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KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan 2026: Full Schedule Released

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) has revealed the conference schedule for the highly anticipated KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan 2026. Set to take place on July 29-30, 2026, at PACIFICO Yokohama, this event marks the second edition of its kind in Japan. Building on the success of its inaugural year, which saw a sold-out attendance, the conference aims to further the conversation around crucial topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), observability, and platform engineering.

Key Highlights of the Conference

The 2026 event will feature six distinct tracks, each designed to cater to the diverse interests and needs of the cloud native community. These tracks will focus on:
1. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: This segment will delve into how AI serves as a cornerstone of open source technology in Japan and its synergies with cloud native solutions to enhance GPU management and workload orchestration.
- Session Highlight: “Architecting Secure Agentic Workflows on Kubernetes: A Financial Sector Case Study” by Vincent Caldeira and Morgan Foster from Red Hat.

2. Cloud Native Novice: Tailored for organizations seeking to modernize their technology stacks, this track emphasizes foundational computer science principles to reduce vendor lock-in.
- Session Highlight: “I Tested 7 So You Only Need 1: Your First Gateway API Migration in 5 Minutes” by Hoon Jo from Megazone.

3. Observability: Focusing on ensuring reliability in distributed systems, this track addresses vital components like logs, metrics, and tracing.
- Session Highlight: “Designing for High-cardinality Metrics” by Walther Lee and Aleksandr Krivoshchekov from Reddit.

4. Operations & Performance: This segment emphasizes the importance of professional support for mission-critical open source workloads, providing strategies for effective management in high-stakes environments.
- Session Highlight: “Sustainability by Design: Leveraging DRA for Energy-Efficient Kubernetes Clusters” by Sunyanan Choochotkaew of IBM Research and Faseela Kundattil of Ericsson.

5. Platform Engineering: As governance in IT continues to evolve, this track will share insights on crafting internal platforms that prioritize self-service infrastructure and AI workload support.
- Session Highlight: “OCI is not Git: Rethinking the GitOps Source of Truth for a Kubernetes-Native World” by Michael Crenshaw and Robin Lieb.

6. Security: This crucial track investigates the growing landscape of security in technology infrastructure, focusing on automated testing and IP dependency evaluation.
- Session Highlight: “SBOMit: Making SBOMs Accurate with Attestations” by Marco De Vincenzi and Justin Cappos from NYU.

Registration and Scholarship Information

Standard registration for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan remains open until June 16, 2026. Additionally, interested participants can apply for the Dan Kohn Scholarship, which provides funding for registration and travel expenses associated with the conference. The application deadline for scholarships is June 22, 2026, while travel funding applications should be submitted by May 31, 2026.

With participation from nearly 800 member organizations, including some of the largest tech companies globally, the CNCF continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cloud native computing. To explore the full schedule and learn more about this exciting event, visit CNCF's official site.

Conclusion

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Japan 2026 promises to be an essential gathering for developers, technologists, and enterprises invested in scaling their operations and modernizing their technology infrastructures. As the demand for cloud native technologies continues to soar, this conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with thought leaders and pioneers in the field, all while contributing to the open source community that drives innovation forward.