Kong's Kong Konnect Wins Best in API Infrastructure at 2026 API Awards

Kong's Recognition at the 2026 API Awards

Kong Inc., a leading API platform company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, proudly announced that its integrated API and AI platform, Kong Konnect, was honored with the "Best in API Infrastructure" award during the 2026 API Awards on August 6. This prestigious award, now in its 11th year, celebrates innovations in the ever-evolving realm of APIs, focusing on technologies, products, and teams that drive significant advancements within this space.

The award celebrated the capabilities of Kong Konnect in aiding businesses to navigate the complexities associated with AI utilization. As the interaction between AI agents, API, AI models, and enterprise systems becomes increasingly commonplace, Kong Konnect delivers a robust integrated platform that ensures security, governance, observability, and management of API and AI traffic. Furthermore, it enables consistent governance and control across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, which is critical in today's varied tech ecosystems.

Reza Shafii, Senior Vice President of Kong Product, remarked, "This award is a testament to the core philosophy of Kong. Companies should not discard the disciplines and practices that have evolved their APIs into the foundation of digital business; rather, they should enhance them for the AI era. Kong Konnect provides a connectivity layer that integrates APIs, AI models, and AI agents, allowing enterprises to ensure necessary security, governance, and visibility as they transition AI from testing stages to production environments."

Jonathan Pasky, Executive Producer and co-founder of DevNetwork, the organizer of API World and the API Awards, added, "APIs have evolved from mere system integration tools to core infrastructures that support AI-native applications, autonomous AI agents, and intelligent digital experiences. The 2026 API Awards winners are shaping the future direction of the API ecosystem. Kong Konnect's achievement highlights its significant contribution to ongoing innovation and growth within the industry."

Awardees were selected based on their technical innovation, impact on the industry, adoption within the API community, and overall contributions to the development of API technologies and best practices by the independent DevNetwork API Advisory Board.

Kong is set to showcase its innovations at API World 2026, one of the largest API and AI technology conferences, taking place in Santa Clara, California from September 1 to 3, 2026, at booth number 201. Additionally, Kong will be hosting its annual event, the API + AI Summit, in Los Angeles from September 30 to October 1, 2026.

About Kong

Kong leads the charge in API and AI connectivity technology, striving to build the infrastructure that supports an agent-based AI era. Trusted by a diverse range of organizations from Fortune 500 companies to startups, Kong achieves secured connections, management, acceleration, governance, and monetization of the intelligence flowing between APIs and AI models through its integrated API and AI platform, Kong Konnect.

For further information, visit: Kong Official Website