Address revealed after registration — mystery is part of the fun.
Get the Secret Location →Bringing together practitioners and leaders from enterprises like Airbus, Stellantis, SNCF, CaixaBank, and Ahold Delhaize. Discussion on platform engineering’s impact on AI success — no presentations or product demos. Moderated by Luca Galante and Nigel Douglas.
Request Invite →The official KubeCon party. Roam the expo halls with food, drinks, and live demos. The single biggest networking opportunity of the week.
View on Schedule →Karaoke + Kubernetes = Kuberoke. A KubeCon tradition with open bar and snacks. Bring your lanyard for check-in and your best rendition of “Containers in the Deep” (or, you know, actual songs). Review the Code of Conduct before attending.
🎤 Sign Up to Sing →Unwind after a full day of KubeCon with authentic Dutch gezelligheid: cheese and charcuterie boards, bitterballen, craft beers, and fellow Kubernetes enthusiasts. Hosted by TrueFullstaq and Sidero Labs (the team behind Talos Linux). Free — but limited capacity.
RSVP on Eventbrite →Sunset drinks, conversations, and networking on the waterfront at Zuidpool. Free entry — reserve your spot.
RSVP on Eventbrite →Bowling, beers, and Benelux cloud-native folks. Casual and fun.
Sign Up →A boat party on the IJ river. Need I say more? 🌊
🚢 Board the Cruise →A practical session on finance fundamentals for tech founders and engineers.
RSVP on Luma →Post-KubeCon wind-down with the Dutch LangChain community focusing on autonomous AI systems.
RSVP on Luma →Most side events cap attendance and fill within days. Don’t procrastinate.
Amsterdam is bike-friendly, but events are spread across the city. A’DAM Lookout is a short ferry ride from Centraal Station.
Events run from morning till past midnight. Pick your battles wisely.
Side events are more intimate than the main conf. Come with a conversation starter.
I’ll update this list as new events are announced. Check back often!
March in Amsterdam means layers, a waterproof jacket, and hope for the best.
Official schedule and registration
Community-curated party list
My speaking session at KubeCon EU 2026