Previsouly known as Kubernetes Community Days, KCDs are community-organized events backed by CNCF support. They gather adopters and technologists from open source and cloud native communities to learn, collaborate, and network to further advancement in Kubernetes and other Cloud Native technologies. They also are a lot of fun and a great way to meet new people and build community.
Each event brings its own local flair, culture, diversity, and authenticity. For more about details about organizing an event see the organizing page. Check the project board to join one being organized near you, or to host on yourself, please visit the KCD About Page via cncf.io.
Audra Montenegro and Katie Greenley
Contact: kcd@cncf.io
Organization is decentralized. Local events handle their own sponsorships, registration, and all other organizations. For questions about a specific event you see listed on the site, contact the local organizers for that event; their email is on their contact page.
Organizing an event can be daunting, if you are new at this, some organizers suggest getting your feet wet with a one-day event, or two half-day events. Even if you have a small event of 100 people, the same amount of detail should still be considered. That is why we at the CNCF are here to guide you. Please take advantage of the resources above. Please note - we are always working on adding more and bettering what we already have.
We are now hosting a monthly KCD Organizer focus group. As of now, it will be hosted one Wednesday each month, for 1 hour, from 7:00 - 8:00am PT / 10:00 - 11:00am ET / 4:00 - 5:00pm CEST. Please contact kcd@cncf.io if you would like to be added, or if you would like an additional time that accommodates your region.
- A personalized email address and private CNCF workspace Slack channel for the KCD organizers
- Website and ticket support for community.cncf.io (Bevy platform)
- Sessionize platform access
- Monthly meetings to help keep you on track (these are required)
- Access to monthly CNCF-hosted Working Groups
- Speaker and vendor introductions upon request. Please be specific in these requests.
- Visa letters as needed for your speakers.
- Marketing support via social media, KubeWeekly newsletter, and CNCG blog posts upon request.
- CNCF is happy to contribute sticker packes (now worth over $600 USD) to each KCD starting in 2025. This can be used in the CNCF store towards stickers. For 2024, we are reimbursing your team up to $250 USD for stickers.
- Each KCD will be provided 10 Linux Foundation certification vouchers that work for SkillCreds, PCA, KCNA, CKS, and CKAD, CKA exams. Some past usages of these are, 1. giving a voucher to a volunteer to show your gratitude. 2. Use it as a raffle item within a workshop.
- Each organizer on the KCD planning team will automatically earn a badge of recogning from The Linux Foundation.
- 1 additional Credly badge to recognize your speakers OR volunteers. If organizers choose to offer this, CNCF will provide a form to fill out their request. 1 request per KCD. Each KCD should prepare the artwork in a square image, but with a circular badge. See examples here. Submit your request here.
- As of 2024 we are gifting scholarships to a KubeCon + CloudNativeCons of each KCD's choice. Stipulations and guidelines are shared via the KCD Organizer Digest and exclusive Slack channel.
- In 2025 - CNCF will be providing monetary support for each KCD, which will then be limited to 30 KCDs in one year.
Want to host a KCD? Here is the first step. A core CNCF team member will reach out to you to host a kick-off meeting to prompt your planning.
Submit a request to host your KCD in the application time frame. The opportunity now presents itself one time per year with about 1.5 months to submit, and approved KCD notifcations getting sent out two weeks later. More details and timeline can be found via the KCD Application page (see "Host" button here).
IMPORTANT: These are the terms within the checklist that must be abided by. Note - There are exceptions to these requirements in some jurisdictions due to applicable laws & regulations.
- As of June 2025 - KCDs should be no larger than 500 people. The organizing team shall cap their tickets at this amount, which includes organizers, speakers, and sponsors.
- When applying, please make sure your KCD will not be competing with a CNCF or LF hosted event in regards to the same city, or within 2 months of an event in your country like a KubeDay or a KubeCon + CloudNativeCon.
- There is a minimum of 3 organizers required to host a KCD, and each should be from different organizations.
- Every organizer should have an account on Cloud Native Community Groups
- The majority of organizers must live in, or near the KCD location.
- Each KCD shall be named by city. Exceptions will be made for small countries where cities are less known, or other KCDs have yet to be hosted,
- At least one active organizer is required to be a CNCF ambassador OR a CNCF project maintainer.
- All organizers agree to the CNCF Code of Conduct
- All organizers have taken Inclusive Open Source Community Orientation (LFC102)
- Agree to use the KCD logo and work with a CNCF core program manager to make it unique to your KCD.
- Agree to offer at least 3 complimentary tickets to increase diversity for the event. For example, students or those who are need-based (cannot afford your ticket).
- Agree to share the sponsor prospectus with CNCF via PDF form, as well as linking it on your website.
- Agree to use Sessionize for your CFP, to close it at least 8 weeks before the event, and launch the agenda at least 6 weeks prior to your event. CNCF will provide an event code so Sessionize is free to use if you are charging an event fee.
- Agree to ensure the final program schedule is diverse (e.g., not all speakers of one gender, culture or company). Here is how you can create a diverse lineup.
- Agree to submit your final lineup to kcd@cncf.io for review, prior to publishing it.
- Agree to use the designated CNCF registration platform, KCD registration questions can be found here which also helps populate your transparency report.
- Agree to produce a transparency report after your KCD. CNCF will provide a editable copy of this Canva template for guidance. NOTE: Note all pages are required.
NOTE: CNCF reserves the right to decline any event the usage of our KCD trademark due to:
- Failure to follow protocols
- Conflict of dates
- Failure to follow the CoC
- International sanction limitations
Due to international sanctions, there are limitations on supporting community events in certain regions. Those events will not follow our usual KCD support model, and are published here only for community awareness if they agree to abide by the KCD guidelines.