Announcing H2 2026 KCDs

Source: CNCF Blog

Insights into the Selection Process

We received an overwhelming number of exceptional KCD applications for the second half of 2026! With particularly high interest across South Asia and Europe, narrowing down the final list was a significant challenge.

To ensure a fair and impactful selection, the committee considered additional strategic benchmarks beyond the standard requirements. This round, we prioritized:

• Cross‑Regional Impact: Favoring events that unite multiple communities beyond their immediate local area.
• Regional Balance: Ensuring a balanced distribution of KCDs globally between H1 and H2.
• Event Equity: Targeting regions that currently lack other officially supported CNCF events.
• Sustained Maturity: Focusing on chapters with over one year of proven, consistent growth.

Regional reference refers to Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Oceania, and North America.

What’s New in 2026

This year, CNCF has introduced three tiers of KCDs to support communities of all sizes:

• First‑time KCDs – up to 200 attendees, guaranteed CNCF funding, and dedicated program support.
• Tier 1 – returning events with 350 + attendees, eligible for funding and monthly global organizer syncs.
• Tier 2 – established events with up to 600 registrations, CNCF representation, and elevated branding.

📅 H2 2026 KCDs

July

• KCD Vietnam – Late July (New)

August

• KCD Melbourne – Early August (New)

September

• KCD San Francisco Bay Area – Early September (Tier 1)
• KCD DC – Early September (Tier 1)
• KCD Gujarat – Mid September (New)
• KCD Sao Paulo – Late September (Tier 2)
• KCD Sofia – Late September (Tier 2)

October

• KCD Buenos Aires – Early October (Tier 1)
• KCD UK – Mid October (Tier 2)
• KCD Bandung – Late October (Tier 1)
• KCD Nigeria – Late October (Tier 1)

November

• KCD Budapest – Early November (Tier 1)
• KCD Porto – Mid November (Tier 2)
• KCD Hangzhou – Late November (Tier 1)

December

• KCD Florida – Early December (New)
• KCD Suisse‑Romade – Early December (Tier 1)
• KCD Aix‑en‑Provence – Early December (New)

📅 H1 2026 KCDs

February

• KCD New Delhi – 21 February (New) – COMPLETED

March

• KCD Panama – 20‑22 March (New)
• KCD Beijing – 21 March (Tier 1)

April

• KCD Kochi – 18 April (New)
• KCD Guadalajara – 18 April (Tier 1)

May

• KCD Toronto – 13 May (New)
• KCD Austin – 15 May (Tier 1)
• KCD Istanbul – 15 May (Tier 2)
• KCD Helsinki – 20 May (Tier 2)

June

• KCD Kuala Lumpur – 27 June (New)
• KCD Czech & Slovak – 4 June (Tier 1)
• KCD New York – 10 June (Tier 2)

July

• KCD Lima – 18 July (Tier 2)

Save the dates and join us at a KCD near you!